Absinthe??

Question

Can someone explain what exactly absinthe is to me? I mean, I know it's a really strong drink that apparently ***** you up but could someone further explain this mysterious drink?

What are it's effects? Is it like other alcohols? Where is it sold?

Thank you!

Answer 1

Absinthe is an anise flavored alcoholic drink that is also flavored with wormwood, fennel, and a variety of other herbs.  This is how it's been traditionally (or originally depending on how you look at it) and has, despite the myth and hype, NEVER had hallucinogenic properties.  Part of the hype is that thujone is a hallucinogen.  False.  Second, there isn't (nor ever was) sufficient quantities of it to cause one to hallucinate even if it were.  

Although small in quantity, there are still bottles from the 19th century available...the original formula and all.  They've been painstakingly analyzed and proven to contain far, FAR less thujone than previously claimed.  In fact, the results of that study was published in April.  Any claims to the contrary have never been substantiated in a laboratory (and further proven false by the study).  

If you want to read the study, you can get your booze geek on here:

http://www.wormwoodsociety.org/media/Sys...

The problem with getting to the bottom of what absinthe really is involves getting past all the erroneous myth (like its hallucinogenic properties or being an aphrodisiac) as well as the current marketing bunk such as "highest thujone" and "full effects."  Not to mention, those who are cashing in on the mystique and myth would not benefit from the consumers knowing better so they work really hard at trying to perpetuate it as well as discredit those who disagree.  It's a vicious cycle driven by money (as was the push for its ban in the first place).

Truth be told, common culinary herbs contain higher levels of thujone than wormwood (the defining ingredient that makes absinthe "absinthe") such as sage and tarragon.  You don't hear about people tripping and hallucinating from turkey stuffing, right?  On the other hand, absinthe does impart a slightly different kind of intoxication.  Typically it's described as a more coherent or "lucid" type of drunk, not feeling sloppy or fuzzy like other liquors can make one feel.  This is where the brand name "Lucid" originated (the first brand to legally hit US shelves in May of '07).

Little by little, genuine absinthes (made both in Europe and in the US) are hitting US shelves.  Just about any decent sized liquor store will have it in most states (a couple are still laging behind).  You can also order online, but imports are expensive (more for shipping than for the booze itself) and US sellers cannot ship to a number of states (their website will tell you which) so it can be tricky depending on where you live.

As much as it vexes me for people to blindly copy and paste from Wikipedia, their entry for absinthe is actually a really well researched one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinthe

Answer 2

i heard its alcohol that makes you hallucinate. people that have tried it told me its wicked but you cant get it in the states because its illegal. or at least the **** they call absinthe is no way near the real thing like they have in europe.

Answer 3

Absinthe is an alcohol that makes you see little green fairies usually, but I have heard about people seeing everything from a Big hot dog. It is illegal to sell in the US but you can buy in most of Europe and in Mexico, although it is hard to get over there.

Amsterdam is the best place to get it. :)

Hope that helps...

Answer 4

the original absinthe way back in the day did had hallucinagentic properties, but not the kind made today. todays absinthe lacks the original types and stregths of wormwood and thujone. the chemical thujone, present in small quantities, was blamed for its alleged addictive psychoactive drug effects.

Numerous recipes for homemade “absinthe” are available on the Internet. Many of these require mixing a kit that contains store-bought herbs or wormwood extract with high-proof liquor such as vodka or Everclear. However, it is not possible to make authentic absinthe without distillation. Besides being unpleasant to drink and not authentic absinthe, these homemade concoctions contain uncontrolled amounts of thujone and may be poisonous — especially if they contain wormwood extract.

it is illegal to sell it in usa, but not to buy overseas, or online, or even own or consume it.

additional details

you also have to keep in mind, that those who said there were hallicinagenic properties were also the most dire of drunks. as with alcohol building and destroying your body, high and constant levels of thujone will build and layer. many things we know now about certain organic properties we did not know then. look at hoffman and the freak accicent of his skin absorbing ergot! and nutmeg? also hallicinagenic properties. i do agree with the mystisism of how common the hallicinations are beleived. it was more of the combination of drunks, free spirits and minds, in a brave new world of of booze, art, and the tortured genious mind back in the  late 19th century (and beyond).

as far as 'american' absinthe, it is the mildest form made or sold. due to the american ban on thujone, americans companies can make absinthe with grand wormwood, but have developed a filtration to remove the thujone, as it is illegal. absinthe sold in the usa has to be deemed by the FDA to be thujone free.