Most people have heard of the mythical green, anise flavored liquor known as Absinthe or the Green Fairy but they do not have a clue how Absinthe is made.

Absinthe was created by the legendary Dr Pierre Ordinaire in Switzerland in the late 18th century but it wasn’t until Pernod started making it at the turn of the 19th century that it became a popular alcoholic beverage. During La Belle Epoque it was even more popular than other spirits and wine. It was famously banned in the early 1900s due to worries about its thujone content.

Thujone, a chemical in wormwood, was thought to be psychoactive and to cause psychedelic effects but recent studies show that Absinthe only contains small amounts of thujone and is perfectly safe. Absinthe is now legal in many countries and it has been possible and legal to buy some brands of Absinthe in the United States since 2007. Before that date many Americans risked having Absinthe shipped from Europe.

Absinthe is served diluted with iced water and the essential oils in the Absinthe cause it to louche once water is added.

How Absinthe is Made

Here is a step by step description of the Absinthe making process which was used by vintage Absinthe distillers and is still used today:-

Growing of Absinthe herbs

Distillers like Pernod liked to grown their own herbs so that they could be assured of the quality of the herbs used in their Absinthe and this is still the case today. Grande wormwood (artemisia absinthium), petite wormwood (artemisia pontica), lemon balm and hyssop are all grown in Pontarlier France where the Pernod distillery is located. Florence fennel comes from Florence in Italy and green aniseed is grown in parts of Southern France and Spain. These herbs are traditional Absinthe herbs.

Herb Selection and Preparation

Only the best quality herbs are used by distillers who prepare them by crushing or grinding them.

Maceration

A recipe of herbs is macerated in a base alcohol which is diluted with water. The herbs are generally left to macerate for one night in an alambic pot and then more water is added before distillation.

Distillation

The mixture is heated to the appropriate distillation temperature and sometimes rectifying balls are used. These balls are cooled with water which allows vapors from the mixture to condense and return to the pot.
Distillate is collected, it is clear in color. The used herbs are removed from the pot and the alambic is cleaned for its next use.

Coloring

A portion of the distillate is put into an alambic with herbs such as lemon balm, petite wormwood and hyssop. The mixture is then heated to about 55 degrees celsius and then cooled and filtered. This green liquid is then checked and tested before being reunited with the rest of the distillate.

Checking

The Absinthe is checked for the quality of its louche, color and taste and is then left to age for a few months before bottling.

La Bleue Absinthe is clear Absinthe which is made without the coloring step.

You can make Absinthe at home yourself by using special distilled Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com. Simply mix an essence with vodka or Everclear to make a real herbal Asbinthe. That is how Absinthe is made simply and easily at home.

How to make absinthe? This is one question that is being asked by connoisseurs of alcoholic beverages more often these days as there is heightened interest in absinthe. The reason is fairly simple to understand, absinthe has made a dramatic comeback after being banned for almost a century.

There are two ways you can answer the question, how to make absinthe? One way would be explaining how to prepare an absinthe drink and the other would be how to prepare the liquor absinthe. In this article we will discuss how to prepare the liquor using traditional a recipe and herbs.

Absinthe is made using different alpine herbs including wormwood or Artemisia absinthium. Absinthe was originally used as a bitter digestive tonic. Good quality absinthe is made by soaking wormwood and other herbs in alcohol and then distilling the solution. Wormwood contains thujone which is the active ingredient in absinthe and gives absinthe its bitter taste.

The ingredients required to make absinthe are 750 ml of vodka or any neutral spirit, herbs such as wormwood, hyssop, fennel seed, anise seed, angelica root, lemon balm, veronica, sage, coriander, mint, thyme and cardamom. To prepare green absinthe coriander and mint are used while to prepare red absinthe green herbs are excluded and red herbs such as paprika are used.

Depending on the color of absinthe desired; ground all the herbs finely and place in a cup. Fine grounding of herbs results in efficient extraction of herbal constituents. The finely ground herbal mixture is added to vodka or any other neutral spirit and placed in a jar and sealed.

The bottle or jar is then stored in cold and dark place for up to two months. The longer you keep the greater is the infusion of herbs in the solution. This process is called as maceration. The duration of maceration will also influence the flavor of the final product.

After the mixture is kept for two months, it is then removed and strained. The strained liquid will be brown in color and very bitter. This liquid is then distilled to reduce the bitterness and give it a clear hue. This liquid is called as the “absinthe blanche”. Now you may add other flavoring and coloring herbs such as hyssop, mint and coriander if you want a green absinthe or paprika if you want a red absinthe. This second maceration gives the absinthe its final flavor and color.

While mixing the distillate with flavoring herbs you should further dilute the absinthe with vodka. Keep for a fortnight and your absinthe is ready.

Absinthe should be enjoyed using the traditional ritual. Absinthe is the only liquor that needs an elaborate ritual using special absinthe spoon, absinthe glass, sugar cube, ice cold water, and absinthe fountain.

You can make your own absinthe by a much easier method than the one mentioned above. Just buy genuine absinthe essence that is made using traditional absinthe recipe and mix it with vodka or any other neutral spirit, and your absinthe is ready to serve. Absinthekit.com is a very trusted name from where you can source genuine absinthe essences of various strengths.

Visit absinthekit.com for more information on absinthe essence and other absinthe accessories such as absinthe spoons, absinthe glasses and absinthe labels.

Absinthe is the legendary liquor of nineteenth and early twentieth century Europe. It was a drink that was favored by great artists and intellectuals before being banned by most countries for most of the twentieth century. Absinthe or the “Green Fairy” has made a terrific comeback since most countries have now lifted the ban in the wake of new discoveries that proved it does not contain substances that are harmful to humans. Since the lifting of the ban great deal of interest has been generated in the drink and the elaborate serving ritual. In this article we will see how to drink absinthe following two traditional rituals.

Absinthe is anise flavored bitter liquor made from several alpine herbs. Wormwood or Artemisia absinthium is the main herb used in its preparation. Wormwood contains thujone a chemical that is widely believed to produce effects similar to cannabis. However, new research has proved that the effects of thujone are largely overstated. Absinthe was very popular amongst great painters and writers, some famous names included Vincent van Gogh, Ernest Hemmingway, Pablo Picasso, and Oscar Wilde.

Absinthe is not like any other spirit and an elaborate ritual is followed in its preparation. Traditional French and Czech rituals are the two most followed rituals used when serving absinthe.

The traditional French ritual requires a bottle of absinthe, absinthe spoon, absinthe fountain, sugar cube, absinthe glass, and ice cold water. A shot of absinthe (1.5 ounces) is poured in a special absinthe glass. An absinthe slotted or perforated spoon is placed over the glass and a sugar cube placed over it. Ice cold water is slowly dripped over the sugar cube from an absinthe fountain. As the water drips over the sugar cube it dissolves the sugar and falls in the glass. Once the sugar has completely dissolved some more ice water is added in the glass to further dilute the absinthe. Generally two parts of water to one part of absinthe is used. As absinthe gets diluted it turns cloudy white or opaque, this is called the louche effect. This happens as the essential oils from herbs contained in absinthe precipitate. The absinthe is now ready to be served.

The Czech ritual is more modern and more fun. One shot of absinthe (1.5 ounces) is poured in absinthe glass and absinthe spoon is placed on the glass with a sugar cube. The sugar cube and the spoon is then dipped in absinthe and withdrawn. The absinthe soaked sugar cube is then lighted with a lighter. As the flames engulf the sugar cube it caramelizes. The spoon is then dipped in the glass and ice cold water is added to further dilute the absinthe. As water is added the absinthe turns opaque white due to louche effect. The drink is then served.

A note of caution, absinthe has high alcohol content (about 140-proof) and should be consumed in moderation. The best way to drink absinthe is to sip it slowly to experience the subtle and unique effects of the herbs.

Special absinthe spoons, absinthe glasses, and absinthe fountains add to the aura and mystique of absinthe. You can buy absinthe and absinthe accessories from several online stores. Some of the best absinthe essence and other absinthe accessories are available on absinthekit.com, one of the most trusted sites dealing in absinthe and related products.

The effects of Absinthe are infamous. Ask anyone about Absinthe and they will remember Absinthe as the green liquor that was famously banned around the world because it drove people to insanity. Many of these people have never tried Asbinthe and cannot comment from personal experience.

Absinthe was originally developed as an elixir or tonic by a doctor in the Swiss town of Couvet. Dr Ordinaire made it out of a selection of herbs known for their medicinal properties. His recipe finally got into the hands of Henri-Louis Pernod who made Absinthe from a wine base and added herbal ingredients such as aniseed, wormwood, hyssop, fennel, star anise, angelica root, lemon balm, nutmeg, juniper and dittany. Other manufacturers used different types of herbs in addition to Pernod’s recipe, herbs such as calamus root and mint.

The Green Fairy, or Absinthe, was given to French soldiers in the 1840s to treat malaria and became popular with the troops who brought it back home with them where it grew very popular in bars in France. Some bars even had Absinthe hours – L’heure vert – the green hour.

The Absinthe Ritual was an important part of the enjoyment of drinking Absinthe. Absinthe was served in bars in special Absinthe glasses with an Absinthe spoon, a sugar cube and iced water. The barman or waiter would use a carafe or fountain to drip the water over the sugar on the spoon and the customer would watch the Absinthe louche as the water mixed with the liquor.

Absinthe became a popular drink amongst the artists and writers of the Bohemian part of Paris – Montmartre. Artists and writers, such as Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Degas, Baudelaire, Verlaine, Oscar Wilde and Gauguin, all claimed that Absinthe gave them their genius and inspiration. Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers are featured in many works of art such as Albert Maignan’s “Green Muse” from 1895 showing an Absinthe drinker with a fairy (the green fairy) and Degas’ “L’Absinthe” from 1876.

Oscar Wilde wrote “After the first glass of Absinthe you see things as you wish they were. After the second you see them as they are not. Finally, you see things as they really are, and that is the most horrible thing in the world.”

Others have described the effects of drinking Absinthe as a “clear headed” or “lucid” drunkenness and this could be because Absinthe contains both sedatives and stimulants.

Effects of Absinthe and the Ban

Absinthe was famously banned in France in 1915 and many other countries around the world also banned it. The prohibition campaigners had managed to convince the French government that Absinthe would bring about the country’s downfall and that prolonged drinking of Absinthe, Absinthism, caused the following effects:-

– Hallucinations
– Hyper excitability
– Weakening of the intellect
– Insanity
– Brain damage
– Violence

The chemical thujone, found in one of the vital ingredients of absinthe, wormwood, was thought to be like THC in the drug cannabis. Thujone was alleged to be a neurotoxin, to be psychoactive and to cause psychedelic effects. The wormwood in Absinthe was blamed for Van Gogh’s suicide and for a man murdering his family.

Many studies have shown that thujone has to be consumed in large amounts to cause such nasty effects and when Ted Breaux, Absinthe manufacturer and creator of the “Lucid” brand, tested bottles of vintage pre-ban Absinthe he found that Absinthe only contained minute amounts of thujone. Absinthe has therefore been legalized in many countries now.

Absinthe is mainly alcohol and is a very strong spirit, about twice as strong as other types of spirits such as whisky and vodka. It would therefore be pretty much impossible to ingest a large amount of thujone as you would not be able to consume that much alcohol and still be able to drink!

The effects of Absinthe are really just stories, part of the myth and legend that surrounds this glorious drink. Try some yourself by ordering a bottle of real wormwood Absinthe online or by making your own by using Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com.

Absinthe the fascinating liquor with a lot of history and romantic connections to nineteenth century art world is back after being banned for almost a hundred years. Absinthe, a drink in a class of its own has aroused a great deal of interest and it is common to hear many versions about absinthe’s unique effects. The effects of absinthe are different for different people. However, one common experience that absinthe drinkers report is a unique clear headed form of drunkenness.

Absinthe is made using several herbs, the most important being wormwood or Artemisia absinthium. Absinthe also has very high alcohol content. It is widely believed that thujone a naturally occurring substance in wormwood is responsible for absinthes unique effects. It was widely believed that thujone was responsible for inducing effects similar to cannabis. This belief was based solely on the fact that thujone’s chemical structure is similar to THC a compound found in cannabis, however, new research have proved that the effects of thujone are grossly overstated.

Absinthe’s unique effects cannot be explained precisely, but it could be the result of several herbs that are used in its preparation. Different people have reported different effects. Perhaps the reason why absinthe was so famously endorsed by great artists and intellectuals was because of its so called mysterious effects. Absinthe was wrongly labeled as a narcotic in the beginning of the twentieth century and banned by almost all countries in west Europe and the United States.

Genuine absinthe causes no more than a mild buzz and heightens the clarity of mind and vision. The effects of absinthe do not last long and start wearing off after about half an hour of drinking it. There are numerous stories doing the rounds of cocktail circuits that suggest absinthe is able to influence the subconscious mind and take it to a different level of awareness.

Some of the effects can be explained by the fact that thujone is a neurotoxin and when consumed in a small quantity acts as a creative stimulant. Thujone and other ingredients from different herbs present in absinthe remove mental blocks thus increasing our cognitive and perceptive abilities. It is no wonder that great masters of the nineteenth century attributed their creative genius to absinthe’s unique effects. It was fondly nicknamed as the “Green Fairy” or “Green Muse”.

Today most European countries have lifted the ban imposed on absinthe and it is once again produced and marketed in Europe. The United States continues to ban the production and sale of absinthe; however, the possession and consumption of absinthe is not illegal in the US. Absinthe should be drunk for its taste and not for its supposed effects. This anise flavored liquor is one of the finest and comes with a great deal of history and culture attached to it.

US citizens can buy absinthe online from non-US producers or order absinthe essence and make their very own absinthe at home. Mixing genuine high quality absinthe essence in vodka or any other neutral spirit is the best and easiest way to make your very own absinthe.

So if you want to spend an evening flirting with the “Green Fairy” visit abisnthekit.com and order genuine absinthe essence and other absinthe accessories.

There are many countries where Absinthe is legal to buy, sell and consume. Gone are the times of bootleg or clandestine Absinthe, when it had to be distilled in secrecy, shipped from other countries or labeled differently. In most countries it is no longer a crime to distill Absinthe or against the law to sell it.

Absinthe is a herbal liquor which has an anise taste. It is usually served diluted with iced water, which causes the famous louche effect, and was a popular beverage in the 19th century. It was made illegal in many countries at the beginning of the 20th century because of concerns about the chemical thujone found in wormwood. Not only was Absinthe an intoxicant, like all alcoholic beverages including wine, beer and cider, but it was also thought to be an hallucinogen.

The medical profession and prohibitionists claimed that Absinthe contained large amounts of thujone which they alleged was psychoactive, like THC in the drug cannabis, and could cause psychedelic effects. We now know that Absinthe only contains small amounts of thujone and is just as safe as any strong spirit. It may however give you a very different type of drunkenness, if consumed in excess. The alcohol and the unique blend of herbs combine to act as both a sedative and a stimulant – very strange. Some people have described it as a “lucid” or “clear headed” drunkenness.

Countries where Absinthe is legal include:-

United States – Absinthe was banned in 1912 but in 2007 a few brands of Absinthe were approved in the US because of their low thujone content. The USA only allows “thujone free” beverages to be sold but Absinthes with less than 10 parts per million of thujone (less than 10mg per liter) count as thujone free.

The EU (European Union) – Absinthe was legalized in the EU in 1988 but there is a regulation regarding thujone content in drinks in the EU. Up to 10mg/kg of thujone is allowed in alcohol with more than 25% alcohol by volume, and up to 35mg/kg in alcohol labeled “bitters”.

Australia – Absinthe is legal. Bitters can have a thujone content of up to 35mg/kg and other beverages can contain up to 10mg/kg.

Brazil – Brazilian law allows Absinthe of up to 10mg/kg thujone and that it should have less than 55% abv.

Canada – From March 2007 it has been up to the separate Canadian province liquor boards to regulate thujone. Many provinces do not allow any thujone containing alcohol to be sold but Absinthe is legal in British Columbia, where there is no limit, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec. Quebec and Ontario legislate that Absinthe with up to 10mg/kg thujone can be legally sold.

Czech Republic – Absinthe was never banned in the Czech Republic.

France – France famously banned Absinthe in 1915. French law of 1988 allows thujone beverages to be sold if they comply with EU laws and if they are labeled “spiritueux à base de plantes d’absinthe” and not Absinthe. France also has regulations regarding fenchone which is found in fennel, a key ingredient of Absinthe, so beverages also have to have low fenchone contents (up to 5mg/liter).

Hungary – Absinthe became legal in 2004.

Israel – Absinthe seems to be legal and on sale in Israel.

Ireland – Absinthe which contains thujone is illegal to buy and sell but can be imported for personal consumption.

Netherlands – Absinthe was made legal in 2004 after being banned in 1909. Absinthe must meet EU requirements.

New Zealand – Absinthe is legal.

Portugal – Absinthe was never banned.

Russia – High thujone Absinthes (up to 75mg/kg thujone) are available in Russia.

Serbia – Serbia does not seem to allow Absinthe containing thujone or above 50% abv to be sold.

South Africa – Absinthe is legal as of 2005.

Sweden – Absinthe complying with EU legislation can be sold and is labeled as containing wormwood.

Switzerland – The home of Absinthe legalized Absinthe in 2005 after banning it in 1908.

UK – The UK never banned Absinthe. Absinthe must comply with EU legislation.

As you can see there are many countries where Absinthe is legal and can be enjoyed. You may want to make your own Absinthe using Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com. These essences make a true Absinthe and can be shipped world wide. They do not require distillation, that has already been done for you, and so are perfectly legal. Check them out.

Clandestine Absinthe is bootleg Absinthe which was distributed on the Black Market during the time of Absinthe prohibition.

Absinthe was banned and made illegal in France, Switzerland and many other countries in th early 1900s after being a popular liquor since its creation at the turn of the 19th century.

Absinthe had been especially popular with the Bohemian art set in the Montmartre area of Paris. Artists and writers including Van Gogh, Gauguin, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway were all devotees of the Green Fairy, as Absinthe is commonly known.

Anti-alcohol campaigners started to paint a bad picture of Absinthe in the late 19th century and early 20th century, blaming it for France’s growing problems with alcoholism and claiming that the chemical thujone (from wormwood) was psychoactive and was having psychedelic effects. Many said that if Absinthe was not banned then France would be a nation of mad, insane people. Absinthe was even blamed for an alcoholic murdering his family despite the fact that he had been drinking other spirits after the Absinthe. Absinthe was banned and prohibition began.

Clandestine Absinthe in Switzerland

During prohibition, there was obviously still a market for Absinthe and in Switzerland bootleg distillers still made and sold Absinthe. Switzerland was the home of Absinthe. It is claimed that Absinthe was created by a doctor, Pierre Ordinaire, as a tonic for his patients in 1789 in the Swiss town of Couvet in the Val de Travers, the Swiss Jura. In time, Couvet became the Swiss capital of Absinthe production and was obviously badly affected by prohibition. One distiller, Claude-Alain Bugnon, is said to have carried on distilling Absinthe and distilled it using a recipe of another bootleg distiller Charlotte Vaucher. The Val de Travers was well known for its wonderful bootleg Absinthe.

Absinthe was legalized in many countries in the 1990s but legalization in Switzerland did not happen until 2005. Claude-Alain Bugnon immediately applied for a licence to sell Absinthe and was the first distiller to be granted a licence for Absinthe production in Switzerland.

Claude-Alain Bugnon’s company, Artemisia-Bugnon distilleries now produce many different types of Absinthe:-
– The famous La Clandestine Originale – This Absinthe is an award winning premium La Bleue, 53% ABV (alcohol by volume). It is a clear Absinthe in a blue bottle and some people say that it got its name from the blue reflections seen when the Absinthe louches.
– La Capricieuse – This Absinthe was produced to satisfy the taste for pre-prohibition stronger Absinthe and has an ABV of 72%.
– Recette Marianne – This Absinthe was produced to be sold to the French market which has strict Fenchone regulations and does not allow bottles labeled Absinthe to be sold. Fenchone is the essential oil of fennel and is thought to be psychoactive. This liquor is 55% ABV and won the prestigious Golden Spoon Award in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
– La Clandestine Originale Alcool du Vin – A distillation of La Clandestine Originale using a wine base.
– Angelique Verte Suisse – Produced for those who want their Absinthe to be slightly more bitter and to have the traditional green color. The beautiful label on this bottle is just like antique labels depicting the Green Fairy.

The Artemisia-Bugnon uses herbs grown in the region like grande and petite Artemisia Absinthium (wormwood), hyssop and lemon balm to flavor its anise flavored liquor. No artificial colors or additives are used and many speak of the Absinthes having a “bouquet” of Alpine meadows, of honey and flowers.

The Clandestine Absinthe of the Artemisia-Bugnon distillery is available to buy on their online shop but if you want to try your hand at making your own Absinthe containing wormwood then you can use the essences from AbsintheKit.com to make your very own premium Absinthe.

You can now order real top-quality Absinthe online on a web shop. There has been an Absinthe revival since the 1990s when Absinthe was legalized in most countries after being banned since the early 1900s.

What is Absinthe?

Absinthe, otherwise known as “The Green Fairy” is a strong alcoholic beverage which is classed as a spirit rather than a liqueur. It is produced in distilleries and is highly alcoholic with between 45 and 75% ABV (Alcohol By Volume). Absinthe is stronger than spirits such as whisky, vodka and gin so care must be taken when drinking – moderation is the key.

Original Absinthe is known for its classic bitter taste which comes from its main ingredient the herb Wormwood, or Artemisia Absinthium. It is a drink with an aniseed flavor and it contains many herbs including green aniseed, fennel and sometimes others such as star anise, hyssop, lemon balm, angelica root and sweet flag. Different varieties use different herbs and some Absinthe specials use other herbs or oils such as orange oil for flavoring.

It is the pure essential oils of the herbs in Absinthe that cause Absinthe to louche when the ice cold water and sugar are added. As the water drips into the Absinthe liquor the oils, which are insoluble, cause the drink to cloud or go milky. This is the famous desired effect.

Tips on Buying Absinthe Online

Absinthe is available from many websites online but you need to check that you are buying from a reputable website or company whose sales are real top quality Absinthe not fake or artificial Absinthe. Real Absinthe contains a chemical called thujone which is found in wormwood and fake Absinthes do not contain this chemical and therefore do not contain any wormwood, the vital ingredient of Absinthe! Many fake Absinthes have been produced for sale to the USA which still has stringent rules regarding thujone levels. Look for Absinthes that contain Grand Wormwood or Artemisia Absinthium.

You can either buy bottles of Absinthe or you can make your own using Absinthe essences. AbsintheKit.com sell Absinthe kits which contain essences which make up to 14 bottles of REAL Absinthe, classic style labels to label your bottles of Absinthe, and a plastic measure to ensure that you measure everything correctly. With these kits you simply mix the essence with Vodka or Everclear – easy! These essences are also used by the Absinthe distillery to make Absinthe so you know they’re top-quality.

Using Your Absinthe

You can also buy Absinthiana online – Absinthe spoons, glasses and other items. To make Absinthe using the classic La Louche method, you need:-
– An Absinthe spoon
– An Absinthe glass
– A cube of sugar
– Some iced water
Pour the required amount of Absinthe into the glass (you are aiming for a ratio of between 3:1 and 5:1 water to Absinthe) and place the sugar cube on the spoon. Slowly pour the iced water over the sugar and let it drip into the Absinthe. Watch the Absinthe louche, stir and then enjoy.

You can also use Absinthe online websites to find recipes for Absinthe cocktails like Hemingway’s famous “Death in the Afternoon” which is a mix of Absinthe and champagne – truly decadent!

In these days of the Absinthe revival it is easy to buy Absinthe online and it is legal, in most countries, to drink Absinthe in bars.

Absinthe is an alcoholic beverage which is about twice as strong as other spirits like whisky and vodka. It has an anise flavor and is made from herbs such as wormwood, fennel and aniseed.

Absinthe was famously banned in many countries in the 1900s, although it was never banned in the UK, Spain, Portugal or the Czech Republic. The thujone in wormwood was thought to be similar to THC in cannabis and to cause psychedelic effects, this has now been disproved.

There are many modern classic style Absinthes – brands which are re-creations of vintage and traditional Absinthes. Price varies according to the brand and the website you order from – shop around to get the best price and to find Absinthe sales, offers and specials.

Here is a list of some good classic brands:-

– The Jade Collection by Ted Breaux – These Absinthes are made at the Combier distillery in Saumur, France. Ted Breaux tested and analyzed vintage bottles of original Absinthe and used what he learned about the ingredients and quantities to develop this line of Absinthes. His Absinthes, which are distilled in old 19th century alambics, include a classic Pernod Fils style Absinthe, a Swiss style Absinthe, a La Bleue style absinthe, and Edouard Pernod type Absinthe, a new Orleans inspired Absinthe and his “Lucid” brand which became the first legal Absinthe in the USA.

– Absinthe Clandestine – This Absinthe is made by Claude-Alain Bugnon, former Absinthe bootlegger. This Absinthe is a La Bleue clear Absinthe made in Bugnon’s distilleries in Couvet, Switzerland. Bugnon uses traditional herbs, such as wormwood and anise, in his Absinthe recipes combined with Alpine herbs.

– La Ptite Absinthe – This La Bleue is also distilled in Couvet by Guadentia Persoz and her husband. They found a 1898 recipe and old alambic in their house when they moved in and are now using this recipe, which includes 12 herbs, to produce this popular Swiss Absinthe.

– Doubs Mystique “Carte d’Or Absinthe” – An Absinthe distilled in Pontarlier, France, the town where Pernod made his first Absinthes. This Absinthe uses traditional distilling methods in 19th century alambics but has a modern twist to make a different tasting Absinthe for the modern Absinthe drinker.

Buy Absinthe Essences

The brands mentioned above are all great brands of Absinthe created using knowledge from the past, but you might want to try your hand at making your own bottle of the Green Fairy.

Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com are a very economical way to make top-quality Absinthe at a great price. A 280ml bottle of Absinthe essence will make 14 bottles of real wormwood Absinthe! The 280ml bottles come in a kit with bottle labels and a measure to measure out the essence.

There are 4 types of Absinthe essence:-

– Absinthe Classics essence – This essence makes a classic style green Absinthe.

– Absinthe White Essence – An essence for those who like Swiss La Bleue clear styles of Absinthe.

– Absinthe Orange Essence – This contains real orange oil and makes a yellow-orange colored and orange flavored Absinthe.

– Absinthe 55 Strong Essence – The other three essences contain 35mg of thujone, the chemical in the herb wormwood, but this essence makes a stronger 55mg Asbinthe liquor with a strong bitter wormwood taste. Perfect for those who like the taste of wormwood.

All of these essences are available on sale at the web shop of AbsintheKit.com. And buying is easy.

To use the essences, simply mix with a neutral alcohol base such as Everclear or vodka, add sugar of you like a smoother Absinthe, and there you have it – your very own Absinthe.

AbsintheKit.com also sell replica Absinthe glasses and spoons such as a Pontarlier style glass and an Eiffel Tower spoon. The perfect gift for an Absinthe lover.

Absinthe, an intense alcoholic beverage made famous by the likes of Degas, Vincent Van Gogh, and Ernest Hemmingway is making a comeback all over the world and it is not uncommon to find absinthe on the menu cards of trendy bars. Absinthe after being banned for almost a century is now legalized in most of Europe; however, the United States continues to ban absinthe and US citizens have to buy absinthe online from non-US producers.

Absinthe is made from several herbs and contains high alcohol concentration. Absinthe which was earlier invented to treat stomach illness soon acquired legendary status due to its unique effects. It was endorsed by nineteenth century bohemian artists and writers and soon became the favorite drink of the masses and classes. The great painters and writers considered absinthe as a creative stimulant and nicknamed it “the Green Fairy” and “the Green Muse”. Absinthe was prepared using an elaborate traditional ritual. Special absinthe spoons and absinthe glasses along with absinthe fountains were used in the preparation of the absinthe drink.

The drinks popularity soon spread to the United States and it gathered a significant fan following; however, mental illness and violent behavior of absinthe drinkers soon gave it a bad reputation. This resulted in absinthe being banned in Europe and other countries.

Thujone a substance present in wormwood was widely believed to cause absinthe madness and a condition called absinthism. Recent studies using advanced analytical tools proved that thujone content in pre-ban absinthe was well below dangerous levels. This new research led to absinthe being legalized in most European countries. Absinthe is easily available in UK and most other European countries. There is no ban on absinthe in Canada and Mexico.

You can also buy absinthe in the United States and many brands are available in liquor stores. The absinthe available in United States is actually the watered down version of the original genuine absinthe. Absinthe sold in the United States has to conform to laws that require thujone content to be less than 3 parts per million.

The good news is that US citizens can buy their absinthe online from non-US producers. There are many websites that sell European absinthe online. Thujone levels in European absinthe are much higher than those produced in the US. If you are lucky, the customs will let it pass; however, customs have the authority to confiscate the absinthe bottles and sue the importer as it is still considered a narcotic drug.

The best alternative available for US citizens is to order absinthe essence and make their absinthe. Genuine absinthe essence and other absinthe accessories can be ordered online from reputed sites such as absinthekit.com. The credit card information and transactions are kept confidential and secure. The products are shipped within two days and delivered within 5 days in Europe and 10 days in other parts of the world including United States.

Absinthekit.com guarantees delivery, you have to be 18 years or older to buy absinthe. Absinthekit.com has a well-manned customer service and support desk that handles all the service related issues diligently.