sadatx

Anybody ever had real Absinthe? I've had it at a few bars in europe, but I'm not sure if it was the real stuff.

Anybody try the good stuff with the high thujone (wormwood oil) content? Did you see any green fairies or trip out at all?

There's was an article on it in Maxim I read and it's been on my mind.

Jesus Malverde

How man how the hell can I get myself some of that shit? Can't you make heroin out of that or something? I bet drinking that fucks you up more than Dos Gusanos tequila.

__________________
...I'm that cat by the bar toasting to the good life...

Great Scott

Had it, and it was the real stuff. Packs a serious puch and really makes you hungover in the morning. Nothing more serious though. I was under the impression that you needed to consume serioius quantities before you felt any hallucegenic effects.

majik_6

Does anyone happen to know what countries still allow the real absinthe?

It'd be interesting to try, but I'm way too much of a wimp to break the law!

__________________
it's all about self-indulgence

more fire

france, holland and i think germany as well sell "real" absinthe
other european countries sell the same brands but with the thujone removed.

micah67

Are there import issues? My folks are coming back from France next week and I've put in my request. They seemed hesitant on complying, though.

__________________
~micah

CAN_skate

They have it in portugal.

Just say it's wine.

tfbrown69

A Friend of mine has quite a collection of many different bottles from all over the world,and he has them shipped right to his door here in the states...


Absinthe FAQ
by Matthew Baggott (bagg@ellis.uchicago.edu)
February 3, 1993


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------This FAQ file was prepared by Matthew Baggott

INTRODUCTION
(bagg@ellis.uchicago.edu) for distribution on the newsgroup alt.drugs. It may be freely reprinted and distributed as long as it is properly credited. If you're reprinting the file in a zine (e- or otherwise), I'd like to hear about it. Some uses of the medline abstracts might be go beyond legal 'fair use' of that intellectual property. If I determine this to be a problem, I'll replace the abstracts with summaries written by myself. However, people reprinting this file may wish to leave out that section of the FAQ if this issue is of concern to them. Comments, questions, referenced information, and personally- collected anecdotes relating to absinthe and wormwood are welcome. File last updated on 3-FEB-93.
The following individuals contributed information or editorial skills to this FAQ file: Michael Golden (mgolden@eecs.umich.edu) archived the recipies which were posted to rec.food.drink by unknown parties; Laurent Hagimont (hagimont@cnam.cnam.fr) and Johnny Svensson (svensson@ISI.edu) supplied information about the current availability of absinthe; Johnny Svensson also gave information about wormwood's use as a flavoring in vodka. Myra Chachkin (cs_myra@gsbvax.uchcicago.edu) provided editorial comments on an earlier draft of this FAQ file. These individuals deserve much credit for helping to compile obscure data. Nonetheless, the perspectives, arguments, and errors of this file are mine alone.

The file contains the following sections: What is absinthe?; What is the active component in absinthe?; What plants contain thujone?; How was/is absinthe made?; References; Recent references on absinthe/thujone culled from medline; and Books on absinthe culled from the University of California on-line card catalog. Each of these sections is separated by a partial line of minus characters, allowing one to easily page through the document.


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WHAT IS ABSINTHE?
Absinthe is an alcoholic drink made with an extract from wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). It is an emerald green drink which is very bitter (due to the presence of absinthin) and is therefore traditionally poured over a perforated spoonful of sugar into a glass of water. The drink then turns into an opaque white as the essential oils precipitate out of the alcoholic solution. Absinthe was once popular among artists and writers and was used by Van Gogh, Baudelaire, and Verlaine, to name a few. It appears to have been believed to stimulate creativity. However, in the 1850's, there began to be concern about the results of chronic use. Chronic use of absinthe was believed to produce a syndrome, called absinthism, which was characterized by addiction, hyperexcitability, and hallucinations. This concern over the health effects of absinthe was amplified by the prevailing belief in Lamarckian theories of heredity. In other words, it was believed that any traits acquired by absinthists would be passed on to their children (1). Absinthe's association with the bohemian lifestyle also worked to compound fears about its effects, much as has happened with marijuana in America. Absinthe was subsequently banned in many countries in the beginning of the 1900's.
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WHAT IS THE ACTIVE COMPONENT IN ABSINTHE?
This issue is not entirely resolved. Alcohol is definitely one main component. However, another candidate is the monoterpene, thujone, which which is considered a convulsant. Thujone's mechanism of action is not known, although structural similarities between thujone and tetrahydrocannabinol (the active component in marijuana) have led some to hypothesize that both substances have the same site of action in the brain. Thujone makes up 40 to 90% (by weight) of the essence of wormwood, from which absinthe is made (2). Thus, thujone would appear to be a good candidate for a second active component in absinthe. Indeed, thujone has long been considered to be the neurotoxic cause of absinthism.
However, the direct evidence to support this idea is scant. Absinthe is 75% alcohol. Therefore, alcohol's effects will limit the amount of thujone one can ingest. Quite simply, you can only drink a moderate amount of absinthe before you become very drunk from the alcohol. Thujone would have to be active at a very low dose or be present in high quantities in order to have any appreciable effect. In the "This and That" column in Trends in the Pharmacological Sciences, "B. Max" made the following dose calculations:

How much thujone was present in absinthe? Steam distillation of wormwood yields 0.27-0.40% of a bitter, dark-green oil (3) In a typical recipe for absinthe, 2.5 kg of wormwood were used in preparing 100 liters of absinthe (4). Typically, 1.5 oz was consumed (diluted with water) per tipple (5). This is equivalent to 4.4 mg wormwood oil per drink, or 2-4 mg thujone. This is far below the level at which acute pharmacological effects are observed. Even chronic administration of 10 mg/kg thujone to rats does not alter spontaneous activity of conditioned behavior (6). The literature on the pharmacology of thujone is, to put it bluntly, second rate, and conclusions as to its effects have been extrapolated far beyond the experimental base (7).

Furthermore, the symptoms of absinthism do not appear to be that unlike those of alcoholism. Hallucinations, sleeplessness, tremors, paralysis, and convulsions can also be noted in cases of alcoholism. This suggests that the syndrome "absinthism" mayy well have been caused by alcohol. Because absinthe is no longer popular, little research has been done into its effects on health. Reports on thujone's/absinthe's toxicity seem to rely mostly on case reports from the beginning of the century or earlier. Lacking more recent research, it seems most reasonable to take reports of absinthe's toxicity with skepticism. Essentially, there is little good data to suggest that absinthe's active components were anything other than alcohol.

(In fairness, I should mention that several individuals who have taken home-made absinthe or who have drunk it where it is legal have claimed to me that it produced an intoxication unlike that of alcohol.)

In addition to alcohol and thujone, absinthe sometimes contained methanol (wood alcohol), which could have contributed to the symptoms of absinthism. Calamus (acorus calamus) and nutmeg (myristica fragrans) were also sometimes used in making absinthe. Both plants have reputations for being psychedelics, although to my best of knowledge only nutmeg's psychedelic properties have been well established. However, it seems unlikely that either plant would have been added in the quanitities necessary to produce psychoactive effects.


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WHAT MODERN ALCOHOLIC DRINKS ARE THERE WHICH ARE RELATED TO ABSINTHE?
Pernod is basically absinthe without the wormwood. It is named after Henri-Louis Pernod, an individual who ran an absinthe factory in France in the early 1800s. As a substitute for wormwood, the modern drink Pernod uses increased amounts of aniseed. Ricard is the name of another modern wormwood-less absinthe.
Also, vermouth, chartreuse, and benedictine all contain small amounts of thujone. In fact, vermouth, which is made using the flower heads from wormwood, takes its name from the german "wermuth" ("wormwood").

Absinthe (made with wormwood) is still available in Spain and reportedly in Denmark and Portugal as well.

Wormwood is popular as a flavoring for vodka in Sweden.

It is also possible to buy oil of wormwood (produced by steam distillation) from companies that sell essential oils. One such company is The Essential Oil Co., PO Box 206, Lake Oswego, OR, 97034. 503-697-5992; FAX 503-697-0615; Orders 1-800-729-5912. Catalog is free, but there is a $50 minimum order (orders under $50 are accepted but charged an additional $5 service charge). The company also sells other oils of interest to readers of this newsgroup. Caution should be exercised with these oils since they can contain significant amounts of pharmacologically active and/or toxic elements.


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WHAT PLANTS CONTAIN THUJONE?
According to W. N. Arnold's Scientific American article: Thujone occurs in a variety of plants, including tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) and sage (salvia officinalis), as well as in all the trees of the arborvitae group, of which the thuja (Thuja occidentalis), or white cedar, is one. It is also characteristic of most species of Artemisia, a genus within the Compositae, or daisy, family. Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) and Roman wormwood (Artemisia pontica) were the main sources of the thujone in absinthe (4).
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HOW WAS/IS ABSINTHE MADE?
Simon and Schulter's Guide to Herbs and Spices tells us that Henri-Louis Pernod used aniseed, fennel, hyssop, and lemonbalm along with lesser amounts of angelica, star anise, dittany, juniper, nutmeg, and veronica. These ingredients were mascerated together with wormwood plants. After leaving the mixture to sit, water was added and the mixture was distilled. Dried herbs, including more wormwood, were added to the distillate, which was then diluted with alcohol to give a concentration of about 75% alcohol by volume (8). Different absinthe manufacturers used slightly different ingredients, sometimes using calamus, which has been purported to have psychoactive effects.
In addition to these ingredients, manufacturers sometimes added other ingredients to produce the drink's emerald green color. Normally, this color was due to the presence of chlorophyll from the plants. However, in the event that the product was not properly colored, absinthe makers were known to add things like copper sulfate, indigo, turmeric, and aniline green. Antimony chloride was also used to help the drink become cloudy when added to water. Presumably modern makers of Pernod and absinthe use safer ingredients for their concoctions!

Here are some recipes for "absinthe" which were originally posted to rec.food.drink. Absinthe is placed in quotes since only the last recipe here will produce something resembling the traditional drink. I have not personally tried these recipes and do not claim that they are safe or even tasty.

** Absinthe #1 **


1 pint vodka
2 tsp crumbled wormwood (dried)
2tsp anise seed
1/2 tsp fennel seed
4 cardomom pods
1 tsp majoram
1/2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp chopped angelica root
1 2/3 cups sugar syrup
Place vodka in large jar with tight fitting lid. Add wormwood and shake well; steep 48 hrs and strain out. Crush seeds and pods in mortar. Add them and all remaining spices to vodka and steep in a warm place 1 week. Filter and sweeten. (The sugar syrup mentioned above is your standard simple syrup.)
** Absinthe #2 **


1 tsp crumbled wormwood
1 cup vodka
2 Tbsp chopped peppermint leaves
1 piece of lemon peel, 3/4"x2"
1/3-1/2 cup sugar syrup
Steep wormwood in vodka for 48 hours. Strain out and add peppermint leaves and lemon peel. Steep for 8 days, strain and sweeten. Smells good but is more bitter than #1.

** Absinthe Wine **

All herbs are dried.


2 tsp peppermint
2tsp dried wormwood
2 tsp thyme
2 tsp lavender
2 tsp hyssop
2 tsp majoram
2 tsp sage
2 pints port
Steep herbs one week, filter and bottle. My notes describe this as "bitter, aromatic and potent". ** Absinthe #3 ** >From Arnold's article in Scientific American: An 1855 recipe from Pontarlier, France, gives the following instructions for making absinthe: Macerate 2.5 kilograms of dried wormwood, 5 kilograms of anise and 5 kilograms of fennel in 95 liters of 85 percent ethanol by volume. Let the mixture steep for at least 12 hours in the pot of a double boiler. Add 45 liters of water and apply heat; collect 95 liters of distillate. To 40 liters of the distillate, add 1 kilogram of Roman wormwood, 1 kilogram of hyssop and 500 grams of lemon balm, all of which have been dried and finely divided. Extract at a moderate temperature, then siphon off the liquor, filter, and reunite it with the remaining 55 liters of distillate. Dilute with water to produce approximately 100 liters of absinthe with a final alcohol concentration of 74 percent by volume (4).


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REFERENCES:
(1) Murphy, R. B. and Schneider, L. H. (1992) Soc. Neurosci. Abstr., Vol. 18, Part 1, p. 180.

(2) Simonsen, J. L. (1949) The Terpenes Vol. 2, Univ. Press.

(3) Guenther, E. (1952) The Essential Oils Vol. 5, Van Nostrand.

(4) Arnold, W. M. (1989) Scientific American 260 (June), 112-117.

(5) Vogt, D. D. and Montagne, M. (1982) Int. J. Addict 17, 1015- 1029.

(6) Pinto-Scognamiglio, W. (1968) Boll. Chim. Farm. 107, 780-791.

(7) Max, B. (1990) TiPS 11 (Feb), 58-60.

(8) Simonetti, Gualtiero (1990) Simon and Schuster's Guide to Herbs and Spices, Simon and Schuster.



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RECENT ARTICLES ON ABSINTHE AND THUJONE CULLED FROM MEDLINE:
1. Bonard EC.
[Absinthe and malaria].
Revue Medicale de la Suisse Romande, 1992 Oct, 112(10):907-8 Language: French.
(UI: 93067843)
2. Bonkovsky HL; Cable EE; Cable JW; Donohue SE; White EC; Greene YJ; Lambrecht RW; Srivastava KK; Arnold WN.
Porphyrogenic properties of the terpenes camphor, pinene, and thujone Biochemical Pharmacology, 1992 Jun 9, 43(11):2359-68.
(UI: 92304361) Pub type: Historical Article; Historical Biography; Journal Article.

Abstract: Camphor, alpha-pinene (the major component of turpentine), and thujone (a constituent in the liqueur called absinthe) produced an increase in porphyrin production in primary cultures of chick embryo liver cells. In the presence of desferrioxamine (an iron chelator which inhibits heme synthesis and thereby mimics the effect of the block associated with acute porphyria), the terpenes enhanced porphyrin accumulation 5- to 20-fold. They also induced synthesis of the rate-controlling enzyme for the pathway, 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase, which was monitored both spectrophotometrically and immunochemically. These effects are shared by well-known porphyrogenic chemicals such as phenobarbital and glutethimide. Camphor and glutethimide alone led to the accumulation of mostly uro- and heptacarboxylporphyrins, whereas alpha-pinene and thujone resulted in lesser accumulations of porphyrins which were predominantly copro- and protoporphyrins. In the presence of desferrioxamine, plus any of the three erpenes, the major product that accumulated was protoporphyrin. The present results indicate that the terpenes tested are porphyrogenic and hazardous to patients with underlying defects in hepatic heme synthesis. There are also implications for the illness of Vincent van Gogh and the once popular, but now banned liqueur, called absinthe.

3. Arnold WN; Loftus LS.
Xanthopsia and van Gogh's yellow palette.
Eye, 1991, 5 ( Pt 5):503-10.
(UI: 92175120) Pub type: Historical Article; Historical Biography; Journal Article.

Abstract: A survey of van Gogh's work from 1886 to 1890 indicated that paintings with a yellow dominance were numerous, episodic, and multi-regional. His underlying illness, by his own admission, affected his life and work; furthermore, episodes of malnutrition, substance abuse, environmental exposure, and drug experimentation (all evident from correspondence) exacerbated his condition. Accordingly, we reviewed plausible agents that might have modified the artist's colour perception. Xanthopsia due to overdosage of digitalis or santonin is well documented elsewhere, but evidence of useage of either drug by van Gogh cannot be substantiated. It is unlikely that ageing of the human lens was an influence because of the artist's youth. Sunstroke is too restrictive to fit the multiplicity of regions and motifs. Hallucinations induced by absinthe, the popular liqueur of the period, may explain particular canvases but not the majority of 'high yellow' paintings. Van Gogh's proclivity for exaggerated colours and his embrance of yellow in particular are clear from his letters and, in contradistinction to chemical or physical insults modifying perception, artistic preference is the best working hypothesis to explain the yellow dominance in his palette.

4. Arnold WN.
Absinthe.
Scientific American, 1989 Jun, 260(6):112-7.
(UI: 89266842) Pub type: Historical Article; Journal Article.

Comment: As one would expect from _Sci Am_, this is a good general article written by someone who has obviously written extensively on the subject. However, IMHO the author is insufficiently critical of of his historical sources.

5. Arnold WN.
Vincent van Gogh and the thujone connection.
Jama, 1988 Nov 25, 260(20):3042-4.
(UI: 89037535) Pub type: Historical Article; Historical Biography; Journal Article.

Abstract: During his last two years Vincent van Gogh experienced fits with hallucinations that have been attributed to a congenital psychosis. But the artist admitted to episodes of heavy drinking that were amply confirmed by colleagues and there is good evidence to indicate that addiction to absinthe exacerbated his illness. Absinthe was distilled from an alcoholic steep of herbs. Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) was the most significant constituent because it contributed thujone. This terpene can cause excitation, convulsions that mimic epilepsy, and even permanent brain damage. Statements in van Gogh's letters and from his friends indicate that he had an affinity for substances with a chemical connection to thujone; the documented examples are camphor and pinene. Perhaps he developed an abnormal craving for terpenes, a sort of pica, that would explain his attempts to eat paints and so on, which were previously regarded as unrelated absurdities.

6. Ishida T; Toyota M; Asakawa Y.
Terpenoid biotransformation in mammals. V. Metabolism of (+)-citronellal, (+-)-7-hydroxycitronellal, citral, (-)-perillaldehyde, (-)-myrtenal, cuminaldehyde, thujone, and (+-)-carvone in rabbits.
Xenobiotica, 1989 Aug, 19(8):843-55.
(UI: 90051443)


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BOOKS ON ABSINTHE CULLED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ON-LINE CARD CATALOG:
1. Conrad, Barnaby, 1953-
Absinthe : history in a bottle / Barnaby Conrad III. San Francisco : Chronicle Books, c1988.

2. Delahaye, Marie-Claude.
L'absinthe : histoire de la fee verte / Marie-Claude Delahaye. Paris : Berger-Levrault, c1983. Series title: Arts et traditions populaires.

3. Sangle-Ferriere.
Nouvelle methode d'analyse des absinthes, par MM. Sangle-Ferriere ... & L. Cuniasse ... Paris, Vve C. Dunod, 1902.

sadatx

Excellent, thanks for all the info there. I found a couple places that sell it online. They will ship to the states:

www.eabsinthe.com

www.absinth.com

And here's a site with some more info on it:

http://www.sepulchritude.com/chapelperilous/absinthe/

xxmsaxx

funny this should be in here, Maxim Magazine had an article on Absinthe this issue and they previewed a few with diff prices and whatnot. Gotta say im interested in trying it out but they warn not to drink to much or the effects pretty much feel like sloppy drunk which is nothing new for some of us

__________________
..................
/..../\../\....\
|.S.|..V..|.A.|
\....\..../..../
..................
Work for pay and pay for freedom

sblime42

I was under the impression that real absinthe was illegal in the EU and the US. However, I had the real thing in Prague, Czechoslovakia and it was pretty insane. I had about 3 shots and the cobblestones on the ground looked like they were liquid.

edmos1

eabsinthe.com is the site that works, have not tried the other. Have had the French stuff (pernod not the water) and the czech stuff. the French stuff tastes bad (so the the czech stuff) but I had a couple of shots of Pernod, and it made me a little paranoid, I drank alot more of the czech stuff, and I think I was too drunk, I read that more than 3 shots the alcohol might override any other beneficial effects. As far as the infamous Van Ghoh Absinthe bender, since it is a toxin, perhaps it built up in his system, so the Halucinegen effects were compounded. Just a thought, if anyone figures out how to drink it so it tastes good let us know, I have tired:
Straight, not good
chilled, not good
poured over sugar, not good
poured over sugar and lit on fire, not good
on the rocks, not good

sadatx

Okay, so since I posted this thread I've done some more research, obtained a bottle, and of course tried it.

I'll try to answer some of the questions I've seen in this thread.

ON LEGALITY IN THE U.S.:

Absinthe was a popular drink for many years in the U.S. until, due to politics and speculation about its saftey (not due to scientific research), it was banned by the Deparment of Agriculture in 1912.

And it remains banned to this day. However with the advent of the internet and the revival of Absinthe in Europe you can now order Absinthe over the web. They will ship it to your front door. Since it isn't cocaine or anything customs isn't that strict about the stuff so there's probably not a huge risk of it getting confiscated. BUT THERE IS STILL A RISK.

There are importers who reside in the U.S. that you can buy from but you will have to pay a premium.

ON AVAILABILITY, BRANDS, AND QUALITY:

From what I've read at present the best stuff is the Swiss Absinthe. Don't be fooled by companies selling bottles they call Swiss Absinthe, because the real stuff is only made by bootleggers in Switzerland and is hard to find (meaning you probably won't be able to buy it over the web).

French and Spanish made absinthe come next in quality and are much easier to find then the Swiss. They do, however, contain more chemicals, and have a lower thujone content.

Czech made absinthe comes at the bottom of the list in every review I read. People say that it is a step down from drinking straight windex (this is probably why you can't make it taset good, EDMOS1) and it will probably make you loopy not necessarily due to the thujone content, but because of the amount of chemicals they put in it. It is as easy to obtain as the French and Spanish stuff.

Finally, the Valhalla of Absinthe is the original Vintage French Pernod from the late 1800/early 1900's. This stuff is quite rare and probably only obtainable from private collectors. And if you do find it expect to shell out $1400 or higher for one bottle. Of course you'll be getting an Absinthe that has easily the highest thujone content of all the absinthes on the market today.

ON MAKING IT TASTE GOOD:

Now if you get some nasty absinthe, there's no amount of sugar in the world that will make it taste good. But here's how the french used to drink it:

-Pour one ounce of absinthe into a glass.
-Set a sugar cube over the glass using a spoon.
-Pour 1-3 three ounces, according to your tastes, of ice cold water over the sugar cube into the glass.
-By doing this you should get a louche or what looks like a milky substance in the glass.
-Drop the sugar cube in the glass mash it and stir.
-Drink and enjoy.

using this method I've come to like the taste (it's extremely similar to Sambuca, however, when taken straight, much harsher)

ON THE POTENCY:

According to most of the info on it most of the modern absinthe companies in europe produce bottles with a 10-20 mg./kg thujone content. This is due to some strict laws limiting the amount of thujone they can put in their absinthe.

The Swiss bootleggers supposedly produce absinthe with a 50-75 mg./kg thujone content and no chemicals. However their absinthe only has a 50-55% alcohol content which is on the midlow end when compared to other brands on the market.

Just to give you some perspective the vintage stuff that Van Gogh and Hemingway drank had a 256 mg./kg thujone content. whoa.

MY THOUGHT:

When I first tried it I felt like I was nailed to my couch and I took a short nap. Although the efeect didn't last long it deffinitely hit harder than most liquors I've had. I've had it one other time (just got the bottle a day and a half ago) and got very sleepy that time also. I haven't gone crazy or halucinated.....yet.

So after spending a little over a week on that (yeah, I'm a little obsessive with my hobbies....yes, this is a hobby) I can finally get back to my job. Now what was it I did again?

If anyone one has any more questions I strongly reccomend that you read over tfbrown69's post (thanks again) and check out this site:

http://www.sepulchritude.com/chapelperilous/absinthe/

Any info on buying the stuff can be found there. Do the research and you will be happy.

Legal Disclaimer: All text found herein is presented for information purposes only and should not be taken literally, with hard alcohol, or before bedtime. All Brand names and Hairy Monkeys are subject to copyright infringements and a big bunch of purple bannans. By looking at this smiley face you waive any rights you posses as a human and you may face jail time or time with said hairy monkeys. Lets add a couple ambersands && some of these U.S.C. § 4557 § . And some more of these for good measure § § § § § § § § § § § § § § . :man: :woman: :cake: :drink: And we're done.

TIO

The FAQ listed Chartreuse as similar to absinthe. It's moderately popular over here, particularly as a shooter to get the birthday boy off his tits as quickly as possible. The best description I've heard of the taste is "grass clippings and methylated spirits," which is not too far wrong. It's 55% alc./vol, but hits pretty hard...it seems to hit harder than 151 rum (at least 76% alc./vol), but that might just be my imagination.

I like it

Absinthe has recently been allowed back in Australia, but I haven't had an opportunity to try it yet, and I'm not sure if the stuff you can get here is 'real' absinthe.

__________________
Strewth

jwoody

In England it is fairly easy to buy French Absynthe, which is banned in France.(so I've been told)

Figure that out.

__________________
.

baudot

Was recently served absinthe (yes, in the US) by a fellow returning from a tour of duty with the navy. Apparently it's still legal and quite easy to get in the Czech republic, as well as cheap. U.S. customs didn't give him any hassle about either of the two bottles he brought back, even though they searched his bags. So far as he knows, it's illegal to buy, sell, or make in the U.S.. That doesn't stop you from bringing a personal use amount back with you from elsewhere, drinking it, or serving it to your friends.

I had about a finger of it in a tumbler. Probably a double-shot, tho in the glass it was impossible to tell. I didn't hallucinate. A very thin girl who had two such glasses did, although not severely.

The taste of the stuff is pretty foul. I'd compare it to Raka or Uozo. For a week after drinking it, I felt like I'd scraped my throat with steel wool.

One more thing: The Czech spelling of absinth omits the trailing 'e'. Worth knowing, since that seems to be the easiest place to get it these days.

edmos1

Thank you sadatx, I have 4 small bottles of Trenet I will try, the czech stuff made me a little gun shy

j8ear

Was quite readily available in Japan during my stint on Okinawa 12 years ago.

We were cautioned that it would trip a positive on a piss test if recently consumed...as it is opiate based in nature?

Could be Marine Corps propoganda...but I stayed away none-the-less.

-bear

__________________
It's alot easier to ask for forgiveness then it is to ask for permission.

tj2001cobra

Damn it, I had to go ahead and buy some. Results will be posted in the next 2 weeks

labob

I've been doing a little research online I'll be purchasing a bottle shortly, so after I give it a whirl I'll be sure post a review.

What I've learned is the top-notch stuff will set you back about $225.00 a bottle. It's the Suisse La Bleue. It's made by bootleggers in Western Switzerland.

All Things Absinthe

I've corresponded with the webmaster of this site and she's all business... If you're looking to acquire some absinthe from someone in the states and not hassle with all the overseas crap, this looks like the place to go...

__________________
"A man's only as old as the woman he feels"

-Groucho Marx

sadatx

I think anyone serious about researching and buying the stuff will eventually end up at All Things Absinthe.

Good looking out labob