How To Get Absinthe
Absinthe is now legal in most countries and you can even buy Absinthe in the United States. This has sparked off a renewed interest in Absinthe and a new generation is wanting to know how to get Absinthe.
Absinthe is a strong liquor which is made by distilling alcohol with a recipe of natural herbs. Traditional herbs used in Absinthe manufacture include common wormwood, also known as grande wormwood or artemisia absinthum, aniseed and fennel. The aniseed gives the Absinthe its famous anise or licorice flavor and the wormwood gives the drink an edge of bitterness. Wormwood contains a chemical called thujone which was thought to be psychoactive and to cause psychedelic effects. It was claimed that Absinthe contained large amounts of thujone and so it was banned in the early 1900s. Research and tests showed that Absinthe actually only contained very small amounts of thujone, not enough to cause any effect whatsoever, and so the drink was once again legalized in most countries.
To experience the real taste of Absinthe you need to buy an Absinthe which contains wormwood. Don’t be conned by the many fake Absinthes or substitute Absinthes – you need original wormwood Absinthe.
How to get Absinthe which contains wormwood
Here are some buying tips to help you purchase a true Absinthe:-
– Make your own from a kit. AbsintheKit.com sell absinthekits which contain an Absinthe essence, a plastic measure and 14 artistic bottle labels. The kit costs $29 and it contains enough essence to make 14 bottles of absinthe. Unlike steeping kits, the kits from AbsintheKit are already distilled so, when you mix them with vodka or Everclear, you get a true Absinthe. The essences contain the traditional Absinthe herbs, including wormwood, and are an economical way of obtaining a real wormwood Absinthe.
– Educate yourself about Absinthe online. Use the Buyer’s Guide on sites like lafeeverte.net to read up about Absinthes and to read reviews on particular brands.
– Check that the Absinthe contains wormwood and not just southernwood or roman wormwood. The Absinthe should also contain anise or aniseed. Some Czech Absinth are wormwood bitters, not true Absinthe, because they are anise free.
– Shop around and compare prices.
– Buy brands made by reputable distillers and look for Absinthes that have won awards.
How to get Absinthe classics
Here are just a few Absinthes that you may want to consider trying. They are all real wormwood Absinthes.
– AbsintheKit.com Absinthe Classics essence – This essence makes a classic “verte” or green Absinthe which louches beautifully.
– The Jade Collection – This collection of vintage style Absinthes are distilled by Ted Breaux in France. They have won awards and have got lots of good reviews and write-ups online.
– Mari Mayans 70 – A Spanish Absinthe (Absenta). This collectors 70 edition has won awards and has been made in Ibiza since 1880. Absinthe was never banned in Spain so this Absinthe has always been in production.
– Sebor – A Czech Absinth which contains both wormwood and anise. It is a well known Czech brand with a good reputation.
– La Boheme Absinthe Original – A Czech Absinthe which is based on a 200 year old Swiss recipe.
– Absinthe Roquete 1797 – This French Absinthe is based on an original 18th century recipe and is distilled in 19th century alambics.
Other noteworthy Absinthes are La Ptite Douce, Absinthe La Clandestine, Doubs Mystique Carte’Or, Absinthe Duplais and Lucid, which is available in the USA.
When you have bought your chosen Absinthe remember to follow the Ritual and to use an Absinthe glass and slotted spoon. Replicas of antique glasses and spoons can be purchased from AbsintheKit.com.
Now you know how to get Absinthe, enjoy the taste of the Green Fairy.