Absinthe America FAQs
Q - WHAT IS ABSINTHE?
Absinthe is a distilled, highly alcoholic, anise - flavored spirit derived from herbs including the flowers and leaves of the medicinal plant Artemisia absinthium, also called wormwood. Although it is sometimes incorrectly called a liqueur, absinthe does not always contain added sugar and is therefore classified as a bitter or spirit.
Absinthe is often referred to as la Fée Verte ("The Green Fairy") because of its coloring — typically pale or emerald green, but sometimes clear. Due to its high proof and concentration of oils, absintheeurs (absinthe drinkers) typically add three to five parts ice-cold water to a dose of absinthe, which causes the drink to turn cloudy (called "louching") and often the water is used to dissolve added sugar to decrease bitterness. This preparation is considered an important part of the experience of drinking absinthe, so much so that it has become ritualized, complete with special slotted absinthe spoons and other accoutrements. Absinthe's (Absinth) flavor is similar to anise-flavored liqueurs, with a light bitterness and greater complexity imparted by multiple herbs.
Absinthe (Absinth) originated in Switzerland as an elixir, but is better known for its popularity in late 19th- and early 20th-century France, particularly among Parisian artists and writers (among others) whose romantic associations with the drink still linger in popular culture. In its heyday, the most popular brand of absinthe worldwide was Pernod Fils. At the height of this popularity, absinthe was portrayed as a dangerously addictive, psychoactive drug; the chemical thujone was blamed for most of its deleterious effects. By 1915 it was banned in a number of European countries and the United States. Even though it was vilified, there is no evidence showing it to be any more dangerous than ordinary alcohol although few modern medical studies have been conducted to test this. A modern absinthe revival began in the 1990s, as countries in the European Union began to reauthorize its manufacture and sale.
The French word absinthe can refer either to the liquor or to the actual wormwood plant (grande absinthe being Artemisia absinthium, and petite absinthe being Artemisia pontica). The word derives from the Latin absinthium, which is in turn a stylization of the Greek αψινθιον (apsinthion). Some claim that the word means "undrinkable" in Greek, but it may instead be linked to the Persian root spand or aspand, or the variant esfand, which may have been, rather, Peganum harmala, a variety of rue, another famously bitter herb. That this particular plant was commonly burned as a protective offering may suggest that its origins lie in the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European root *spend, meaning "to perform a ritual" or "make offering". Whether the word was a borrowing from Persian into Greek, or rather from a common ancestor, is unclear.
Absinthe (without the "e") is a spelling variation of "absinthe" often seen in central Europe. Because so many Bohemian-style products use it, many groups see it as synonymous with bohemian absinthe, even though that is not always the case.
Q - WHAT DOES ABSINTHE TASTE LIKE?
Q - HOW IS ABSINTHE SERVED?
Some older recipes use the measurement "tipple" which is quite non-descript. A "tipple" has been roughly defined as "to drink spirituous or strong liquors habitually; to indulge in the frequent and improper used of spirituous liquors; especially, to drink frequently in small quantities, but without absolute drunkenness". Not a very dependable measurement.
Q - WAS ANYTHING ELSE NEEDED TO ENJOY THE ABSINTHE EXPERIENCE?
Q - WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF ABSINTHE?
Q - WHAT MAKES ABSINTHE DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER HIGH ALCOHOL POTABLE AND WHAT IS "THUJONE"?
THUJONE
Systematic name
Thujone
| Chemical formula | C10H16O |
| Molecular mass | 152.23 g/mol |
| Density | 0.92 g/cm3 |
| Solubility | insoluble (water) soluble (ethanol) |
| Melting point | 201 °C |
| Boiling point | xx.x °C |
| CAS number | [76231-76-0] |
Sources of Thujone
Pharmacology
In mice the median lethal dose, or LD50, is around 45 mg/kg, 0% mortality rate at 30 mg/kg and 100% at 60 mg/kg. Those exposed to the higher dose had convulsions that led to death in 1 minute. From 30 to 45 mg/kg the mice would experience muscle spasms in the legs which progressed to general convulsions until death or recovery. Pretreatment of diazepam, phenobarbital or 1 g/kg of ethanol protected against a lethal 100 mg/kg dose. REMEMBER THAT THESE EXPERIMENTS WERE PERFORMED ON 2oz. MICE.
There are few studies on humans and the LD50 isn't known. One study in the Journal of Studies of Alcohol administered 0.28 mg/kg thujone in alcohol, 0.028 mg/kg in alcohol and just alcohol to subjects. The high dose had a negative effect on attention performance. The lower dose showed no noticeable effect. There is no evidence that any dose will cause hallucinations (per se).
Thujone is best known as a component of the drink absinthe, as it is a component of natural oil of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). Although it was believed to be the cause of "absinthism", an alleged syndrome which caused epileptic fits and hallucinations in chronic absinthe drinkers, this has since been questioned. New studies of vintage absinthe, modern absinthe made with vintage recipes, and modern absinthe show very little thujone. Most absinthe studied, including the vintage, were below 10 mg/kg, and all were below EU regulations for bitters. For information on alternative authentic absinthe, warnings and disclaimers alike visit Absinthe America.
Regulations
European Union
United States
Q –HOW IS ABSINTHE MADE?
Anise, one of the three main herbs used in production of absinthe.
Grande/Roman Wormwood, one of the three main herbs used in production of absinthe.
green and star anise |
long fennel |
licorice root |
hyssop |
coriander |
angelica root |
lemon peel |
marjoram |
lemon grass |
peppermint and/or eucalyptus leaves |
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The main herbs used are grande wormwood, florence fennel and green anise, often called the "holy trinity." Many other herbs may be used as well, such as hyssop, melissa, star anise and petite wormwood (Artemisia pontica or Roman wormwood). Various recipes also include angelica root, Sweet Flag, dittany leaves, coriander, veronica, juniper, nutmeg, and various mountain herbs.
The simple maceration of wormwood in alcohol without distillation produces an extremely bitter drink, due to the presence of the soluble absinthine, one of the most bitter substances known. Authentic recipes call for distillation after a primary maceration and before the secondary or "coloring" maceration. The distillation of wormwood, anise, and Florence fennel first produces a colorless distillate that leaves the alembic at around 82% alcohol. It can be left clear, called a Blanche or la Bleue (used for bootleg Swiss absinthe), or the well-known green color of the beverage can be imparted either artificially or with chlorophyll by steeping petite wormwood, hyssop, and melissa in the liquid. After this process, the resulting product is reduced with water to the desired percentage of alcohol. Over time and exposure to light, the chlorophyll breaks down, changing the color from emerald green to yellow green to brown. Pre-ban and vintage absinthes are often of a distinct amber color as a result of this process.
Nontraditional varieties are made by cold-mixing herbs, essences or oils in alcohol, with the distillation process omitted. Often called "oil mixes", these types of absinthe are not necessarily bad, though they are generally considered to be of lower quality than properly distilled absinthe and often carry a distinct bitter aftertaste.
Alcohol makes up the majority of the drink and its concentration is extremely high, between 45% and 89.9%, though there is no historical evidence that any commercial vintage absinthe was higher than 74%. Given the high strength and low alcohol solubility of many of the herbal components, absinthe is usually not imbibed "straight" but consumed after a fairly elaborate preparation ritual.
Historically, there were five grades of absinthe: ordinaire, demi-fine, fine, supérieure and Suisse (which does not denote origin), in order of increasing alcoholic strength. Most absinthes contain between 60% and 75% alcohol. It is said to improve materially with storage. In the late 19th century, cheap brands of absinthe were occasionally adulterated by profiteers with copper, zinc, indigo plant, or other dyes to impart the green color, and with antimony trichloride to produce or enhance the louche effect. It is also thought that the use of cheaper industrial alcohol and poor distillation technique by the manufacturers of cheaper brands resulted in contamination with methanol, fusel alcohol, and similar unwanted distillates. This addition of toxic chemicals is quite likely to have contributed to absinthe's reputation as a hallucination-inducing or otherwise harmful beverage.
Hausgemacht Absinthe
Absinthe kits
Besides being unpleasant to drink and a pale impression of authentic distilled absinthe, these homemade concoctions can sometimes be poisonous. Many of these recipes call for the usage of liberal amounts of wormwood extract or essence of wormwood in the hopes of increasing the believed psychoactive effects. Consuming essential oils will not produce a high, but can be very dangerous. Wormwood extract can cause renal failure and death due to excessive amounts of thujone, which in large quantities acts as a convulsive neurotoxin. Essential oil of wormwood should never be consumed straight.
Absinthe Essences
Q - WHAT ARE CONCENTRATED ABSINTHE ESSENCES AND ARE THEY FOR REAL?
All over the internet are inferior knock-off versions of "Absinthe Essences" that claim to be real so, one must remember "buyer beware". Many are listed as "TF" (Thujone Free) and are nothing but flavorings. The thujone provided from the wormwood is what makes Absinthe different from a simple licorice flavored potable. Some offer the TF version to which you must add an additional wormwood component and may be sold as a duet package. Although this will produce a very weak, primitive version of absinthe, it is much limited. The thujone content may only amount to 15mg/kg. If you are paying $2, 5$, $10, and even $25 for an original flavored absinthe essence, then you are probably getting a fake. There are only a small number of providers of the true absinthe essence. Ask the provider what the thujone content is if you are not sure. If it is for real, you will be told. Absinthe America is a primary reputable and respected provider of true absinthe essences identical to those that are used by distilleries to produce their finished product.
When one factors in the price of the essence ($40) plus your own neutral spirit ($20) to the equation, you can have a >$200 bottle of true absinthe with >130mg/kg thujone for $60. Hill's Gold (although an extremely high quality product) contains only 100mg/kg and is priced at $200 plus steep shipping costs and must clear customs. Just be sure to research your source before committing to a purchase since many lesser character sources use the word "absinthe" all too freely and are providing nothing but a gimmick.
Absinthe America is a reputable provider of a liquid, concentrated essence. It is sold as an herbal flavoring essence NOT FOR CONSUMPTION AND FOR EDUCATIONAL AND NOVELTY PURPOSES ONLY and does not violate any LCC or FDA regulations. This product has NOT been evaluated by the FDA as is similar to other herbal supplements available at your neighborhood GNC store or herbal shop. Although it is not recommended to consume any homemade absinthes, it is theorized that an Absinthe America essence can confidently provide a quality absinthe if processed correctly.
The essences provided by only a very small handful of reputable companies contain only the result of the careful extraction from a perfectly balanced mix of organic herbs that can be purchased in any reputable herbal store. It is NOT illegal to own, purchase, transport or sell these proprietary blends of herbs, the resulting dry mixture or the concentrated essence.
On the flip-side, there are numerous sources (on eBay for instance) claiming to be offering the real deal. If you can find it legally on eBay, then it is a) NOT real since eBay has a strict policy for allowing absinthe related products or b) listed illegally on eBay. Although it is an herbal extract (if real), it is still regulated if it contains thujone. Distilled or macerated (see above) absinthe may carry legal restrictions and prohibitions and does. One CAN accept and offer absinthe as a gift and, for one's own use, one can possess it.
Preparation
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Preparing absinthe the "traditional" way. |
With increased popularity the absinthe fountain, a large jar of ice water on a base with spigots, came into use. It allowed a number of drinks to be prepared at once, and with a hands-free drip patrons were able to socialize while louching a glass.
Although many bars served absinthe in standard glasses, a number of glasses were specifically made for absinthe, having a dose line, bulge or bubble in its lower portion to mark how much absinthe should be poured into it (often around 1 oz (30 ml)).
Czech, or Bohemian, Absinthe
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"Absinthe Drinker" by Viktor Oliva |
Absinthe (with anise) has been consumed in Czech lands (then part of Austria-Hungary) since the turn of the 20th century, notably by Czech artists frequenting Prague's Cafe Slavia. Its wider appeal is uncertain. Contemporary Czech producers claim absinthe has been produced in the Czech Republic since the 1920s, and that their brands use the same eighty-year-old recipes (i.e. in case of the Hills company, "98% the same"), but there is no independent evidence to support these claims. Since there are currently few legal definitions for absinthe producers have taken advantage of its romantic associations and psychoactive reputation to market their products under a similar name. Many Bohemian-style producers heavily market thujone content, exploiting the many myths and half-truths that surround thujone even though none of these types of absinth contain enough thujone to cause any noticeable effect.
The Czech- or Bohemian-style absinth lacks many of the oils in absinthe that create the louche, and a modern ritual involving fire was created to take this into account. In this ritual, absinth is added to a glass and a sugar cube on a spoon is placed over it. The sugar cube is soaked in absinth(e) then lit on fire. The cube is then dropped into the absinthe setting it on fire, and water is added till the fire goes out, normally a 1:1 ratio. The crumbling sugar can provide a minor simulation of the louche seen in traditional absinthe, and the lower water ratio enhances effects of the high-strength alcohol.
It is sometimes claimed that this ritual is old and traditional; however, this is false. This method of preparing absinthe was in fact first observed by Czech manufactures in the late 1990s and used as a marketing tool, but has since been accepted by many as historical fact, largely because this method has filtered its way into several contemporary absinthe. Amongst many of the more traditional absinthe is looked down upon, and it can negatively affect the flavor of traditional absinthe.
History
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A vintage Pernod Fils absinthe advertisement. |
Absinthe's popularity grew steadily until the 1840s, when absinthe was given to French troops as a fever preventative. When the troops returned home, they brought their taste for absinthe with them, and it became popular at bars and bistros.
By the 1860s, absinthe had become so popular that in most cafés and cabarets that 5 p.m. signaled l'heure verte ("the green hour"). Still, it remained expensive and was favored mainly by the bourgeoisie and eccentric bohemian artists. By the 1880s, however, the price had dropped significantly, the market expanded, and absinthe soon became the drink of France; by 1910 the French were consuming 36 million liters of absinthe per year.
Ban
The Lanfray murders were the last straw for absinthe. In 1905 it was reported that Jean Lanfray murdered his family and attempted to kill himself after drinking absinthe. The fact that he was an alcoholic who had drunk considerably after the two glasses of absinthe in the morning was forgotten, and the murders were blamed solely on absinthe. A petition to ban absinthe in Switzerland was quickly signed by over 82,000 people.
Soon thereafter (in 1906), Belgium and Brazil banned the sale and redistribution of absinthe. In Switzerland the prohibition of absinthe was even written into the constitution in 1907, following a popular initiative. The Netherlands came next, banning absinthe in 1909, followed by the United States in 1912 and France in 1915. Around the same time, Australia banned the liquor too. The prohibition of absinthe in France led to the growing popularity of pastis and ouzo, anise-flavored liqueurs that do not use wormwood. Although Pernod moved their absinthe production to Spain, where absinthe was still legal, slow sales eventually caused it to close down. In Switzerland it drove absinthe underground. Evidence suggests small home clandestine distillers have been producing absinthe since the ban, focusing on La Bleues as it was easier to hide a clear product. Many countries never banned absinthe, which eventually led to its revival.
Modern revival
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An assortment of modern absinthe. |
Absinthe had also never been banned in Spain or Portugal, where it continues to be made. Likewise, the former Spanish and Portuguese New World colonies, especially Mexico, allow the sale of absinthe and it has retained popularity through the years.
France never repealed its 1915 law, but in 1988 a law was passed to clarify that only beverages that do not comply with European Union regulations with respect to thujone content, or beverages that call themselves "absinthe" explicitly, fall under that law. This has resulted in the reemergence of French absinthes, now labeled spiritueux à base de plantes d'absinthe ("wormwood-based spirits"). Interestingly, as the 1915 law regulates only the sale of absinthe in France but not its production, many manufacturers also produce variants destined for export which are plainly labeled " absinthe". La Fée Absinthe, launched in 2000, was the first brand of absinthe distilled and bottled in France since the 1915 ban, initially mainly for export from France, but now one of over twenty French "spiritueux ... d'absinthe" available in Paris and other French cities.
In December 2000, Australia reclassified it from a prohibited product to a restricted product, requiring a special permit to import or sell absinthe, though it is still available in most bottle-shops.
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Collection of absinthe spoons. These specialized spoons were used to hold the sugar cube over which ice-cold water was poured to dilute the absinthe. Note the slot on the handle that allows the spoon to rest on the brim of the glass. |
In the Netherlands, this law was successfully challenged by the Amsterdam wine-seller Menno Boorsma in July 2004, making absinthe once more legal. Belgium, as part of an effort to simplify its laws, removed its absinthe law on the first of January 2005, citing (as did the Dutch judge) European food regulations as sufficient to render the law unnecessary (and indeed, in conflict with the spirit of the Single European Market).
In Switzerland, the constitutional ban on absinthe was repealed in 2000 during a general overhaul of the national constitution, but the prohibition was written into ordinary law instead. Later that law was also repealed, so from March 2, 2005, absinthe is again legal in its country of origin, after nearly a century of prohibition.
It is once again legal to produce and sell absinthe in practically every country where alcohol is legal, the major exception being the United States. It is not, however, illegal to possess or consume absinthe in the United States.
Cruise Ship Mystery
"In large amounts it would certainly make people see strange things and behave in a strange manner," said Jad Adams, author of the book, "Hideous Absinthe: A History of the Devil in a Bottle." "It gives people different, unusual ideas which they wouldn't have had on their own accord because of its "stimulative" effect on the mind."
Absinthe is banned in the United States because of harmful neurological effects caused by a "toxic" chemical called thujone said Michael Herndon, spokesman for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The story also noted: "Defenders of the drink say it is safe and its harmful effects a myth." Jad Adams and Ted Breaux were interviewed on MSNBC about this issue. Ted Breaux had this to say:
One thing we know is that absinthe, old and new, does not contain a lot of thujone. And what we know, from certain scientific studies, which have been published in the past year or so, is that, first of all, thujone is not present in any absinthe in sufficient concentration to cause any type of deleterious effects in humans.
Controversy
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Edouard Manet, "The Absinthe Drinker." |
Past reports estimated thujone levels in absinthe as high, possibly up to 350 mg/kg. More recent studies have shown that very little of the thujone present in wormwood actually makes it into a properly distilled absinthe, even one recreated using historical recipes and methods. Most proper absinthes, both vintage and modern, are naturally within the EU limits. A recent French distiller has had to add pure essential oil of wormwood to make a "high-thujone" variant of his product. It can remain in higher amounts in oils produced by other methods than distillation, or when wormwood is macerated and not distilled, especially when the plant stems are used, where absinthe content is the highest. Tests on mice show an LD50 of around 45 mg thujone per kg of body weight, much higher than what is contained in absinthe and the high amount of alcohol would kill a person many times over before the thujone became a danger. Although direct effects on humans are unknown, many have consumed thujone in higher amounts than present in absinthe through non-controversial sources like common sage and its oil, which can be up to 50% thujone. Long-term effects of low-wormwood consumption in humans are unknown as well.
The effects of absinthe have been described by artists as mind-opening and even hallucinogenic and by prohibitionists as turning good people mad and desolate. Both are exaggerations. Sometimes called "secondary effects", the most commonly reported experience is a "clear-headed" feeling of inebriation - a "lucid drunk", said to be caused by the thujone. The placebo effect and individual reaction to the herbs make these secondary effects subjective and minor compared to the psychoactive effects of alcohol.
A study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol concluded that a high concentration of thujone in alcohol has negative effects on attention performance. It slowed down reaction time, and subjects concentrated their attention in the central field of vision. Medium doses did not produce an effect noticeably different from plain alcohol. The high dose of thujone in this study was larger than what one can get from current beyond-EU-regulation "high thujone" absinthe before becoming too drunk to notice, and while the effects of even this high dose were statistically significant in a double blind test, the test subjects themselves could still not reliably identify which samples were the ones containing thujone. As most people describe the effects of absinthe as a more lucid and aware drunk, this suggests that thujone alone is not the cause of these effects. The deleterious effects of absinthe as well as its hallucinogenic properties are a persistent myth often repeated in modern books and scientific journals with no evidence for either.
Q – WHAT IS "MACERATED"?
However, what you WILL get is a rough absinthe with the bitter absinthins, which is why so many steeped home-brews are so frightfully bitter. This is closer to the homebrewed versions prevalent in the 19th century.
Q - IS DRINKING ABSINTHE HARMFUL?
Q - WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN BY ABSINTHE DRINKERS?
Q - CAN ABSINTHE BE PURCHASED IN THE UNITED STATES?
Some US bars hold an Absinthe Night. The problem is that if they do NOT want licenses revoked, fines or imprisonment, they are providing the legal and readily available absinthe knock-off "ABSENTE". The alcohol content of this cordial is 55% (110 proof), which does earn it that notoriety as being true absinthe. Again, although a very tasty and respected substitute, it does NOT contain the PROPER wormwood/thujon(e) concentrate in type nor concentration to be considered such. What is being provided is NOT the true green faerie but is her lesser known, weaker, lazy, green step-sister.
True absinthe can be GIVEN away if no transaction takes place. It can be offered as a complimentary drink for patrons of certain establishments. This is similar to having a wonderful Italian meal at a fine restaurant that does not possess a valid liquor/wine license. Even though there is no license, the restaurant still may offer a single glass of a complimentary wine to its patrons to enhance the meal. It is also important to remember that high alcohol content does not guarantee a good absinthe. The herbal mixture and process used to prepare it are much more important than the alcoholic proof of the beverage.
Although absinthe can be purchased outside of the US, there are strict laws that limit its arrival into the United States. Also, absinthe in its final form is extremely expensive to purchase and ship AND, most international orders, if successful, take weeks (if not, months) to arrive. Be sure to educate yourself of all state, local and federal laws and statutes concerning the possession of internationally available finished absinthe/-like products.
Cultural impact
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L’ Absinthe, by Edgar Degas. |
Historical
Modern
Regulations
Australia and New Zealand
Canada
European Union
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The end of the Green Fairy (1910): Critical poster by Albert Gantner illustrating the absinthe ban in Switzerland. |
France
Switzerland
United States
The prevailing consensus of interpretation of United States law and regulations among American absinthe connoisseurs is that: It is probably legal to purchase such a product for personal use in the U.S. It is illegal to sell items meant for human consumption which contain thujone derived from Artemisia species. (This derives from an Food and Drug Administration regulation, as opposed to a DEA regulation.) Customs regulations specifically forbid the importation of "absinthe". Absinthe can be and occasionally is seized by United States Customs if it appears to be for human consumption and can be seized inside the U.S. with a warrant.
Again, the above-mentioned faux-absinthe liquor called Absente, made with southern wormwood (Artemisia abrotanum) instead of regular wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), is sold legally in the United States and does not contain thujone.