All commercial alcoholic drinks are labeled to show their alcohol content so that people can make informed decisions about drinking them and how much to consume.

Alcohol content is measured by using a hydrometer. A hydrometer looks a bit like a fishing float with a thermometer attached. When the hydrometer is put in liquid it floats upright. When it is put in water, the water line will be at the level marked 1.000, if it is put in sugared water the level will be higher because the water is denser. When the hydrometer is used in fermenting alcohol the float moves lower as the sugar is eaten by the yeast. Two measurements are taken when making alcohol – the first measurement (original gravity) is taken with the sugar but before the yeast is added and then the final reading is taken after the yeast has finished fermenting (final gravity.

Alcohol by volume is worked out by the following formula:-
Original gravity – Final gravity x 131 = Alcohol by volume.

Both the EU and the United States label the alcohol by volume content of drinks, some other countries go on proof. Proof is approximately twice alcohol by volume.

Different brands of Absinthe have different alcohol contents. Look at the following statistics:-

Lucid Absinthe 62% abv (124 proof)
La Clandestine Absinthe 53% abv (106 proof)
Sebor 55% abv (110 proof)
Pere Kermanns 60% abv (120 proof)
Pernod Absinthe 68% abv (136 proof0
Mari Mayans Collectors 70 70% abv (140 proof)
La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse 53% abv (106 proof)
La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise 68% abv (136 proof)
La Fee Bohemian 70% abv (140 proof)
La Fee Parisian 68% abv (136 proof)
Kubler 53 53% abv (106 proof)
Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or 65% abv (130 proof)
Roquette 1797 75% abv (150 proof)
Jade PF 1901 68% abv (136 proof)
Jade Edouard 72% abv (144 proof)
Jade Verte Suisse 65% abv (130 proof)
Jade Nouvelle Orleans 68% abv (136 proof)

As you can see Absinthe can range from 53% abv to 75% abv, quite a difference. Now, let’s compare those levels to other alcoholic drinks:-

Absolut Blue Vodka 40% abv (80 proof)
Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila 38% abv (76 proof)
Beer tends to be 4 or 5% alcohol by volume (8-10 proof).
Table Wine 9-12% alcohol by volume (18-24 proof).
Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch Whisky 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof).
Everclear 95% abv (190 proof)

No other alcoholic drink seems to come close to Absinthe!

Homemade Absinthes can also vary in alcohol content. One person might mix an Absinthe essence from AbsintheKit.com with Absolut vodka (40% abv) and another might make it with Everclear (95% abv) – a huge difference.

Absinthe was banned in the 1900s because of claims that thujone, the chemical in wormwood, was like THC in the drug cannabis and that it was psychoactive and caused psychedelic effects. We now know that claims that Absinthe is an hallucinogen are completely false but we do need to remember that any liquor can be harmful to our health if we consume too much. People in Memphis have realized this and, in 2006, Memphis was the city that drank the least alcohol in the USA – more than 6/10 Memphis citizens had not even consumed a sip of alcohol in at least a month when they were polled.

Alcohol is fine if consumed in moderation but you need to know how much alcohol is in Absinthe and other alcohol that you buy and consume.

Absinthe, also known as La Fee Verte or the Green Fairy was distilled by Henri-Louis Pernod in the 19th century in France and became a very popular drink. It was especially popular with the Bohemian culture of Montmartre and artists and writers such as Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Oscar Wilde who credited it with giving them inspiration and their genius. Prohibition campaigners blamed it for people’s loose morals, widespread alcohol abuse, for causing hallucinations, convulsions and psychedelic effects. Absinthe was even compared to cannabis. But, are all these claims and statements true or are they part of the legend which surrounds the Green Fairy?

How Much Absinthe to Drink to Hallucinate?

Absinthe was banned in the early 1900s because of fears regarding its safety. Dr Valentin Magnan tested Absinthe’s key ingredient, wormwood, on guinea pigs and found that it caused convulsions. He then isolated thujon, a chemical in wormwood, and gave it to dogs. The thujone caused epileptic type fits whereas alcohol just caused drunkenness. He concluded that Absinthe was far more dangerous than fermented beverages like cider, wine and beer.

It was thought that vintage pre ban Absinthe contained as much as 350mg per liter of thujone. Recent tests on vintage bottles of Absinthe and original Absinthe recipes have showed that it actually only contained up to 6mg of thujone per liter! The claims of the prohibition movement seem to be entirely unsourced as are statements and claims featured in the work of doctors such as Magnan.

So, how much Absinthe to drink to hallucinate? Well, it seems that you may die of alcohol poisoning long before suffering any effects from thujone. Most commercial Absinthe contains under 10mg/kg of thujone due to regulations. The herb sage contains far more thujone and nobody hallucinates after eating turkey stuffing at Christmas or Thanksgiving.

How much Absinthe to drink to get drunk

Absinthe is a very strong alcoholic baverage, between 53% abv and 75% abv, so far stronger than spirits like whisky and vodka. If you make Absinthe at home from kits like those on sale at AbsintheKit.com, then the alcohol content will depend on what neutral alcohol base you use.

It should be consumed in moderation as it is very easy to get drunk on Absinthe! Many people describe being drunk on Absinthe as a very different drunkenness – a “clear headed” or “lucid” drunkenness. This may be because of the blend of herbs used. The alcohol is a sedative but some of the herbs are stimulants so being drunk on Absinthe is very different from being drunk on fermented types of beverages such as cider or beer. You will certainly start to feel rather drunk after 3 or more glasses.

How much Absinthe to drink to hallucinate? You will never hallucinate from Absinthe. How much Absinthe to drink to get drunk? Not much, it is very strong.

Absinthe is a drink of myths and legend. Many know that it was the favorite drink of artists and writers such as Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Oscar Wilde who credited it with giving them inspiration and their genius. Prohibition campaigners blamed it for people’s loose morals, widespread alcohol abuse, for causing hallucinations, convulsions and psychedelic effects. Absinthe was even compared to cannabis. But, are all these claims and statements true or are they part of the legend which surrounds the Green Fairy?

How Much Absinthe Does it Take to Hallucinate?

There is still debate going on today over the effects of drinking Absinthe. Absinthe was banned in many countries in the early 1900s due to its alleged psychedelic effects and the work of Dr Valentin Magnan. Magnan tested wormwood oil (Artemesia Absinthium), a key ingredient in Absinthe, and found that it caused epileptic fits in animals due to the toxic psychoactive chemical thujone.

It was believed that vintage pre ban Absinthe contained as much as 350mg per liter of thujone and that this caused people to hallucinate and “trip”. Recent tests on vintage bottles of Absinthe and original Absinthe recipes have showed that it actually only contained about 4mg of thujone per liter! The claims of the prohibition movement seem to be entirely unsourced as are statements and claims featured in the work of doctors such as Magnan.

So, how much Absinthe does it take to hallucinate? Well, it seems that you may die of alcohol poisoning in your quest to have any psychedelic effects from thujone as there is so little in commercial Absinthe today – under 10mg in most cases due to legislation. In fact, the herb sage that is used commonly in cooking has a much higher concentration of thujone than Absinthe does and you do not hallucinate after eating sage!

The Real Effects of Drinking Absinthe

Absinthe is a very strong distilled alcoholic beverage made with essential oils and herbs including aniseed, wormwood, fennel, hyssop, lemon balm, dittany, melissa, angelica and licorice. It is not usually consumed “straight” or on the rocks but is generally diluted with iced water.

The preparation of Absinthe is called the Ritual and involves dripping iced water, from a carafe or Absinthe fountain, over a cube of sugar on an Absinthe spoon resting on an Absinthe glass. Absinthe spoons are slotted to allow the water and sugar solution to drip through. When the water mixes into the Absinthe, the Absinthe louches and goes cloudy. The drink is then ready to be consumed.

Due to its alcohol content, up to 70% ABV, it should be consumed in moderation – it is very easy to get drunk on Absinthe! Many describe being drunk on Absinthe as a very different drunkenness – a “clear headed” or “lucid” drunkenness. This may be because of the blend of herbs used – some are sedatives and some are stimulants. Being drunk on Absinthe is very different from being drunk on fermented types of beverages such as cider or beer. You will certainly start to feel rather drunk after 3 or more glasses.

Absinthe Styles

It is now legal to buy many different styles and types of Absinthes:-
- Modern classics based on vintage Absinthe based on Absinthe antiques, vintage bottles that have been found and analyzed. These Absinthes include, among others, the Jade collection by Ted Breaux, St George Spirits Absinthe Verte and Absinthe Clandestine.

- Spanish Absenta – made from Alicante Anise giving a sweeter flavor.

- La Bleue or Blance Absinthes – These are clear Swiss style Absinthes.

- Czech Absinthe – Some Czech Absinthes are real traditional Absinthes but some Bohemian Style Absinth (witout the “e”) is made without anise and is more of a wormwood bitter.

- Absinthe substitutes – These have an anise flavor but do not contain wormwood.

You can also purchase Absinthe essences, like those from AbsintheKit.com, which allow you to make your own Absinthe at home easily and cheaply. You can find full information and instructions on www.AbsintheKit.com.

So, how much Absinthe does it take to hallucinate? No Absinthe can really cause you to hallucinate but it will get you drunk quite quickly!

It was thought in the late 19th century and early 20th century that thujone, the chemical in wormwood, was similar to THC in the drug cannabis. The medical profession claimed that Absinthe contained massive amounts of thujone and that thujone was psychoactive and caused psychedelic effects including hallucinations, convulsions, delirium and insanity. It was claimed that Absinthe caused Van Gogh to cut off his ear and drove him to suicide, that it was causing addiction and alcoholism in France and that it was even responsible for murder. What’s the truth?

We now know that Absinthe is not hallucinogenic at all. Thujone can act on the GABA receptors in the brain and cause convulsions and spasms when it is ingested in large amounts but Absinthe only contains very small amounts of thujone after the distillation process. As Ted Breaux, Absinthe distiller and tester of vintage Absinthe, said to Rita Cosby in an interview in 2006:-
“I would have to consume about three liters of Absinthe at the European limit to have any clinically discernible effects from thujone, and I’d be long dead from the alcohol by that point.”
Van Gogh had been suffering from mental illness from childhood and he mixed his Absinthe with turpentine – not a great combination!

How Many Shots to Hallucinate Absinthe?

A shot means different amounts in different countries. A US shot is 1.5 fluid ounces or 45ml, a UK shot is 25ml, in Australia it is 30ml and in Germany and Finland a shot is 20ml. So,let’s see how many US shots of Absinthe we would need to consume to drink 3 liters, like Breaux says.
US shot = 45ml so 1000ml divided by 45ml = 22.22 so 22 shots! There’s no way that we could consume that much Absinthe and still be standing or even still be alive.

What you have to remember is the alcohol content of Absinthe. Let’s look at the alcohol content of some drinks and compare them to Absinthe:-
Absinthe can be up to 75% alcohol by volume (150 proof).
Beer tends to be 4 or 5% alcohol by volume (8-10 proof).
Table Wine 9-12% alcohol by volume (18-24 proof).
Whisky – Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof).
Now, the alcohol-information.com website has worked out that if you have one shot of 190 proof Everclear is equivalent to drinking 2.85 bottles of beer and about 3 brandies. With this information we can establish that one shot of Absinthe is equivalent to 2.25 bottles of beer. So, the 22 shots Absinthe is equivalent to 49.5 bottles of beer!

Absinthe is a great drink, a wonderful anise flavored liquor but it will not make you hallucinate, however much you drink. Surely it is best to drink it in moderation and not put yourself at risk of alcohol poisoning. College kids think it’s funny and crazy to experiment with liquor and pot as part of their social life but Absinthe is way stronger than other liquors and care needs to be taken with it. It can get you intoxicated very quickly.

Always buy quality Absinthe from reputable distilleries. Do not try making your own thujone loaded Absinthe at home. If you really want to make your very own Absinthe then use quality essences such as those from AbsintheKit.com that have been made through proper distillation and that have the thujone level measured.

How many shots to hallucinate Absinthe? Over 22 shots so please don’t try it. Instead, enjoy Absinthe as the lovely drink it is.

How Many Servings Are in One Bottle of Absinthe?

This all depends on the size of your servings and the size of your bottle of Absinthe. Like many spirits and alcoholic beverages, Absinthe is usually served in shots, but unlike other types of alcohol it is usually diluted with iced water. If you are serving your Absinthe in the traditional way using “The Ritual”, or La Louche, then you will be pouring a shot of Absinthe into an Absinthe glass and then diluting it with sugar and water, but how big is a shot?

A shot means different amounts in different countries. A US shot is 1.5 fluid ounces or 45ml, a UK shot is 25ml, in Australia it is 30ml and in Germany and Finland a shot is 20ml.

Let’s base the answer to this question on buying a standard 70cl bottle of Absinthe and using a US shot – much more generous than the UK shot!

If a shot is 45ml and my bottle is 700ml then the math I use is 700 divided by 45 which equals 15.55. I will therefore get 15 full shots of Absinthe from my 70cl bottle.

If we are not so generous, or we want to make our Absinthe last longer, we can use a UK shot. 700ml divided by 25ml equals 28 shots.

The Bohemian or Czech Method of serving Absinthe is just like the Ritual except that the sugar is first soaked in the Absinthe and then set alight before the water is dripped over. The same amount of Absinthe is used.

But what if I am only using my Absinthe in cocktails?

Again, this all depends on how much you are using at a time. Let us look at the recipe for the New Orleans cocktail, the Sazerac:-

Sazerac
1 teaspoon of Absinthe
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 ½ ounces of rye whisky
3 dashes of Angostura bitters
Ice cubes

Instructions for making a Sazerac – Freeze a cocktail glass in the freezer then pour the Absinthe into it, swilling it around to let it coat the inside of the glass.
Put the remaining ingredients into a cocktail shaker, shake and pour into the glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon and drink.

We are just using 1 teaspoon of Absinthe at a time. So, if we are only using our Absinthe to make Sazeracs then our math is 700ml divided by 5ml which equals 140 servings. Wow, you can make 140 Sazeracs with your bottle of Absinthe.

Ok, so a standard bottle of Absinthe will give us 15 US shots. So, Absinthe does work out quite expensive then, seeing as it can cost upwards of $50 per bottle. Are there any tips for saving money on Absinthe? Yes. AbsintheKit.com sell Absinthe essences which are made by distilling alcohol with the traditional Absinthe herbs – wormwood, aniseed and fennel. A 20ml bottle of Absinthe essence, when added to 730ml of Everclear or vodka, will make 750ml of Absinthe.
750ml divided by 45ml = 16.6

An extra serving because it makes 750ml. This is great news if we consider that 20ml of essence only costs $3.95 (a kit to make 14 bottles costs $29), the only extra we have to buy is the Everclear or vodka. There are no skills to learn, you simply mix the essence with the neutral alcohol and you have a great tasting Absinthe to drink for a fraction of the cost of commercial Absinthe.

Absinthe is an anise flavored liquor which is usually served diluted with iced water. The traditional method of serving Absinthe is called The Ritual or La Louche. Here are instructions for how to prepare the perfect Absinthe:-

To make your Absinthe drink you need to pour a shot of Absinthe into an Absinthe glass and rest an Absinthe spoon on the rim of the glass.
Place a cube of sugar on the spoon and slowly drip the water over the sugar to make it dissolve into the Absinthe. Top up the Absinthe to taste, usually a ratio of between 3:1 and 5:1 water to Absinthe.
If you use a steady hand and drip the water slowly, you will be able to watch the Absinthe louche as it turns from a transparent bright green to an opalescent, pale, milky green.

Here are the alcohol contents of some popular brands of Absinthe:-

Lucid Absinthe 62% abv (124 proof)
La Clandestine Absinthe 53% abv (106 proof)
Sebor 55% abv (110 proof)
Pere Kermanns 60% abv (120 proof)
Pernod Absinthe 68% abv (136 proof0
Mari Mayans Collectors 70 70% abv (140 proof)
La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse 53% abv (106 proof)
La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise 68% abv (136 proof)
La Fee Bohemian 70% abv (140 proof)
La Fee Parisian 68% abv (136 proof)
Kubler 53 53% abv (106 proof)
Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or 65% abv (130 proof)
Roquette 1797 75% abv (150 proof)
Jade PF 1901 68% abv (136 proof)
Jade Edouard 72% abv (144 proof)
Jade Verte Suisse 65% abv (130 proof)

If you compare those to the alcohol levels of other drinks, you can get an idea of just how strong Absinthe is.

Beer usually has an abv of 4-5%, table wine is usually 9-12% and premium Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch Whisky has 40% abv.

The Roquette 1797 is nearly twice as strong as Johnnie Walker Scotch so we need to remember that, drink it in moderation and take extra care when mixing it with other spirits in cocktails.

Also remember that if you make Absinthe at home from kits like the essences from AbsintheKit.com, the alcohol content will depend on what neutral alcohol you use.

How Many Drinks To Have?

The National Health Service of the UK has issued guidelines to help people to know how much alcohol can be consumed safely without putting their health at risk. Women should have no more than 3 units of alcohol per day and men should have no more than 4 units per day. A unit is 10ml of pure alcohol (ethanol).

To put this into context, a 50ml glass of Jack Daniels (40% abv) is 2 units, a 330ml bottle of Budweiser is 1.7 units and a large 250ml glass of Rioja wine is 3.3 units.

Where does Absinthe fit into this?
Well, if you only drink Absinthe, then you need to limit yourself to a shot of commercial Absinthe a day to be within the safe drinking guidelines.

Many people still believe that Absinthe can make you hallucinate. Although in history, Absinthe was compared to cannabis, we now know that this is not true. The only effects you will get if you drink too much Absinthe are those related to being drunk.

Tips to enjoy Absinthe safely – Only drink quality Absinthe which has its alcohol content labeled, or make your own, and enjoy your Absinthe in moderation.

You can make your own traditional wormwood Asbinthe liquor at home. You do not need a degree in chemistry to make the Green Fairy, there are websites offering an Absinthe recipe and Absinthe educational resources. Or, to make life easier, there are many suppliers and websites where you can buy Absinthe kits along with full instructions.

How Make Your Own Absinthe Using Kits

Some kits available online provide you with various herbs such as wormwood, aniseed, fennel, hyssop, lemon balm, anise, angelica and other classic herbal ingredients. You then either have to steep these herbs or mix with a neutral alcohol such as vodka and then filter the mixture. There is no distillation involved.

Green Devil Absinthe Kits

Green Devil are a company selling Absinthe brewing kits online. Their kits include:-

- An Absinthe Blend containing Grand wormwood, hyssop, calamus, melissa, anise seed, fennel seed, star anise, coriander seed.

- Absinthe Flavoring and Finishing Blend containing mint, melissa, wormwood, citron peel and liquorice root.

The herbs provided are all organic and have been growing without the use of chemicals.

Also included in their kits are:-

- Unique micron filtration system – This uses carbon filters to filter the Absinthe, instead of distillation.

The Deluxe kit which is $54.95 also includes two Absinthe spoons, two Absinthe glasses, a 1000ml bottle, two bottle labels, two muslin bags for infusing the herbs, a Green Devil poster and an information leaflet with recipes, instructions and facts. The herbs will make 2 liters of Absinthe.

The finished Absinthe will contain approximately 70-90mg of thujone per liter. Thujone is a chemical found in Absinthe which was thought to be harmful and have psychedelic effects. When it is consumed in high doses it can effect the GABA receptors in the brain and cause convulsions and muscle spasms. 70-90mg of thujone is approximately 8 times the amount of thujone in commercial Absinthe sold in Europe and much higher than even vintage Absinthe.

AbsintheKit.com Essences

AbsintheKit.com sell Absinthe essences which are made from the traditional Absinthe herbs and are already distilled using high tech carbon dioxide distillation. They are easy to use – simply mix with vodka or Everclear and you have your very own Absinthe.

These essences are top-quality essences which the company also sell to the Absinthe industry. 20ml of essence makes one 750ml bottle of real Absinthe and an essence costs $3.95 or $4.95 for the stronger essence.

These essences are also available as kits which contain enough essence to make 14 bottles of Absinthe, bottle labels and a plastic measure. The kits cost $29.00 or $39.00 – a great price for 14 bottles of Absinthe. You just have to buy the vodka.

There are 4 types of essence available – a classic green essence, an essence for making clear (white) Absinthe, an orange flavored essence and a Strong Absinthe essence. The first three will make an Absinthe containing 35mg of thujone and the strong essence makes an Absinthe containing 55mg of thujone.

So, that’s how make your own Absinthe. It’s easy to make and enjoy your own Green Fairy drink at home.

Absinthe was banned in the early 1900s because of its alleged danger to health. We all know about Van Gogh cutting his ear off and committing suicide, apparently under the influence of Absinthe, but Absinthe was being blamed for insanity, a condition called “Absinthism” and even murder. Why?

Absinthe grew from being used as a medicinal elixir in the late 18th century to being a hugely popular drink in France in th 19th century. In fact, by the turn of the 20th century the French were consuming 36 million liters of the Green Fairy and bars had special Absinthe hours.

Absinthe’s key ingredient was, and is, the herb wormwood which has been used in medicine since ancient times. However, wormwood contains a chemical called thujone which, in large doses, can cause convulsions, spasms and kidney failure. The French medical profession thought that thujone was similar to THC in cannabis and claimed that Absinthe was not only an intoxicant but that it was also a dangerous hallucinogen which eventually caused insanity, brain damage and death. The symptoms of Absinthism, prolonged drinking of Absinthe, were cited as:-

- Convulsions
- Delirium
- Hypersensitivity to pain
- Loss of libido
- Insanity
- Paralysis
- Death

The medical profession and prohibition movement claimed that Absinthe contained very large amounts of thujone and that it would drive the whole French population insane. Governments in many countries were worrying about Absinthe and Absinthe was banned in the US in 1912 and in France in 1915.

Absinthe has now been legalized in many countries around the world and many distillers are using traditional methods of distillation and original recipes to make pre ban style Absinthe.

So, how long does Absinthe take to work?

Well, if you are drinking Absinthe to hallucinate, then you are going to be very disappointed. Absinthe does not contain enough thujone to cause any psychedelic effects and you would die of alcohol poisoning before consuming enough thujone to affect you. Even vintage Absinthe only contained trace amounts, according to tests carried out by distiller Ted Breaux and by a food safety group for the German government. Both Breaux and the German group carried out extensive tests on premium pre ban Absinthe and came to the conclusion that Absinthe is no more harmful than any of the other strong spirits.

Absinthe is a very strong liquor, up to 150 proof (75% alcohol by volume), so it will get you drunk very quickly and the mysterious blend of herbs used in its recipe will give you a very different kind of drunkenness. The sedative effect of the alcohol and the stimulating effect of some of the herbs make for a strange “clear headed” or “lucid” drunkenness.

Make sure that you buy a quality Absinthe containing wormwood to give you that taste of real vintage style Absinthe. You can even make your own by using essences from AbsintheKit.com.

How long does Absinthe take to work to get you drunk? This depends on you, your body, how strong the Absinthe is and your alcohol tolerance. Even the first glass can make your tongue tingle and can go straight to your head!

How Do You Pronounce Absinthe and other Absinthe Words?

“Absinthe” – Absinthe was an incredibly popular drink in France in the 19th century and early 20th century so the French should be able to pronounce it. It was THE drink of La Belle Epqoque period and even became more popular than wine before its ban in 1915.

The word “Absinthe”, the name for wormwood (artemisia absinthium) was also used as the name of a Summer day in the old French Republican Calendar. This calendar was used in France from 1793 until its abolition from 1st January 1806 by Napoleon. The calendar began at the Autumn equinox and was made up of 12 months of 30 days. Each month was then divided into 3 “weeks” which were actually made up of 10 days each. Days were named after animals, tools or plants and minerals and the names of months were based on Nature.

So, “Absinthe” is a well known word in French and is pronounced “ahb-sant”.

The English tend to pronounce it Ab-sinth like the synth in “photosynthesis”. Some people have been known to pronounce it ab-sint or even, according to wikipedia, as ab-sin-thay!

Absinthe does have many different spellings or variations. The French or Swiss spelling is “Absinthe” but in the Czech Republic it is often spelled “Absinth”. “Absinth” sometimes refers to wormwood bitters which do not contain anise. In Spain, Absinthe is known as “Absenta”, in Italy as “assenzio” and sometimes it is spelled with a “y” – Absynthe.

How Do You Pronounce Absinthe Words

There is also much debate on how to pronounce the word “louche” and what it actually means. “Louche” is a French word and is correctly pronounced “loosh”, although many have been heard saying “louch” as in “couch”! It comes from the French for shady and refers to the milky or cloudy opalescence which is seen when water is added to Absinthe. The drink turns from a transparent green (or clear if you have a La Bleue) to a milky pale green or white. Only good quality Absinthe rich in natural essential oils will louche because the louche is caused by the oils, that were soluble in the alcohol, being “freed” from the alcohol and not being soluble in the water.

“Fee Verte” is also not pronounced correctly by many people. La Fee Verte is the French name for the Green Fairy which is another name for Absinthe. La Fee Verte was muse to many artists and writers who dosed themselves up with Absinthe. “La Fee Verte” is pronounced LA FAY VAIRT.

Thujone is another word that people don’t know how to say. Thujone is the chemical found in worwmood that was once compared to THC in the drug cannabis. Some people say THOO-YONE (as in “own”), others say THOO-HONE but the correct pronunciation seems to be THOO-JOAN as in the name Joan.

So, now you know the answer to the question “How do you pronounce Absinthe” and can surprise your friends with your Absinthe knowledge!

You can buy kits online from various suppliers to make your very own Green Fairy from a recipe at home. Some kits provide you with Absinthe herbs such as wormwood, aniseed, fennel, anise, hyssop, lemon balm, calamus, juniper and other classic Absinthe ingredients. You then have to either steep the herbal ingrediants for a few days, use a two step steeping process or mix the herbs with a neutral alcoholic base such as vodka and filter after a few days.

The problem with these kits is that you don’t really get real Absinthe, you are not using distillation. Also some of these kits may contain herbs that are actually dangerous. One steeping kit online claims to make an Absinthe with 80-90mg of thujone in it – much more thujone than commercial brands of Absinthe. Thujone is the active chemical found in Artemisia Absinthium, Common Wormwood.

You need to be careful when using herbs and essential oils at home. Many herbs are perfectly safe when used in small doses and can be beneficial to our health. However, those same herbs in large doses can be harmful and even toxic.

How Do You Make Absinthe With Essences

AbsintheKit.com sell Absinthe essences which are made from the traditional herbs and essential oils – aniseed, fennel and wormwood. These essences are manufactured using high tech carbon dioxide distillation and top-quality herbs and are the same essences that they sell to the Absinthe industry. You can therefore be assured that they are safe and will make proper real Absinthe. You can either buy a 20ml bottle of essence for $3.95 or $4.95 which is enough to make a 750ml bottle of Absinthe, or you can buy an AbsintheKit which contains 280ml of essence to make 14 bottles of Absinthe, a plastic measure and artistic labels to decorate and label your finished Absinthe bottles. Kits cost either $29 or $39 depending on your chosen Absinthe essence.

There is no need to follow complicated recipes, the hard work has been done for you. Simply mix 20ml of essence with 730ml of Everclear or Vodka, add sugar if you want a smoother Absinthe, shake and then enjoy the perfect Absinthe!

AbsintheKit make 4 different essences:-

- Absinthe Classics Essence – This essence will make a classic green Absinthe, the Absinthe enjoyed by devotees like Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Oscar Wilde. A finished 750ml bottle of this Absinthe will contain 35mg of thujone.

- Orange Absinthe – This essence makes a yellow-orange colored Absinthe with the lovely flavor of natural orange oil. This also makes a bottle with a 35mg thujone content.

- White Absinthe – This essence makes a Blanche or La Bleue, Swiss style, clear Absinthe just like the bootleg clandestine Absinthes made during the ban. A 750ml bottle of Absinthe will contain 35mg of thujone.

- Absinthe 55 Strong – For those who like a dark green Absinthe with a stronger, more bitter taste. This essence contains more wormwood and will make an Absinthe with a 55mg thujone content.

So, how do you make Absinthe at home? The best and easiest way is to use essences from AbsintheKit.com.