Absinthe the legendary liquor of nineteenth century Europe has made a stunning comeback after being banned for most part of the twentieth century. Absinthe is considered a living fossil amongst all modern drinks. It has the ability to transport its lovers back to the magical days of nineteenth century Europe. Absinthe was the most popular drink of Europeans before it was wrongfully banned. Pre ban Vintage absinthe reminds connoisseurs of the glittering cafés of Paris, bohemian musicians, great painters like Vincent Van Gogh and Picasso and an era that epitomized artistic and cultural refinement.

Absinthe was invented by a French doctor Dr. Pierre Ordinaire just after the French revolution. It was initially used for treating stomach ailments. It was also called “La Fee Verte” or “The Green Fairy” this nickname is fondly used even today. In 1805 the first factory to commercially produce absinthe was started by Henri Louis Pernod, as by that time absinthe was considered an appetizing alcoholic beverage. Absinthe’s popularity grew by leaps and bounds and soon it became the most preferred drink in all cabarets and cafés of Paris. Everyday 5 p.m. was celebrated as the green hour.

By the middle of the nineteenth century concerns were raised as chronic abuse of absinthe had started creating social problems. Absinthe was blamed for a syndrome called absinthism. Hallucinations, epileptic fits, and hyper-excitability were considered as the classic symptoms of this new syndrome. Belgium banned absinthe in the year 1905 and by 1915 almost all European countries except Spain had banned absinthe. Most of the reputed distilleries that were producing absinthe went bankrupt and closed down while some distilleries started producing pastis.

However, in the beginning of this century most European countries lifted the ban on absinthe in the light of new discoveries that rubbished the claim that absinthe contained abnormal levels of thujone. This renewed interest in absinthe; and once again absinthe started to claim its rightful place amongst the finest of liquors. Suddenly vintage bottles of absinthe were the most sought after items and collectors began collecting vintage absinthe bottles from century old cellars.

Vintage absinthe sells for a phenomenal amount and there are people who are ready to pay hundreds of dollars for a 30mL samples. Perfectly sealed bottles with the cork intact sell for hundreds of dollars. The absinthe in these vintage absinthe bottles is very well preserved and louches beautifully and is remarkably smooth to drink.
However, not everyone has the resources to buy vintage absinthe just to spend an evening with the “Green Fairy”. The best alternative to vintage absinthe is to order absinthe essence and prepare your very own absinthe with neutral spirits like vodka. United States continues to ban production and sale of absinthe. US citizens can posses and consume absinthe as it is not a crime. The closest you can get to taste pre-ban absinthe is by ordering absinthe essence from non-US producers of absinthe essence and absinthe kits and make your own absinthe at home. The essence is made using the classic absinthe recipes.

Absinthekit.com is the most trusted site that offers a variety of genuine absinthe essence, absinthe kits, and other absinthe accessories.

Due to its legendary reputation and a certain aura of mystique around it, absinthe is still considered somewhat of a mystery. So, what is absinthe? This is a question asked by many people who have little or no knowledge of fine liquors. Well, absinthe is the legendary liquor made popular by the likes of Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemmingway, and Oscar Wilde just to name a few.

This legendary liquor started out as a digestive tonic after a French doctor Dr. Pierre Ordinaire discovered its magical properties in the late eighteenth century. Absinthe was then prescribed to treat various stomach ailments. However, soon after it became the most popular alcoholic beverage in Europe. It was common to see people drinking this liquor in the cafés and bars of Paris and other European cities in the nineteenth century. Absinthe was considered as a creative stimulant by many great artists, authors and other creative people.

Absinthe is anise flavored liquor with high alcohol content. It is prepared by distilling neutral grain spirit or wine with different herbs such as wormwood, anise, fennel, angelica root, dittany leaves, hyssop, juniper, nutmeg, Melissa, veronica and coriander. Absinthe liquor may be colorless or have a bright green hue. The green color is due to the presence of chlorophyll from herbs such as hyssop and Melissa.

Absinthe has a very bitter taste and is usually taken with sugar and ice-cold water. The bitter taste is due to absinthine a substance found in wormwood. The alcohol content is generally between 50% and 75%. When at its peak, absinthe rivaled wine in popularity. Thujone, a chemical present in the herb wormwood, is the active ingredient in absinthe However, due to its mild hallucinogenic effects, misinformation and unsubstantiated rumors were spread by vested interests from the wine industry. This had the desired effect and absinthe was ultimately banned by most western countries at the beginning of the twentieth century.

In the last decade of the twentieth century new research proved that absinthe did not contain abnormal levels of hallucinogenic substances. Absinthe was once again legalized and since then has made a terrific comeback in most European countries. Absinthe production and sale continues to be banned in the United States; however, drinking and possession of absinthe is not considered as a crime. Absinthe is not drunk like other everyday spirits such as whiskey or rum; an elaborate ritual is followed to prepare the absinthe drink. Special absinthe glasses, absinthe fountains, absinthe bottles, absinthe spoons, sugar cubes, and ice-cold water are a part of the classic absinthe ritual.

In the classic French ritual absinthe is poured in a special absinthe glass and a special absinthe slotted spoon is place over the rim of the glass. A sugar cube is placed over the spoon and ice-cold water is poured over the spoon from an absinthe fountain. As the sugar cube dissolves in the water it falls through the perforations into the glass. The clear green absinthe in the glass turns opaque due to the louche effect as essential oils in the liquor are released. Ice-cold water is added to dilute the absinthe and the drink is then ready.

Since absinthe is still outlawed in the United States, US citizens are denied the pleasure of authentic absinthe. US citizens can source absinthe essence and absinthe kits from European producers and make their very own absinthe liquor. Genuine absinthe essence is mixed in neutral spirits such as vodka to prepare absinthe liquor.

Absinthekit.com is one place where you can get genuine absinthe essence, absinthe kits, and other absinthe accessories.

Absinthe is made from several herbs and the principal herb used in its production is Artemisia absinthium or grand wormwood. The active chemical present in wormwood is thujone; it is a monoterpene and is related to menthol. Thujone in pure form is a colorless liquid and is known for its healing, restorative, and anthelmintic qualities. Wormwood oil has approximately 40%-60% thujone.

Thujone is a naturally occurring compound in many plants and herbs such as thuja, white cedar, common sage, etc. Many popular liqueurs such as Benedictine, Chartreuse, and Vermouth contain small amounts of thujone. The most famous liqueur that contains thujone is absinthe. Absinthe the legendary drink of nineteenth century Europe is made from several herbs such as Florence fennel, green aniseed, lemon balm, hyssop, dittany, angelica, star anise, nutmeg, juniper, veronica and wormwood.

Thujone in its pure and concentrated form is toxic and can cause convulsions and brain damage. However, the concentration of thujone in absinthe is thousand times lower than what can be considered as dangerous for human consumption. Thujone in small quantity acts as a stimulant. This was one reason for absinthes popularity in nineteenth century Europe when a great cultural and artistic revolution was taking place. Famous personalities that included great painters and writers were avid followers of absinthe and many attributed their creative genius to absinthe and its magical effects. Great masters like Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Oscar Wilde, and Ernest Hemmingway were devotees of absinthe or the “Green Fairy”.

Thujone’s chemical structure is similar to that of THC or tetrahydrocannabinol that is present in marijuana. This led a few scientists to believe that thujone has the same effect on the brain as marijuana; however, recent studies have proved this to be a false alarm and the hypothesis stands discredited.

Absinthe has for long been considered a creative stimulant and its effects are different from other alcoholic beverages. It was a strong belief of past masters that drinking absinthe heightened the clarity of vision and mind. These claims have however not been substantiated by scientific tests. Absinthe should be drunk not for it’s so called effects but because it tastes great. Absinthe has high alcohol content and should be taken in moderation.

Absinthe was banned by most European countries and United States at the beginning of the twentieth century due to misunderstandings and unfounded rumors that were doing the rounds at that time. However, in light of new research most European countries have lifted the ban and absinthe production and sale is no longer illegal. The United States continues to ban absinthe and production and sale of absinthe is a crime. However, it is not a crime to posses and drink absinthe in the United States.

Thujone content in most modern absinthe produced by European manufacturers is less than 10 mg per liter. The European standard for Thujone in bitters is 35 mg per liter.

US citizens can buy their absinthe online from non-US producers or order absinthe kits and essence and prepare their very own absinthe. Absinthekit.com is the best place where you are assured of the finest absinthe essence made using authentic traditional recipes.

So, go ahead and order your absinthe essence, absinthe kits, and other absinthe accessories from absinthekit.com and spend an eventful evening with friends and family enjoying the most popular drink of 1800s.

Jade absinthe or the fabled green colored aperitif is making a stunning comeback in most parts of the world. Today, almost all west European countries have lifted the century long ban imposed on absinthe. No drink in history has been so wrongfully blamed as absinthe. Absinthe has been blamed for almost all miseries from madness to serial murders.

Absinthe also nicknamed as the “Green Fairy” was the most popular liquor of nineteenth century Europe. Original absinthe was a potent blend of various alpine herbs soaked in alcohol. Several artists and writers in the nineteenth century were devotees of absinthe. This liquor was liked by both the masses and classes of nineteenth century Europe. At one time it was more popular than wine.

Since, lifting of the ban absinthe has generated a great deal of interest amongst connoisseurs of fine liquor. Younger people today want to taste pre-ban absinthe. Vintage absinthes of the pre-ban period recovered from old cellars in Europe are fetching astronomical prices; however, not everyone can afford to pay huge sums to taste the original absinthe.

Thankfully, T.A. Breaux a professional scientist has taken it upon himself to offer connoisseurs the opportunity to taste and relish the experience of original pre-ban absinthe. T.A. Breaux established Jade liqueurs in the year 2000 to produce recreations of classic absinthes of nineteenth century Europe. A chance discovery of rare pre-ban absinthe bottles in a Corsican cellar have allowed Mr. Breaux and his other associates to use modern analytical tools to unlock the secrets of vintage absinthe.

Jade absinthes are made using accurate and authentic recipes. The herbs used in making absinthe are harvested from specific areas of Europe and at particular time of the year, as was done during the pre-ban era. Some of the stills used for distillation are carefully restored and date back to the nineteenth century. Ted Breaux and his associates have done huge amount of original research to produce or recreate original absinthe. Jade absinthe is balanced and has the same herbal aroma and the lingering taste of vintage absinthe. Tasting this absinthe is bound to take the connoisseur back in history when the Green Fairy was the favorite muse of great masters like Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Oscar Wilde.

Vintage absinthe accessories such as absinthe spoons, absinthe glasses, absinthe labels, and absinthe fountains are also in great demand; however, they come with a heavy price tag. Silver plated stylish copies of absinthe spoons glasses and other accessories are available online and lovers of absinthe can buy them online. Absinthekit.com is a reliable source for authentic absinthe essence, classic absinthe spoons, glasses, and other absinthe accessories.

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.