Thread: Absinthe Anyone?

Still banned by the FDA in the US. Can get it online, but the shipping is reediculous.

I have tried Un Emile 68 from France. Would some day like to try others (French, Spanish, Swiss).

Any fans of the Green Fairy? Favorite labels?


Scott

I would love to try it but just have never had the opportunity. I saw a bottle once in St. Maartin but knew I couldn't bring it back so I didn't even bother.

I'm lead to understand that it tasts like licorice, correct?

And for the life of me I don't understand why it still remains illegal.

Good luck to you.

Originally Posted by Eighties

I'm lead to understand that it tasts like licorice, correct?

Yes. Traditionally has Anise flavor. From what I've read, some are very licoricey, and some not so much.

I understand that originally Pernod was an Absinthe, then the ban in France after which the Worm Wood (thujone) was taken out, and now back in it's original form where allowed.


Scott

I've had absinthe in various countries throughout Europe, and while it's definitely cool because of the history (and preparation ritual) factor, there's nothing REALLY all that special about it. The supposed hallucinogenic effect is pretty much bunk as you'd get more thujone (the active chemical) in your Thanksgiving dinner than from absinthe. Yep, it tastes like licorice (anise) vodka. A lot of the readily available absinthe isn't very good, but there are some distilleries trying to get more close to the original. Read up on its history, especially why it got such a bad name...very cool information.

btw, I think it's de-regulated here in the states now right? Anyways, before it was treated pretty much like Cuban cigars, not illegal to order or have, but customs might "re-route" it.

I bought some duty free, and it gives you a mother of a hangover! Though me and a friend split a bottle in three hours...

I've tried some that my buddy brought over from Greece. I couldn't detect a strong anise flavour in it though. It was just HARSH. Got us ready for clubbing quickly though

I bought some from Bev-Mo here in California about a month ago, it hav a very nice Anise flavor, along with the cool greenish white hue when the water was added...
good heady buss, not overwhelming... and it made my mouth tingle.
would definitely try it again.

Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff

I bought some from Bev-Mo here in California about a month ago, it hav a very nice Anise flavor, along with the cool greenish white hue when the water was added...
good heady buss, not overwhelming... and it made my mouth tingle.
would definitely try it again.

Mike, was it Absente? The one with Van Gough on the label? If so, that one is actually not true absinthe. At least not to a purist absinthe connoissieur. While it does taste similar to real absinthe, it does not containe the herb Artemesium Absinthum (Worm Wood) which is what makes it absinthe and supplys the thujone that has all the bad rap (undeservedly so).

Still, Absente isn't a bad liqure if you like the taste of anise. And the effects are, I think, different. I've certainly enjoyed it.

On the other hand, if you did find a true Absinthe at Bev-mo, what was it called?


Scott

Never tried it, never will.
It is regulated in Belgium btw.

I usually react strongly to foreign chemicals like painkillers etc. Some meds which are pretty benign like paracetamol make me go through withdrawal symptoms if I dare take them even once. It's not so bad that I never take them, but I only do so as last resort.

So I stay far away from things like absinthe

I've seen some people do some kooky things on Absynthe. In 2002 I was on a trip in the Czech Republic. One of the guys at our hostel went on a binge and drank Absynthe for several days instead of drinking his normal vodka. According to one of the folks staying at the hostel (an Australian mental health professional) he was exhibiting signs of mulitple psychological disorders. He was acting seriously wierd, delusions of graneur, sleeping days instead of nights, extremely dissassociated. I ended up calling the Embassy for him to try to get them to do something because I was afraid he would end up in a Czech jail or mental hospital. He was normal before starting drinking and then when he stopped he was back to normal again. I suppose it could have been a temporary psychotic episode but personally I blame the wormwood, the psychoactive substance in proper Absynthe.