Absinthe: The Green Elixir of Creativity

Absinthe: the Green Elixir of Creativity Absinthe has been an iconic beverage in Europe since at least the 1790s, though its exact roots remain obscure. Pierre Ordinaire may have first created absinthe as a patent medicine during this era in Couvet, Switzerland.

Once created, this elixir was sold as a cure for various ails including worm infection (helminthiasis) and malaria. Over time it became popular with bohemian Parisians as an afterwork drink as well as soldiers returning home from battle; by the 1860s its consumption had become widespread during “l’heure verte”.

At this point, absinthe began gaining notoriety for inducing various states of consciousness, inspiring artists and writers, and possibly even producing hallucinations; however, research in this area has suggested that most of these effects are caused by its high alcohol content.

To create an excellent absinthe, botanicals are macerated or soaked in high-proof alcohol and then distilled, which separates out essential oils from other components in the liquid and creates a clear distillate that forms the basis of absinthe.

Cold-mix absinthes have become an increasingly popular production method, simply mixing flavoring essences and artificial colorants in commercial alcohol for cheaper production. Unfortunately, most countries do not legally recognize cold-mix as absinthe; it is considered inferior.