Absinthe has once again become a popular drink and, with the legalization of a few brands of Absinthe in 2007 in the United States, it can even be said that we are experiencing an Absinthe revival. Yet, some people don’t really know how to use Absinthe correctly or even what Absinthe is.

What is Absinthe

Absinthe is not a hallucinogen or a drug. It is a strong alcoholic beverage with an alcohol by volume of up to 75% and an anise flavor.

Legend has it that Absinthe was created by Dr Pierre Ordinaire in Couvet, Switzerland in the 18th century as an elixir for his patients. By the turn of the 19th century Henri-Louis Pernod was distilling Absinthe and selling it commercially. Pernod used a wine alcohol base distilled with different types of natural herbs including wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), fennel, aniseed, star anise, hyssop, lemon balm, angelica, juniper, dittany, nutmeg and melissa.

Absinthe, or La Fee Verte (Green Fairy)as it became known in France, became such a popular drink that it even became more popular than wine in France. Absinthe bars became popular and the “Ritual” or traditional method of using and preparing Absinthe was born.

Absinthe was banned in France in 1915 after it was claimed that Absinthe contained psychoactive chemicals and cause hallucinations, convulsions, insanity and death. It is now known that these claims were false. Absinthe cannot and does not cause such effects. Absinthe was legalized in many countries in the 1990s.

How to Use Absinthe the Traditional Way

To prepare Absinthe in the traditional way is to use the “Ritual”.
You will need:-
– A large glass or Absinthe glass.
– Absinthe
– An Absinthe spoon – replica glasses and spoons can be purchased online at AbsintheKit.com along with top-quality Absinthe essences to make your own Absinthe.
– A sugar cube.
– A carafe of iced water.

Pour a shot of Absinthe into the glass.
Rest the spoon on the rim of the glass and put the sugar cube on the spoon.
Slowly drip, rather than pour, the iced water over the sugar to dissolve it.
Watch the Absinthe louche as the water mixes into the Absinthe. The essential oils in the Absinthe are not soluble in water so cause the mixture to louche or go cloudy.
Stir your Absinthe and enjoy the taste of the Green Fairy.

Remember that although Absinthe will not give you hallucinations, it is a strong drink and it is very easy to get drunk on Absinthe. Absinthe is made out of a curious blend of herbs – some are naturally sedative in nature and others are stimulants. This blend of herbs can give a very different drunkenness than that caused by other spirits or wine or beer. Some describe it as a “clear headed” drunkenness.

The Czech or Bohemian Method

With this method, once you have poured the shot of Absinthe into the glass you dip the sugar cube into the alcohol and then set it alight on the spoon with a match. Once the sugar has caramelized and melted through the spoon and into the Absinthe, you add the iced water.

The Bohemian method is a modern method and is a bit of fun really rather than a serious method of drinking Absinthe. It can also be slightly dangerous because the whole glass of Absinthe can catch fire, a bit of a waste of Absinthe! Take care.

The Ritual is the most popular way of using Absinthe but Absinthe can also be used in cocktails – make up your own or search online for cocktail recipes to give you inspiration on how to use Absinthe.

When you have bought or made your Absinthe how to prepare it is the next issue because Absinthe is not like any other alcoholic beverage, it is usually served diluted with iced water. This way of serving Absinthe is the traditional way that Absinthe was served in La Belle Epoque in France and Switzerland. It is known as “The Ritual” or “La Louche” and is easy to learn.

Absinthe How to Prepare using The Ritual

To perform the Ritual, you will need the following:-

– Absinthe – A good quality Absinthe containing real herbal ingredients such as wormwood, aniseed and fennel. The Absinthe should contain thujone.
– An Absinthe glass – An antique Absinthe glass or replica one. AbsintheKit sell replicas of antiques like Pontarlier glasses and Eiffel Tower spoons.
– A slotted Absinthe spoon (also known as a cuillere).
– A cube of sugar.
– Iced water in a carafe or in an Absinthe fountain.

Instructions for preparing the perfect Absinthe drink:-

– Pour 25-50ml of Absinthe into the glass.
– Rest the Absinthe spoon over the rim of the glass and place a cube of sugar on it.
– Slowly drip iced water over the sugar either by dripping from the tap of the fountain or by using a steady hand to pour from a carafe. Dripping it slowly will give the sugar chance to dissolve and drip through the slots of the spoon. You should see a lovely “louche” effect as the water mixes into the alcohol. The Absinthe louches because the essential oils of the herbs are soluble in alcohol but not in water and so make the mixture cloudy or milky when water is added.
– Sit back and enjoy the Green Fairy, as Absinthe is commonly known.

The Bohemian or Czech Method

This method of preparing Absinthe is not traditional but is a modern way of preparing cheap Czech Absinthes. The Bohemian method is scorned by many Absinthe followers.

You will need:-

– Absinthe
– An Absinthe glass
– An Absinthe slotted spoon
– A cube of sugar
– A lighter or match
– Iced water

Instructions and tips for using the Bohemian method:-

– Pour 25-50ml of Absinthe into the glass and dip the sugar cube into it to soak the sugar.
– Place sugar cube on the Absinthe spoon and rest on the rim of the glass.
– Set the sugar cube alight for one minute to allow the sugar to caramelize and melt. The sugar should drip through the slots of the spoon and into the Absinthe.
– Put the spoon into the Absinthe and pour the iced water into the Absinthe to put out any flames and to cause the Absinthe to louche.
– Enjoy your Absinthe drink.

* Care should be taken with this method because the Absinthe in the glass may set alight too *

Absinthe can also be used in many cocktails. Ernest Hemingway is known to have liked mixing it with champagne, he called it “Death in the Afternoon”.

There are many mysteries, stories and legends surrounding Absinthe how to prepare it, its history, the ban and the revival. Enjoy drinking this famous mythical drink.

Absinthe Green Fairy is an alcoholic drink with an interesting history. Developed as an elixir or tonic in the 18th century it is now one of the most controversial and famous drinks of all time.

Absinthe is an anise flavored spirit which is incredibly strong, between 45 and 75% Alcohol by volume. It is emerald green in color, hence the name “Green Fairy” or in French “La Fee Verte”. It is a distilled liquor made from herbs. The three main herbs tend to be wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), green aniseed and fennel (fennell). Henri-Louis Pernod, who first commercially distilled Absinthe, used other herbs such as hyssop, lemon balm, nutmeg, juniper, veronica, star anise and dittany to produce his famous original Pernod Absinthe recipe. Other ingrediants such as the herb calamus were used by some manufacturers and this herb along with wormwood and nutmeg were though to be psychoactive. It is the essential oil extract from the herbs which causes Absinthe to louche when iced water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon. The oils are not water soluble and so cause the Absinthe to cloud or louche.

Absinthe Green Fairy and the Art World

Absinthe is famous for inspiring many artists and writers associated with the Bohemian culture of the Montmartre area of Paris. Famous Absinthe drinkers include Vincent Van Gough, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Degas, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. Many writers and artists were convinced that Absinthe gave them inspiration and gave them their genius. Painters like Van Gogh and Picasso even featured Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers in their paintings.

Absinthe’s association with old Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect, was just the excuse that prohibition campaigners needed. Once it was linked with the murder of a family and the growing problem of alcohol addiction in France it was easy for campaigners to get the sale of Absinthe made illegal and it was banned in France in 1915. Other countries also banned it but it remained legal in the Czech Republic, the UK, Spain and Portugal.

The chemical thujone, present in wormwood, was blamed for the psychedelic effects of drinking the Green Fairy. Thujone was thought to be similar to THC in cannabis. However Absinthe is mainly alcohol, ethanol, and therefore only contains minute quanitities of thujone. Research has shown that Absinthe is just as safe as any other strong liquor and that it is the alcohol content not the thujone that is dangerous. Many studies and articles have been written on the subject. If you remember that it is about twice as strong as vodka or whisky and drink it with care and in moderation, it is simply a drink which gives pleasure.

During the time of prohibition many people enjoyed buying and drinking vintage style Absinthe in Absinthe bars in the Czech Republic, served in the classic Absinthe large glasses and in surroundings decorated with vintage Absinthe posters. Now, in 2008, Absinthe is legal in many countries although thujone levels are controlled in the EU and the United States only allows Absinthe with trace amounts of thujone to be bought and sold.

You can buy Absinthe online by the bottle or order Absinthe essences (visit the website AbsintheKit.com) to make your own Absinthe Green Fairy to bottle at home. Real Absinthe and Absinthe essences contain the vital ingredient wormwood but some new Absinthes, produced for the US market, do not contain thujone.

Absinthe Green Fairy is a delicious spirit and can be used in cocktails too – mix with champagne for a truly decadent drink!

Absinthe Green Fairy is an alcoholic drink with an interesting history. Developed as an elixir or tonic in the 18th century it is now one of the most controversial and famous drinks of all time.

Absinthe is an anise flavored spirit which is incredibly strong, between 45 and 75% Alcohol by volume. It is emerald green in color, hence the name “Green Fairy” or in French “La Fee Verte”. It is a distilled liquor made from herbs. The three main herbs tend to be wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), green aniseed and fennel (fennell). Henri-Louis Pernod, who first commercially distilled Absinthe, used other herbs such as hyssop, lemon balm, nutmeg, juniper, veronica, star anise and dittany to produce his famous original Pernod Absinthe recipe. Other ingrediants such as the herb calamus were used by some manufacturers and this herb along with wormwood and nutmeg were though to be psychoactive. It is the essential oil extract from the herbs which causes Absinthe to louche when iced water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon. The oils are not water soluble and so cause the Absinthe to cloud or louche.

Absinthe Green Fairy and the Art World

Absinthe is famous for inspiring many artists and writers associated with the Bohemian culture of the Montmartre area of Paris. Famous Absinthe drinkers include Vincent Van Gough, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Degas, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. Many writers and artists were convinced that Absinthe gave them inspiration and gave them their genius. Painters like Van Gogh and Picasso even featured Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers in their paintings.

Absinthe’s association with old Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect, was just the excuse that prohibition campaigners needed. Once it was linked with the murder of a family and the growing problem of alcohol addiction in France it was easy for campaigners to get the sale of Absinthe made illegal and it was banned in France in 1915. Other countries also banned it but it remained legal in the Czech Republic, the UK, Spain and Portugal.

The chemical thujone, present in wormwood, was blamed for the psychedelic effects of drinking the Green Fairy. Thujone was thought to be similar to THC in cannabis. However Absinthe is mainly alcohol, ethanol, and therefore only contains minute quanitities of thujone. Research has shown that Absinthe is just as safe as any other strong liquor and that it is the alcohol content not the thujone that is dangerous. Many studies and articles have been written on the subject. If you remember that it is about twice as strong as vodka or whisky and drink it with care and in moderation, it is simply a drink which gives pleasure.

During the time of prohibition many people enjoyed buying and drinking vintage style Absinthe in Absinthe bars in the Czech Republic, served in the classic Absinthe large glasses and in surroundings decorated with vintage Absinthe posters. Now, in 2008, Absinthe is legal in many countries although thujone levels are controlled in the EU and the United States only allows Absinthe with trace amounts of thujone to be bought and sold.

You can buy Absinthe online by the bottle or order Absinthe essences (visit the website AbsintheKit.com) to make your own Absinthe Green Fairy to bottle at home. Real Absinthe and Absinthe essences contain the vital ingredient wormwood but some new Absinthes, produced for the US market, do not contain thujone.

Absinthe Green Fairy is a delicious spirit and can be used in cocktails too – mix with champagne for a truly decadent drink!

An Absinthe glass is an essential part of Absinthiana along with a proper Absinthe spoon. Treat yourself to some antique Absinthe glasses, or replica glasses which are available from AbsintheKit.com, to enhance your enjoyment of this fine anise flavored alcoholic drink.

To prepare the perfect Absinthe you need:-
– Absinthe
– Absinthe glass
– Absinthe spoon
– Sugar cube
– Iced Water

Preparing Absinthe in the traditional way is like following a ritual. Follow these steps to make perfect Absinthe every time:-
– Pour Absinthe into your Absinthe glass.
– Place a cube of sugar onto the Absinthe spoon and rest on top of the glass.
– Pour iced water over sugar cube and into Absinthe. The ratio should be about 1 Absinthe measure to 4 of water.
– Watch the Absinthe louche (go cloudy) and enjoy your wonderful drink. The louching is caused by the natural herb oils, including anise and fennell, which are not soluble in water and so make the drink go milky or cloudy. This clouding is the desired effect. These herbs, along with the famous wormwood, give the Absinthe its famous licorice or aniseed taste.

There have been many different types and styles of absinthe glass and absinthe glasses. Some types of glasses were designed with Absinthe in mind but also used for other drinks whereas others were only used for Absinthe. Types such as the Swirl and Egg designs were also used for drinks such as coffee and the Chope Yvonne, East, Lyonnaise and Mazagran were used for Absinthe and other alcoholic drinks such as wine and beer. The swirl on the Swirl glass was used for measuring the Absinthe and so wasn’t just decorative. The Egg glass was also known as the “Verlaine” glass because it featured in a photograph of the poet Verlaine. Chope Yvonne glasses were quite tall and so were also used for serving beer. The Y shaped East glass is featured in “The Absinthe Drinkers” which is a painting by J Rafaelli.
The Cordon, Pontarlier and Reservoir were only used for Absinthe and are much rarer antiques than other Absinthe glasses with the Cordon being the rarest and hence the most expensive. They are highly collectible and were hand blown. The Pontarlier glass is also a highly desirable antique Absinthe glass.

Absinthe glasses were quite large because of the ratio of water to Absinthe and so were perfect for other beverages such as beer.

Absinthe spoons are also highly collectible antiques. Absinthe spoons were slotted, to allow the water and sugar solution to drain through, and were made out of many different metals including silver, nickel and tin. Spoons like those that commemorated events, like the opening of the french Eiffel Tower in 1889, are highly collectible. Again, you can buy replicas of the original Absinthe spoons. AbsintheKit.com have even got a silver plated replica of the famous Eiffel Tower spoon. With a replica spoon and replica glasses you can enjoy your Absinthe in style!

Absinthe drippers are an alternative to the Absinthe slotted spoons. Simply set a dripper onto a matching Absinthe glass, place a sugar cube in the dripper and pour over the iced water. The water will drip slowly into the Absinthe.

If you enjoy collecting antiques there are also additional Absinthe collectibles that you can purchase:-
– Absinthe propaganda posters
– Absinthe fountains
– Absinthe carafes
– Absinthe pyrogenes or match strikers
– Absinthe saucers
– Absinthe drippers

Absinthe glass items are the perfect gift for friends and family and are essential to a proper enjoyment of this wonderful wormwood drink.