Has anyone ever tried absinthe?

Question

It is also called The Green Fairy.
My friend would like to know what is the best way to have it.

Answer 1

Absinthe (IPA English: [ˈæbsɪnθ] IPA French: [ap.sɛ̃t]) is a distilled, highly alcoholic, anise-flavored spirit derived from herbs including the flowers and leaves of the medicinal plant Artemisia absinthium, also called wormwood. Although it is sometimes incorrectly called a liqueur, absinthe does not contain added sugar and is therefore classified as a liquor or spirit.[1]

Absinthe is often referred to as la Fée Verte ("The Green Fairy") because of its coloring — typically pale or emerald green, but sometimes clear. Due to its high proof and concentration of oils, absintheurs (absinthe drinkers) typically add three to five parts ice-cold water to a dose of absinthe, which causes the drink to turn cloudy (called "louching"); often the water is used to dissolve added sugar to decrease bitterness. This preparation is considered an important part of the experience of drinking absinthe, so much so that it has become ritualized, complete with special slotted absinthe spoons and other accoutrements. Absinthe's flavor is similar to anise-flavored liqueurs, with a light bitterness and greater complexity imparted by multiple herbs.

Absinthe originated in Switzerland as an elixir, but is better known for its popularity in late 19th- and early 20th-century France, particularly among Parisian artists and writers whose romantic associations with the drink still linger in popular culture. In its heyday, the most popular brand of absinthe worldwide was Pernod Fils. At the height of this popularity, absinthe was portrayed as a dangerously addictive, psychoactive drug; the chemical thujone was blamed for most of its deleterious effects. By 1915 it was banned in a number of European countries and the United States. Even though it was vilified, there is no evidence showing it to be any more dangerous than ordinary alcohol. A modern absinthe revival began in the 1990s, as countries in the European Union began to reauthorize its manufacture and sale.

Answer 2

I've had it, and I can tell you that if you don't like the taste of Aniseed (or Licorice) then you should stay WELL clear, absinthe is like Sambucca squared. Anyway, the traditional way to do it is like this:

1. Pour a shot of absinthe into a glass and about two shots of water into a another glass
2. Take a flat (i.e. Not a heaped) teaspoon full of sugar
3. Pour just enough absinthe over the sugar to soak it
4. Set the absinthe/sugar on fire on the spoon and hold it while you wait for the sugar to start to melt.
5. Once the sugar is pretty much melted and the flame has died down, dump the sugar into the glass of absinthe, immediately followed by the water from the other glass.
6. Place a barmat or somethnig over the top of the glass til the flame goes out
7. Drink

It goes without saying that you need to be very careful while doing this, especially since you may well be pretty drunk when you try it. Make sure you do it over a sink or something that's fireproof, the chances are that you will spill burning absinthe somewhere. Remember that absinthe burns, don't pour absinthe over the flames to put them out (I know this sounds obvious, but such things become far less obvious after a few glasses of absinthe, as I discovered to my cost a few weeks ago :) )

If you fancy trying something safer then you need what's called Syrup De Gomme (You can make your own by mixing sugar with boiling water, just keep adding sugar to the water until the sugar won't dissolve anymore). Mix a shot of absinthe with a half shot of syrup and two shots of water, and drink.

Another thing that's fun with Absinthe is called a B57 (Well, B fifty-something, anyways). Take a shot glass and fill it 1/3 full with Kahlua or Tia Maria (coffee liquer), now take a teaspoon and put it in the shot glass so that the end is just touchign the surface of the liquid. Now pour Baileys (or another Irish Cream Liquer) onto the spoon, it should flow off the spoon and float on top of the Kahlua, you want to fill the glass to about 2/3s full. Now do the same thing again with the spoon, but this time pour Absinthe so it floats on top of the Baileys. You now have one B57 shooter, which tastes nicer than the straight Absinthe, water and sugar mix and has less risk of you burning your house to the ground :)

EDIT: I am so going to the shops to buy the ingredients to make ilikechatting's idea :D

Answer 3

I most likely have and very first thing i will can help you know is the parable about it causing hallucinations is just that....A fantasy! The only one that without a doubt does cause hallucinations is the suitable stuff from Amsterdam which is illegal everywhere else. The hallucinations are brought on by the use of an ingrediant called Wormwood and although most absinthes will say on the bottle "includes Wormwood" it's a very small dose so it will get you particularly inebriated but not motive hallucinations. On it can be possess it is not the nicest tasting spirit, having a very powerful aniseed (licorice) taste to it. The typical way to drink absinthe is to melt sugar in an absinthe spoon and drop the sugar into the absinthe and drink. However I to find it goes down nicely if blended with apple juice, it also turns the apple juice a cool aqua color! Enjoy!

Answer 4

Yes, I've drunk absinthe several times. The last time was in November at at tasting of several different brands of absinthe in London, where it was never banned. My favorite was Pernod 68

Absinthe is an aniseed flavoured spirit that is clear until water is added to it, when it turns milky.

Absinthe contains a number of herbs and spices, but the one that got it that reputation - most likely unfairly - is wormwood. Wormwood has an ingredient called thujone which has a structure similar to T.H.C. which is the active chemical in cannabis.

There is a tiny amount of wormwood - used for its bitter flavours - in Absinthe, and you'd have to drink an enormous amount of it to be affected. Bear in mind that absinthe has a very high alcohol content, around 70% alcohol (normal spirits are 40%), but that it is drunk with 6 -8 times as much water, thus diluting the alcohol and active ingredients.


However, it was made illegal in France and some other countries because of fear that people were made mad by absinthe. The stories about the effect of the wormwood content were over exagerated. But there was tremendous consumption of absinthe in France and people certainly drank too much.

What does it do? Same as any other spirit. It makes you drunk if you have too much of it. Does it make you high? Well, it didn't affect me. I think you'd have to drink so much of it that you'd be drunk from its high alcohol content first


Does it still have wormwood in it? Yes of course. Bear in mind it wasn't made illegal in all countries and even though France made absinthe illegal and thus Pernod made a wormwood free replacement drink known as Pastis, Pernod continued to make real absinthe for export.

I'm not a lawyer but the absinthe merchants say that it is only illegal to SELL absinthe in the US, but legal to buy and consume it, and so companies like eabsinthe.com ship personal orders to the US and guarantee refund if a consignment is lost or seized.

However, if you want to know what absinthe is like without buying it, go to any bar or pub and ask for a glass of Pernod or Ricard pastis. Pastis is the wormwood free replacement produced after absinthe was made illegal. These also have lower alcohol, so you add less water. The taste and look of pastis is the same as absinthe.

This online merchant that will ship absinthe to US customers from the UK - see http://www.eabsinthe.com

Answer 5

Never heard it called "green fairy". It is a rather strong liquor, with a rather harsh flavor. It's better very cold, and mixed with something to cut the harsh taste. Maraschino cherry syrup is one substance used as a mixer. Absinthe has the unique quality of lowering one's inhibitions without rendering one so intoxicated one cannot function. Often used in an attempt to seduce innocent (and not-so-innocent) young women. Often spectacularly successful - especially when she realizes what you're up to and decides to go along!

Answer 6

yeah its trippy ****
there are named brands which are usually colored green
but if you try pure french absinth its actually purple and one
glass will put you out cold
half a glass made me go blind for an hour

Answer 7

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, put a sugar cube on a slotted spoon, and pour the absinthe through it, small glasses tho

Answer 8

jup - but its forbidden in most of the country's.
it was (and still is) made in Switzerland and parts of France.
there is two different sorts of it - you can get real one and fake. in the countries where it is not allowed to drink it you will only get fake one...

please be care full with it because it is very addictive and hallucinate.....it will do a lot of harm to your system.....

watch 'moulin rouge' and youll understand what i am talking about....or wait! is that where you got the idea from firstplace?

Answer 9

left in the bottle, Ive never been so drunk or had such a bad hangover

Answer 10

i was about to say have the fairy drink..cant memba name... u put baileys, kahlua, then absithne on top, then light it, then throw cinammon at it, and it sparkles! so cool...then blow it out, and drink it up with straws...sooo cool