Absinthe liquor is a strong alcoholic drink which originated in Switzerland. It is an anise flavored spirit which has approximately twice the alcohol content of alcohol beverages such as whisky and vodka. Absinthe has a high ABV (Alcohol By Volume) but is usually diluted with water for drinking.

Absinthe is famous for its association with the french Bohemian crowd of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a popular drink and Van Gogh is the most famous Absinthe drinker. It is said that Van Gogh cut off his ear under the influence of Absinthe. Other historical drinkers include Oscar Wilde, Paul Verlaine, Charles Baudelaire and writer Ernest Hemingway who created an Absinthe cocktail called “Death in the Afternoon” which was made by mixing Absinthe with champagne.

Absinthe was also a popular drink in the Czech Republic, the USA and Catalonia in Spain.

What is Absinthe Liquor?

Absinthe is a spirit whose main ingredients are the herbs grande wormwood (Artemesia Absinthium), green anise and florence fennel. Other herbs and ingredients, such as licorice, star anise, angelica root, hyssop and sweet flag, are sometimes used in the production of Absinthe. These herbs give it its characteristic sour, bitter and aniseed taste It is available clear as Blanche Absinthe or La Bleue, but is generally emerald colored and that is why it was nicknamed “The Green Fairy” or “La Fee Verte”.

The banning of Absinthe in 1915 was a historic event. It was banned in many countries worldwide due to the alleged harmful effects of the chemical thujone present in the wormwood in Absinthe. The drinking of Absinthe was blamed for driving people insane and there was even a case where a heavy Absinthe drinker murdered his entire family. No regard was given to the fact that he was an alcoholic violent man anyway – his “insanity” was blamed on the two glasses of Absinthe he had consumed before drinking other alcohol. Absinthe was also thought to be addictive and a hallucinogen causing psychedelic effects similar to cannabis. These claims were entirely unsourced and Absinthe contained only minute quantities of thujone.

The French people very much missed the taste of Absinthe and so drinks such as Pernod Pastis and Ouzo became popular. These alcoholic beverages had the aniseed flavoring without the wormwood. The Absinthe industry was able to carry on in countries such as Spain. Portugal and the Czech Republic where Absinthe was never banned.

There was an Absinthe revival in the 1990s when studies showed that Absinthe was no more harmful than any other strong alcoholic drink. Many countries repealed their Absinthe ban and people were once again able to buy Absinthe by the bottle or in bars.

Making the Perfect Absinthe Liquor

There is a ritual to be followed in making the perfect Absinthe:-
– Pour Absinthe into an Absinthe glass.
– Place a sugar cube on an Absinthe spoon and rest on top of glass.
– Pour ice cold water slowly over the spoon into the Absinthe.
– Watch the Absinthe louche and become milky.
– Enjoy your perfect Absinthe!

Absinthiana such as Absinthe glasses and Absinthe spoons are available to order online from companies such as AbsintheKit.com. Absinthe liquor essence is also available from AbsintheKit.com.

Absinthe liquor is also a great addition in cocktail recipes – search on the Internet for Absinthe cocktail recipes.

There are different types of Absinthe kits available to buy online, all of them designed to make your very own “Green Fairy” bottled Absinthe drinks.

With some kits you have to follow a recipe and steep a selection of traditional Absinthe herbs, such as wormwood, aniseed and fennel, for a few days or use a special 2 step steeping process. With other Absinthe kits, you have to mix Absinthe herbs with a neutral alcohol base, such as vodka, and then filter the mixture after a few days. Neither of these methods will make real Absinthe because there is no distillation involved.

Some of these Absinthe kits could also be dangerous. One available online claimed to make an Absinthe liquor with a thujone content of 80-90mg. Studies have shown that vintage Absinthe from the 19th century and early 1900s contained only a small amount of thujone, nowhere near 80mg! Thujone is a chemical found in wormwood which can be toxic and affect the GABA receptors in the brain causing muscle spasms and convulsions when consumed in large quantities.

Absinthe was banned in the early 1900s because it was thought to have psychedelic effects, cause insanity and hallucinations. This has now been totally disproved and Absinthe is legal in most countries. Absinthe is no more harmful than any of the other strong spirits such as whisky and vodka.

Absinthe Kits from AbsintheKit.com

The Absinthe kits from AbsintheKit.com contain an Absinthe essence, made from distilling traditional Absinthe herbs (wormwood, aniseed, fennel and star anise), bottle labels and a measure to measure out the essence. These essences are the very same essences which the company also sell to the Absinthe industry.

A 280ml bottle of essence makes 14 bottles of Absinthe and four types of essence are available:-

– Absinthe Classics Essence – The number one seller and the one that is sold the most to the Absinthe industry. This essence makes classic green Absinthe and a 750ml bottle of Absinthe made using this essence will contain 35mg of thujone.

– White Absinthe Pro – This essence will make a 35mg thujone content Swiss style clear Absinthe like a La Bleue. If you like the Swiss clandestine styles of Absinthe then this is the one for you.

– Orange Absinthe Pro – Flavored with real orange oil, this essence will make a wonderful orange flavored yellow-orange Absinthe with a 35mg thujone content. Absinthe with a twist!

– Absinthe 55 Strong Pro – This Absinthe essence makes a stronger and greener Absinthe with a higher thujone content – 55mg. This essence contains more wormwood and so gives a more bitter flavor.

All of these essences have a safe level of thujone and are easy to use following the instructions provided. All you have to do is measure out 20ml of essence and mix with 730ml of neutral alcohol such as vodka or Everclear. You can add sugar if you like a smoother Absinthe. There you have it, your very own Green Fairy!

As well as Absinthe kits, AbsintheKit.com also sell beautiful replica Absinthe glasses and spoons. The Ritual just isn’t right without a traditional glass and spoon because to prepare proper Absinthe you have to drip iced water over a sugar cube on a slotted spoon to gradually mix with the Absinthe and cause the Absinthe to louche.

There is so much contradictory Absinthe information available online and in books, it’s hard to know what to believe.

Misleading Absinthe Information

One book “Absinthe The Cocaine of the 19th Century: A History of the Hallucinogenic Drug and its Effect on Artists and Writers in Europe and the United States” by Doris Lanier, compares Absinthe to drugs such as cocaine because it was said to be addictive, to give a sense of euphoria, have psychedelic effects and weaken the brain and other faculties.

Absinthe became popular at the end of the 19th century and early 20th century, a time known as “The Great Binge”. This was a time in history when many of today’s illegal drugs like crack cocaine, morphine and heroin were developed and used by normal everyday people for medicine, on prescription for coughs etc. and in drinks. Popular drinks in bars were Absinthe, Vin Maraiani (cocaine and wine) and Coca Cola (then made from cocaine, wine and kola nuts). These drugs and drinks were all thought to be harmless and were widely consumed throughout Europe.

Absinthe was linked with these drugs because of its popularity with Bohemian artists and writers, who liked to overindulge to help their creativity, and with the loose morals of the courtesans of the Moulin Rouge and Montmartre.

Thujone, the chemical in wormwood, was also claimed to be psychoactive and similar to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in the drug cannabis (marijuana). Both THC and Thujone are terpenoids and are both from essential oils but THC affects the central nervous system whereas thujone affects the GABA receptors in the brain. When wormwood is smoked as a joint or consumed in large quantities, it has been known to cause effects similar to cannabis intoxication – to cause hallucinations and fantasies, to make the person feel euphoric, to relieve pain and to act as an aphrodisiac.

Absinthe was banned along with some drugs in the early 1900s and was made illegal to buy and sell in many countries around the world. We now know that its ban was just part of the hysteria of the time. People lumped Absinthe, the Green Fairy, together with drugs like heroin (the White Fairy), cannabis and cocaine and even now there are many people and websites who mention Absinthe in the same sentence as magic mushrooms, LSD, weed, cannabis and ecstasy.

Absinthe Information – What we now know

We know that medical studies on Absinthe and wormwood in the past were not accurate and were “colored” by the prohibition movement of the time and the worry that Absinthe was a drug. Recent studies have shown that Absinthe, once it is distilled, only contains very small amounts of thujone – not enough to cause any harmful side effects or hallucinations, that is just a myth. Even tests on vintage pre ban Absinthe has shown that it hardly contained any thujone at all. A person would die of alcohol poisoning long before suffering any side effects from thujone.

Results from studies and research have caused many countries to legalize Absinthe again so the Green Fairy can now be enjoyed in bars and in homes across the world.

Even though it may not make you trip or get high, it is easy to get drunk on Absinthe because of its high proof. It has twice the alcohol content of spirits such as vodka or whisky so care should be taken when drinking it. If you do get drunk on Absinthe you will probably experience a very different intoxication than you would experience from other spirits or fermented beverages. Many describe it as a “lucid” or “clear headed” kind of drunkenness. This can be explained by the blend of herbs and the alcohol – a mix of sedatives and stimulants. Some people enhance these qualities by making cocktails containing Absinthe and the caffeine loaded drink Red Bull!

So, you will be disappointed if you believe some of the misleading Absinthe information and buy Absinthe to give you vivid hallucinations. However, it is a great tasting herbal alcoholic beverage which is fun to prepare and has a great anise flavor. You can even enjoy making your very own wormwood Absinthe at home by using real, top-quality Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com – a fun and economical way to enjoy Absinthe.

Since there has been an Absinthe revival in many countries over the past few years, many people are seeking Absinthe info.

Absinthe is a strong herbal liquor which is nicknamed “La Fee Verte” or “The Green Fairy” because of its characteristic green color. It is distilled usually with a wine base and a variety of herbail ingredients, unlike the alcoholic beverages beer and cider which are fermented.

The main herb in Absinthe is common wormwood, artemisia absinthium, which gives Absinthe both its name and its distinctive bitter taste. Some “fake” Absinthes do not contain wormwood because thujone, from wormwood, was strictly regulated in countries like the USA and proper wormwood Absinthe was banned.

Other types of herbs and essential oils used in Absinthe production include Fennel, green aniseed, star anise, hyssop, lemon balm, juniper, angelica, licorice, dittany, coriander, nutmeg and sweet flag. It is the essential oils in Absinthe which cause the drink to louche when water is added. The oils are soluble in alcohol but not in water and so cause the drink to go cloudy.

Absinthe Info about the Ban

The prohibition movement claimed that Absinthe was harmful and that drinking Absinthe led to “Absinthism” which was characterized by convulsions, fits, madness, brain damage and ultimately death. Thujone, the chemical found in wormwood, was claimed to cause psychedelic effects and to be dangerous. It was thought that Absinthe contained a high quantity of thujone and was extremely toxic and dangerous. Absinthe was banned in many countries around the world in the early 1900s.

We now know that these statements and claims regarding Absinthe are entirely false. Thujone can be dangerous but only in large quantities. Absinthe from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries was thought to contain as much as 350mg of thujone per kg, recent studies have shown that it contained a maximum of 6mg per kg – a huge difference. You would have to drink an impossible amount of Absinthe for thujone to be of any danger to you – you would die of Alcohol poisoning first!

Absinthe has now been legalized in most countries and there are many types and styles available:-

– Clear Absinthe – This is known as La Bleue or Blanche Absinthe and is commonly distilled in Switzerland.

– La Verte – This is traditional green Absinthe, the Green Fairy.

– Absenta – Spanish Absinthe which tends to be sweeter than normal French or Swiss Absinthe because it is made with Spanish Alicante Anise.

– Bohemian or Czech style Absinthe – Also known as Absinth, it is a wormwood bitter, rather than an Absinthe, which does not contain other herbs such as aniseed or fennel.

All of the above Absinthes contain wormwood but some Absinthes are fake or substitutes which were developed during the ban If you want real Absinthe you need to look for an Absinthe which contains thujone or wormwood.

You can also make your own Absinthe by using Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com. These essences are distilled using modern carbon dioxide distillation and contain the classic Absinthe herbs – aniseed, wormwood and fennel. They are easy to use – just mix with a neutral alcohol such as vodka or Everclear to make your very own Absinthe with real wormwood.

To find out more Absinthe info and info about buying essences, replica spoons and Absinthe glasses, just visit AbsintheKit.com.

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.

There has been an Absinthe liquor revival since the 1990s when Absinthe started to be legalized in many countries around the world. Sales of Absinthe have been going crazy, especially in the US where a few brands have just been made legal. Now, you can find Absinthe for sale on many websites.

Types of Absinthe For Sale

There are many types of Absinthe for sale online:-

– Absinthe substitutes which are made without using thujone for the US market or fenchone for the French market. These are not real Absinthes. Real Absinthe contains both grand wormwood, which contains thujone, and fennel a source of fenchone. Pernod Pastis is an Absinthe style drink which does not contain wormwood and Recette Marianne is an Absinthe produced for the French market.

– Modern Absinthes – Absinthes like Doubs Mystique “Carte d’Or” which is premium Absinthe distilled using traditional methods and based on historical ingredients but with a modern twist for the new generation of Absinthe drinkers. Modern Absinthes often have additional herbal ingredients added.

– Classic Absinthes such as Absinthe Roquette 1797 and the Jade Collection by Ted Breaux. These Absinthes are re-creations of original vintage Absinthes and contain the classic ingredients of wormwood, fennel and aniseed.
Swiss Absinthes such as Absinthe Clandestine, a La Bleue style by famous bootleg distiller, Claude-Alain Bugnon, are also available online.

There are also many Absinthes available to buy online from countries like the Czech Republic and Spain, where Absinthe was never banned and so Absinthe production was able to carry on. Czech Absinthes available for purchase online include La Fee Bohemian, which recreates French Bohemain style Absinthe, and Sebor Absinthe which is sold in a distinctive square bottle and is made using a 100 year old French-Swiss recipe.

Spanish Absinthes include the award winning Mari Mayans, produced in Ibiza since 1880 from hand-picked wormwood, and Rodniks with its high wormwood content.

Absinthe Essences

You can use essences, from companies like AbsintheKit.com, to make your own traditional style Absinthe. The essences are properly distilled and use traditional herbs. They are available to order individually on the web shop or in Absinthe kits containing an essence, measure and bottle labels. Each kit makes 14 bottles of real wormwood Absinthe.

There are 4 essences available:-

– Absinthe 35 Classics Essence – This essence makes a classic green Absinthe containing 35mg of thujone, the chemical found in wormwood.

– Absinthe White Essence – An essence for making Swiss style La Bleue clear Absinthe.

– Absinthe Orange Essence – This essence contains natural orange oil for a lovely orange flavored Absinthe.

The essences are easy to use – Simply mix 20ml of essence with 730ml of a neutral alcohol base, such as Everclear or vodka, and add 50-75g of sugar if you want a smoother taste. Bottle your Absinthe and then enjoy your own homemade classic Absinthe.

To enjoy your Absinthe fully whether made from essence, or other bottled Absinthe for sale, you should use a proper Absinthe glass and spoon. Replica glasses and spoons are available from AbsintheKit.com.