Absinthe

Tried chasing the green fairy, but she decided to just keep flying around my head...

Made a nice set 190 proof. it burns good. thinking of adding cloves for some odd reason...

made golem (mud slide, but with absinthe instead of vodka ) it's good

any recipies?

thats one fucking tuff 1st post motherfucker. welcome to sg.

I agree. Cheers.

Sounds yummy.

I always keep a bottle or two around. Sadly most of the liquor stores around here only have Hill's which isn't very good in my opinion. It'll do in a bind though. Although there's one store here that does carry this other brand from France that's really good.

I don't know if "yummy" is the word.

I'm almost certain that it is not legal to sell it in the US. It's made with wormwood, which contains thujone (sp?)... which is classified as a nerve toxin (similar in molecular structure to THC). It is however legal to import it into the US. You can legaly purchase it in Canada and Mexico for example.

[Edited on Jun 23, 2003 by 2thumbs]

Why yes... The spring issue of BUST featured this under "Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder":

Absinthe was the 19th-century controversial drink of the artistic counterculture, and also the first alcoholic beverage advertised to and publicly enjoyed by women. Religious and temperance movements of the time claimed that it caused epilepsy, fits of madness, violence, and death. Competing alcohol distributors agreed, and by 1915, it was illegal in almost every country of the world. Today, it is still illegal to sell absinthe in the US.

Thujone is a chemical byproduct of wormwood that effects the brain in a manner similar to marijuana, and it is what gave absinthe its special kick. It is also very toxic, and tastes terrible. The ingredients in the recipe below can be purchased over the Internet or at a health food store. DO NOT use wormwood oil.

"Bathtub" Absinthe:

1 liter high proof vodka
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup dried wormwood
6 Tbp lemon juice
5 Tbp chopped angelica root
4 Tbp star anise
1 Tbp each: fennel seeds, coriander seeds, hyssop, orange flower water
1/2 Tbp each: cardamom seeds, tarragon, marjoram, melissa (lemon balm), cloves
1 stick cinnamon
1 whole nutmeg clove

Combine vodka, wormwood, and sugar in a glass jar. Let soak for 48 hours. Strain, squeezing all the liquid out of the wormwood. Add the remaining ingredients. Let the mixture soak for a week. Strain.

To Serve: All magic relies upon ritual, and absinthe is no exception. Pour absinthe into a glass. Place a sugar cube atop a flat, perforated spoon. Drip water slowly over the sugar cube, then light it on fire and dump into the glass. Blow out the flames. Stir rapidly. Indulge.

DISCLAIMER: This recipe is presented for educational purposes only. No warranty, either express or implied, is given that this recipe is legal, healthy, or even tastes good. BUST Inc. is not liable for how this information is used. Use of any information here is at your own risk. Reported side effects of thujone and wormwood are nausea, vomiting, insomnia, restlessness, vertigo, tremors and seizures. Large doses of thujone have been found to cause delirium, convulsions, seizures, paralysis, brain damage, renal failure and death. Do not take if you are pregnant or are breast-feeding. As with any alcoholic beverage, please drink responsibly.

unless you really know what youre doing I wouldnt recomend makeing your own... other wise you might end up visualy challenged

Heh, well granted, I usually drink it with just a bit of sugar and water. Although you can mix it with creme de menthe and vermouth for an interesting taste combo

weird, i just downed a shot of absinthe two minutes ago before seeing this thread. it makes for a good night cap.

There's absinthe recipes on the web that basically have you soak some wormwood in vodka for a few days.

This is not absinthe.

There are a number of absinthe producers in Europe (like Hill's from the UK or La Fee from France), but I've heard mixed reviews about nearly all of them so I haven't gone out of my way to grab any.

Anyone here have recommendations for an absinthe brand?

Word

You're hardcore

Well Hill's is basically mouthwash. I'd stay away from it. Mind you, it is 140 proof, so if you want to get pissed, it's certainly a way to go. There's this other brand that I havehere that's from france, it might be the one you're talking about, it's pretty good. None of it beats the shit we were drinking in portugal though... holy crap

I believe Czech Republic & Ireland make the best. Where to get it here? Honestly, I don't think it's legal to import the stuff.

Nah. It is legal to import it yourself. Like you can drive to Canada, buy a bottle and drive back to the US and customs can't do shit if you declare it properly. However, it can't be imported and then resold (ie, by a company).

i had it offered to me once but i wouldn't try it. i smelled it though and it made me want to .

my poor little tummy can't handle stuff like that.

Yea.. it's my understanding that it has an awful taste. That's why they came up with that burning sugar ritual on the absinthe spoon.

Which.. I believe.. you can see Johnny Depp (apparently a huge absinthe fan) doing the sugar thing in the movie From Hell.

Hmm dunno. Most have a lot of anis in it (Hill's has barely any, so it doesn't louche)... which is often the predominant smell. Not unlike Pernod Pastis really, or an ouzo.

Yea, it's pricey Depending on the brand, usually between $50-$70 CND per bottle. Mind you, for a good cognac you'd spend much more. I love the stuff, but I'm just as happy with a flat of beer and a baggy of pot

[Edited on Jun 23, 2003 by 2thumbs]

True, 'cept his character mixed dilaudin in his as I recall.... *shudder*

I was married to Absinthe once.

Even pay through the nose?

eAbsinthe order page

By my calculations you could get a minibar-sized bottle for £7.85 or a full-sized one for £52.00 or so.

Weird but true: I find Absinthe much more palatable by mizing in a little Cream Soda...


DD

having not been to america i can't be sure, but most every other place i've been to, if you buy it in a liquor store or anyplace quasi-official, you're not getting the good stuff. except france. where they only sell the good stuff. there is a french website (with built-in translator) that sells it mail order, but i forget what it is right now. will update one day...