Absinthe in the US - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Church · 06-13-2008, 07:13 PM

I went to try this at the LCBO and apparently its not available in Canada yet

Tully Mars · 06-23-2008, 01:58 PM

Ok, found a bottle that fit my budget better.

Say it's made in the Czech Repub. and is 55% 700ml was $38.

So any advice? Mix? Shots? IV?

Mister Coaster · 06-23-2008, 04:29 PM

According to the little tab thingie around the neck of the Lucid I bought, the "classic" way is...

1.5 oz. Absinthe - pour into a wide mouth glass/goblet
Take a sugar cube and place it on a slotted/straining spoon
Pour 3-4 oz. of cold water over the sugar cube and into the goblet.

I hear part of the experience is to dim the lights, put on some classical music and sip away.

Tully Mars · 06-23-2008, 05:01 PM

Well, I don't have a slotted spoon or any sugar cubes. Classical music and cold water I got.

According to the bottle this has "7 and 9 milligrams of Thujone per litre" little research on-line since my post sounds like this is a "lite" version but is real. I found another bottle at Costco but decide it was out of my budget for something I didn't know anything about.

Tomorrow I'll see about finding a slotted spoon and sugar cubes. So tonight I'll leave it be. Would hate to screw it up and not enjoy it. Of course the down side is if I like it I may be back at Costco forking out the big bucks.

snowy · 06-23-2008, 05:35 PM

Tully, I recommend you take a look at this to see what you're really getting into: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinthiana It includes an external link to a good site about the absinthe ritual: http://www.oxygenee.com/absinthe-ritual.html

Tully Mars · 06-23-2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onesnowyowl

Tully, I recommend you take a look at this to see what you're really getting into: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinthiana It includes an external link to a good site about the absinthe ritual: http://www.oxygenee.com/absinthe-ritual.html

Well so much for mixing it with Coke.

FogHorn · 06-24-2008, 02:39 AM

Tully Mars, that brand that you bought is a cold oil mix. I am warning you that it will give you the worst hangover you have ever had in your life. What was the other bottle - brand name - that you saw? Also that Green Tree brand in the picture will not louche (the clouding in a natural absinthe when the herbal oils are released by adding cold water) Did you try it yet?

Tully Mars · 06-24-2008, 03:19 AM

They also carry a "Chateau St. Faren (sp?)" but it was twice as much and seemed a lot to be paying for something you know nothing about. This stuff is 55% and the other was 70%. So 110 proof or 140 proof.

No, didn't try, not in any hurry. Was going to look for a slotted spoon and sugar cubes today.

FogHorn · 06-24-2008, 05:11 AM

OK. Do you want me to tell you what I know about this one you bought, or not? I'll keep quiet until you tried it and then we can compare notes, if you wish, or I can share my experience right away. Your call...

Tully Mars · 06-24-2008, 05:51 AM

Gez, that sounds not so good. Hmm, how about I try it then we compare notes.

FogHorn · 06-24-2008, 08:17 AM

OK I'll wait and see what you think, Tully. You might like to try it with iced water at a ratio of about 1:4 or 1:5 and perhaps also in a cocktail. Looking forward to hearing what you think.

Tully Mars · 06-24-2008, 01:15 PM

Ok, tried it with the sugar cube, cold water 4:1 mix. I chilled the water in the freezer until it was nearly frozen. You were right, no "louche" or clouding. Didn't taste like black licorice to me, basically tasted nasty. I put a shot in a chilled glass of apple juice, less nasty but still nasty. Certainly have a buzz, though had a shot of good tequila to get the taste out of my mouth.

So I assume this is crap... or I just don't like the stuff.

FogHorn · 06-25-2008, 02:00 AM

It is a cheap artifically coloured cold oil mix. It has no anise content and therefore no licorice flavour. Anise is the oil that creates the majority of the louche. It is not distilled.

To make real absinthe a bunch of herbs including grande wormwood, anise, fennel (and others) are macerated and then distilled.

Alcohol is a GABA agonist. It stimulates the production of this neurotransmitter which causes drowsiness and sleep. Thujone is a GABA antagonist. It prohibits alcohol from performing that part of it's function. Absinthe is therefore a type of 'speedball', it's chemical constituents at once promote the production of GABA and opens its receptors, while also closing those receptors off. This explains the 'green fairy' effect that absinthe has, as oppossed to just normal drunkenness.

Thujone is a naturally occuring terpeme in grande wormwood and I am sorry to say is prohibited by the FDA. Alcoholic beverages must be thujone-free pursuant to 21 CFR 172.510. In Europe the thujone levels are >35mg and sometimes even 100mg like Century Absinthe. The high thujone natural artisnal absinthes are very expensive though.

Good brands are

Century Absinthe - 100mg thujone
Roquette 1797 - >30mg thujone (spicey)
Kubler (Euro release only) - a blanche (white) absinthe

The blanche is an absinthe that has not been subject to secondary maceration post distillation. It is not green, but clear.

As I already said absinthe is a kind of concentrate and should be enjoyed at a ratio of 1:4 or 1:5. This allows the drinker to enjoy the unique effect and also the herbal flavours which are held in suspesnion in the alcohol. Absinthe began life as a curative elixir and the alcohol was only a means of delivering and preserving the curative powers of the herbs.

Tully Mars · 06-25-2008, 03:18 AM

Ever hear of this Chateau St. Faren stuff?

FogHorn · 06-25-2008, 07:16 AM

"Chateau St Ferran" I never heard of it before you mentioned it, Tully. Spanish and the colour looks rather artifical. I see they sell it as "Canabis Absinthe" Hmm....sounds a bit of a gimmick to me. It's 80% and I prefer lower proof. That is very strong on alcohol content.

Tully Mars · 06-25-2008, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FogHorn

"Chateau St Ferran" I never heard of it before you mentioned it, Tully. Spanish and the colour looks rather artifical. I see they sell it as "Canabis Absinthe" Hmm....sounds a bit of a gimmick to me. It's 80% and I prefer lower proof. That is very strong on alcohol content.

It's not cheap either. With the name I assumed French at first. After this last stuff I don't see myself trying anything else until I know for sure what I'm getting. I like black licorice . Was really looking forward to trying this stuff, really disappointed.

06-13-2008, 07:13 PM	#41 (permalink)
Church Tilted F*ckhead Location: New Jersey	I went to try this at the LCBO and apparently its not available in Canada yet __________________ Through counter-intelligence, it should be possible to pinpoint potential trouble makers, and neutralize them.

06-23-2008, 01:58 PM	#42 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	Ok, found a bottle that fit my budget better. Say it's made in the Czech Repub. and is 55% 700ml was $38. So any advice? Mix? Shots? IV? __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

06-23-2008, 04:29 PM	#43 (permalink)
Mister Coaster Big & Brassy Location: The "Canyon"	According to the little tab thingie around the neck of the Lucid I bought, the "classic" way is... 1.5 oz. Absinthe - pour into a wide mouth glass/goblet Take a sugar cube and place it on a slotted/straining spoon Pour 3-4 oz. of cold water over the sugar cube and into the goblet. I hear part of the experience is to dim the lights, put on some classical music and sip away. __________________ If you have any poo... fling it NOW!

06-23-2008, 05:01 PM	#44 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	Well, I don't have a slotted spoon or any sugar cubes. Classical music and cold water I got. According to the bottle this has "7 and 9 milligrams of Thujone per litre" little research on-line since my post sounds like this is a "lite" version but is real. I found another bottle at Costco but decide it was out of my budget for something I didn't know anything about. Tomorrow I'll see about finding a slotted spoon and sugar cubes. So tonight I'll leave it be. Would hate to screw it up and not enjoy it. Of course the down side is if I like it I may be back at Costco forking out the big bucks. __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

06-23-2008, 05:35 PM	#45 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	Tully, I recommend you take a look at this to see what you're really getting into: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinthiana It includes an external link to a good site about the absinthe ritual: http://www.oxygenee.com/absinthe-ritual.html __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

06-24-2008, 02:39 AM	#47 (permalink)
FogHorn Upright	Tully Mars, that brand that you bought is a cold oil mix. I am warning you that it will give you the worst hangover you have ever had in your life. What was the other bottle - brand name - that you saw? Also that Green Tree brand in the picture will not louche (the clouding in a natural absinthe when the herbal oils are released by adding cold water) Did you try it yet?

06-24-2008, 03:19 AM	#48 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	They also carry a "Chateau St. Faren (sp?)" but it was twice as much and seemed a lot to be paying for something you know nothing about. This stuff is 55% and the other was 70%. So 110 proof or 140 proof. No, didn't try, not in any hurry. Was going to look for a slotted spoon and sugar cubes today. __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

06-24-2008, 05:11 AM	#49 (permalink)
FogHorn Upright	OK. Do you want me to tell you what I know about this one you bought, or not? I'll keep quiet until you tried it and then we can compare notes, if you wish, or I can share my experience right away. Your call...

06-24-2008, 05:51 AM	#50 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	Gez, that sounds not so good. Hmm, how about I try it then we compare notes. __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

06-24-2008, 08:17 AM	#51 (permalink)
FogHorn Upright	OK I'll wait and see what you think, Tully. You might like to try it with iced water at a ratio of about 1:4 or 1:5 and perhaps also in a cocktail. Looking forward to hearing what you think.

06-24-2008, 01:15 PM	#52 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	Ok, tried it with the sugar cube, cold water 4:1 mix. I chilled the water in the freezer until it was nearly frozen. You were right, no "louche" or clouding. Didn't taste like black licorice to me, basically tasted nasty. I put a shot in a chilled glass of apple juice, less nasty but still nasty. Certainly have a buzz, though had a shot of good tequila to get the taste out of my mouth. So I assume this is crap... or I just don't like the stuff. __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

06-25-2008, 02:00 AM	#53 (permalink)
FogHorn Upright	It is a cheap artifically coloured cold oil mix. It has no anise content and therefore no licorice flavour. Anise is the oil that creates the majority of the louche. It is not distilled. To make real absinthe a bunch of herbs including grande wormwood, anise, fennel (and others) are macerated and then distilled. Alcohol is a GABA agonist. It stimulates the production of this neurotransmitter which causes drowsiness and sleep. Thujone is a GABA antagonist. It prohibits alcohol from performing that part of it's function. Absinthe is therefore a type of 'speedball', it's chemical constituents at once promote the production of GABA and opens its receptors, while also closing those receptors off. This explains the 'green fairy' effect that absinthe has, as oppossed to just normal drunkenness. Thujone is a naturally occuring terpeme in grande wormwood and I am sorry to say is prohibited by the FDA. Alcoholic beverages must be thujone-free pursuant to 21 CFR 172.510. In Europe the thujone levels are >35mg and sometimes even 100mg like Century Absinthe. The high thujone natural artisnal absinthes are very expensive though. Good brands are Century Absinthe - 100mg thujone Roquette 1797 - >30mg thujone (spicey) Kubler (Euro release only) - a blanche (white) absinthe The blanche is an absinthe that has not been subject to secondary maceration post distillation. It is not green, but clear. As I already said absinthe is a kind of concentrate and should be enjoyed at a ratio of 1:4 or 1:5. This allows the drinker to enjoy the unique effect and also the herbal flavours which are held in suspesnion in the alcohol. Absinthe began life as a curative elixir and the alcohol was only a means of delivering and preserving the curative powers of the herbs.

06-25-2008, 03:18 AM	#54 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	Ever hear of this Chateau St. Faren stuff? __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

06-25-2008, 07:16 AM	#55 (permalink)
FogHorn Upright	"Chateau St Ferran" I never heard of it before you mentioned it, Tully. Spanish and the colour looks rather artifical. I see they sell it as "Canabis Absinthe" Hmm....sounds a bit of a gimmick to me. It's 80% and I prefer lower proof. That is very strong on alcohol content.