Lots of people around the world are asking “What is Absinthe alcohol?” because we seem to be experiencing an Absinthe revival at the moment. Absinthe is seen as a trendy and mysterious drink which is associated with Bohemian artists and writers, films such as “From Hell” and “Moulin Rouge” and celebrities like Johnny Depp and Marilyn Manson. Manson has even had his own Absinthe created called “Mansinthe”!

Van Gogh, Gauguin, Degas, Pablo Picasso, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway talked of Absinthe giving them their inspiration and genius. They even called the Green Fairy their muse. Absinthe features in many artistic works – The Absinthe drinker by Picasso, The Absinthe Drinker by Manet and L’Absinthe by Degas. The writer Charles Baudelaire also wrote about it in his poetry too. Absinthe has definitely inspired great works and has had an amazing effect on history.

What is Absinthe Alcohol?

Absinthe is an anise flavored, high proof alcohol. It is usually served with iced water to dilute it and to cause it to louche. Henri-Louis Pernod distilled it in the early 19th century by using a wine alcohol base flavored with natural herbs and plants. Traditional herbs used in Absinthe production include wormwood, aniseed, fennel, star anise, hyssop and lemon balm, as well as many others. Spanish Absenta, the Spanish name for Absinthe, tends to be a bit sweeter than French or Swiss Absinthe because it uses a different type of anise, Alicante anise.

Legend has it that Absinthe was created in the late 18th century by Dr Pierre Ordinaire as an elixir for his patients in Couvet, Switzerland. The recipe then got into the hands of two sisters who started selling it as a drink in the town and eventually sold it to a Major Dubied whose daughter married into the Pernod family – the rest is, as they say, history!

By 1805, Pernod had opened a distillery in Pontarlier, France and started producing Absinthe under the name “Pernod Fils” and, by the middle of the 19th century, the Pernod company was producing more than 30,000 liters of Absinthe a day! Absinthe even became more popular than wine in France.

Absinthe had its heyday during the Golden Age of La Belle Epoque in France. Unfortunately, it became associated with drugs such as heroin, cocain and cannabis and was accused of having psychedelic effects. Prohibitionists, doctors and wine producers, who were upset with Absinthe’s popularity, all ganged up against Absinthe and were able to persuade the French Government to ban the beverage in 1915.

Fortunately, Absinthe has since been redeemed. Studies and tests have shown that Absinthe is no more harmful than any other strong liquor and that it does not induce hallucinations or damage people’s health. The claims of the early 20th century are now seen as mass hysteria and falsehoods. It was legalized in the EU in 1988 and the USA have allowed various brands of Absinthe to be sold in the US since 2007.

You can read more about its history and interesting facts on absinthebuyersguide.com and the Buyer’s Guide and forum at lafeeverte.net. The forum is useful because there are reviews on different Absinthes. You can purchase Absinthe essences, which make real wormwood Absinthe, along with replica Absinthe glasses and spoons at AbsintheKit.com.

So, what is Absinthe alcohol? It is a mythical, mysterious drink with an incredible history.

Vintage Absinthe was, in the past, thought to contain as much as 260-350mg per kg of thujone, the chemical found in the herb common wormwood. Thujone was thought to be similar to THC in cannabis, to be psychoactive and to cause psychedelic effects. Absinthe was banned in many countries in the early 1900s because of claims and allegations that it was dangerous and could drive people insane. It was said that prolonged Absinthe drinking, Absinthism, caused hallucinations, convulsions, fits, brain damage and ultimately death.

Studies in recent times on vintage Absinthe recipes from the 19th century and testing on vintage bottles of Asbinthe performed by distiller Ted Breaux, have concluded that vintage Absinthe contained a maximum of only 6mg/kg of thujone, nowhere near enough to cause the effects claimed. An Absinthe drinker would die of alcohol poisoning long before suffering any ill effects from the thujone!

Vintage Absinthe and Modern Classics

It is possible to buy antique vintage bottles of the Green Fairy, the nickname for Absinthe, but these are very expensive and you wouldn’t want to drink such a valuable piece of history. Instead, it is possible to buy modern Absinthe which is modeled on original Absinthe recipes and vintage Absinthes.

Here are a few great modern Absinthes:-

– Absinthe Clandestine – Created by former Absinthe bootlegger Claude-Alain Bugnon and distilled in Couvet, the home town of Absinthe, this Absinthe is based on traditional Swiss La Bleue recipes. It is a clear Absinthe which is made from wormwood, anise and a variety of other herbs, including local Alpine herbs. This Absinthe is said to have a taste of honey and alpine meadows.

– La Ptite Absinthe – Also distilled in Couvet, this clear Absinthe is based on a 1898 recipe found by Guadentia Persoz when she moved into her house in Couvet. The recipe uses 12 different herbs to make a quality La Bleue.

– Absinthe Brevans – This Absinthe is distilled at the Kallnacher distillery in Switzerland using a 1897 recipe. It contains the traditional herbs and plants and uses a wine and marc base.

– Absinthe Duplais – Also distilled at the Kallnacher distillery, this is a green or verte Absinthe which is made using an original Absinthe making manual written by P.Duplais. This Absinthe is said to have a lovely creamy, thick louche.

– Absinthe Roquette 1797 – This Absinthe is distilled in original 19th century alambics in Pontarlier, France – the French home of Absinthe. It is based on an 18th century recipe and is named after the horse of the legendary Absinthe creator Dr Pierre Ordinaire.

– The Jade Collection by Ted Breaux – Distilled in the Combier distillery in Saumur, France by American Ted Breaux, these Absinthes have won many awards. Breaux created his Absinthe recipes by testing and analyzing vintage Absinthes and they are distilled using traditional methods and using 19th century alambics rescued from the Pernod Fils distillery. The Jade collection includes a La Bleue , A New Orleans style Absinthe, A classic Pernod Fils style Absinthe, a green (verte) Swiss Absinthe and an Edouard Pernod inspired Absinthe.

– Essences from AbsintheKit.com – These essences are used by the Absinthe distillation industry and contain the traditional herbal ingredients. Simply mix with vodka or Everclear to get a real vintage Absinthe taste with real wormwood.

All of these Asbinthes should be prepared in the traditional way using the ritual, Absinthe glasses, spoons and iced water. Absinthe should be poured into a glass and the iced water should be dripped over a sugar cube, placed on the slotted Absinthe spoon, and into the Absinthe.

Vintage Absinthe and The United States

Ted Breaux, creator of the Jade Collection of Absinthes, dreamed of re-introducing Absinthe to the United States where it had been banned since 1912. US Customs would not allow any of his Jade collection or any other Absinthe to be shipped to the US due to the laws regarding Absinthe and thujone. Absinthe could not be bought, sold or served within the USA.

Ted Breaux and lawyer Gared Gurfein were able to convince the Alcohol, Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau of the low thujone content of “Lucid” a brand created by Breaux and they also found that US law only banned drinks named Absinthe and drinks with a thujone content of over 10mg.

Breaux launched “Lucid”, an Absinthe based on vintage Absinthe, in 2007 and it became legal to buy and sell within the US. Many posters advertised the launch of Lucid in different states around America – a historical event!

Playa del Carmen is a popular tourist attraction in Mexico and many US citizens want to know if it is possible to drink real Absinthe in Mexico because they have been unable to source it in the United States. So, let’s find out where to drink Absinthe in Playa del Carmen.

First some details about Playa del Carmen:-

Playa del Carmen is a trendy resort about 40 miles from Cancun. It has beautiful white beaches, coral reefs and a vibrant nightlife with a vast array of bars, clubs and restaurants on offer. Sunbathe or snorkel by day and dance the night away. It is the perfect place to sample your very first Absinthe.

Where to drink Absinthe in Playa del Carmen

Absinthe is not a hugely popular drink in Mexico but is catching on in resorts frequented by Europeans and Americans. Absinthe is legal in Mexico and many different brands and styles can be sampled including famous Czech brands.
For up to date information about bars and clubs that are serving Absinthe, you may want to check on absinthedemexico.com.

The main bars and clubs can be found on the Fifth Avenue, 8th Street and 12th street. Bars on 12th Street include Blue Parrot, Om and Coco Maya. Further bars including the Bali Club and Santanera can be found near 10th Avenue.

If you’re going to Playa del Carmen on holiday then that’s great, you can enjoy the sea, sun and a glass of Absinthe. However, there’s really no need to travel to Mexico just for buying Absinthe.

Since 2007 some brands of Absinthe have been legal to sell and buy in the United States. It has always been thought that Absinthe was illegal in the US because alcohol had to be classed as “thujone free” to be legal. The good news is that US test equipment allows liquor which has a thujone content of 10mg/kg or less to be classed as thujone free. This finding has meant that some distillers are now able to sell their Absinthe in the US. Lucid, Kubler and Green Moon have all been legalized now for purchase along with others.

True original Absinthe contains wormwood and to experience the real taste of pre ban Absinthe you need to buy Absinthe which contains wormwood and not a fake or substitute Absinthe. Wormwood is the key ingredient in Absinthe. If you order Absinthe online, many suppliers have product descriptions telling you about the different brands and their thujone levels. The website Lafeeverte.net has got a great buyer’s guide with reviews on different brands to help you choose from the many Absinthes on sale.

You can make your very own wormwood Green Fairy at home by using an essence from AbsintheKit.com. Simply mix 20ml of essence with 730ml of Everclear or vodka to make a true Absinthe. They have four different types of essences available to make four different styles of Absinthe – a La Bleue style, a classic verte Absinthe, an orange flavored Absinthe and a strong Absinthe which contains more wormwood and so has a stronger and more bitter flavor. All four essences contain wormwood. These essences are available on their website along with replica Absinthe glasses and spoons.

So, you no longer have to worry about where to drink Absinthe in Playa del Carmen when you can now enjoy the Green Fairy at home.