Absinthe is a mind altering alcoholic beverage that is said to bring the drinker into an illuminated state of being and has do so to many, through out history.. There are different recipes that will instruct you on how to create this specialty in the comfort of your home.
There are three main ingredients that make up absinthe; this trio has been dubbed by some as the holy trinity, wormwood, anise and fennel. In any recipe that you find these three ingredients will always be present.
Artemisia absinthium, which is a species of wormwood is an herbal plant that contains thujone. Thujone is the component that is responsible for inducing drinkers with an illuminated perception. Wormwood is mainly grown in Europe but has been known to grow in some parts of the United States. If you plan on buying wormwood instead of growing your own do not buy massively produced wormwood from places like Turkey.
Anise is a flowering plant that is found through out the Mediterranean region. The seeds are what gives absinthe it’s licorice taste and cause the drink to cloud over, during the La Louche ritual. Anise also contains a substance called anethole that has mild psychedelic effects.
The last herb of the trinity is fennel. Fennel seeds play a balancing act between wormwood an anise; it sweetens wormwood’s bitterness and tones down anise’s sweetness.
Other then the three main herbs there are many other different herbs used in making absinthe, these herbs add flavor, aroma and color to absinthe: star anise, calamus, hyssop, coriander, mint, veronica, chamomile and Melissa.
There are a few websites that have different absinthe recipes that you can make at home. If you do plan on making your own homemade absinthe, remember that it is a very bitter drink, highly flammable and if your drinking it to get a buzz, drink it fast.
This is a recipe from the site www.newspeakdictionary.com it explains the process and ingredients in detail, for making your very own homemade absinthe concoction. The site also has some great absinthe drink mix recipes that you can experiment with.
1.5 oz Wormwood
1/3 oz Hyssop
1/3 oz Calamus Root
1/8 oz Fennel Seed
1 tsp Mint
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
2 Star Ansise fruits
Bottle of Everclear or 151 rum
• Grind up fennel, cloves and coriander (best way is to use a mortar & pestle)
• Mix mixture from step 1 with the rest of the dry ingredients and put in airtight container with 1000ml for stronger absinthe and 750ml for less potent
• Let mixture seep for a min of 2 weeks
• Strain liquid through a thin cloth to remove solids
Add in the following ingredients which will add some flavor to it
1/2 Dropper full of Wormwood Essential Oil
1/3 – 2/3 Bottle of Anise Extract
1 tsp Mint Extract
2-10 shots Ouzo
If you can make it past the first sip you are on your way to meet the infamous Green Fairy as the notorious absinthe drinker/poet Oscar Wilde said “The first stage is like ordinary drinking, the second when you begin to see monstrous and cruel things, but if you can persevere you will enter in upon the third stage where you see things that you want to see, wonderful curious things.”