Anybody ever had the Liquor called "Absinthe"? Is there anyplace here in the U.S.A where you can obtain it?

Answer 1

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 2

I have in Russia. You can't get Absinthe in the united states, because it's illegal to sell here. You can get an Absinthe kit, which is legal, and you make it yourself. What makes Absinthe absinthe is the worm wood oil in the alcohol which gives a hallucingenic high.

The only place left in the world that still sells it like that is the Czech Republic. IF you go to Prague, you can get it. In Russia, I had it, and it was minus worm wood, but it was stronger then Everclear (Something like 90 % or something ridiculous.)

Answer 3

You cannot legally purchase real Absinthe in the US.

At the top of the page is a search box, if you type in Absinthe, you'll find hundreds of other answers and recommendations regarding it. Good luck to you.

Answer 4

Absinthe is illegal in the US though I know people who have gotten in by buying it online or by smuggling it in. Although it's illegal it's not a controlled substance such as pot or other drugs.

The stuff is actually not that good (tastes like liquorish). Make sure to mix it w/ water and to add a teaspoon of sugar. Don't even try doing shots of it...

It's supposably pretty potent and while my husband had a crazy experience w/ it my own was rather banal.

Answer 5

technically there is a world wide ban on absenthe. it i made from a closely related specie to what grows in the southwest known as Sage brush a member of the artemesia family which includes tarragon. the herb is available from your local herbalist natural food store but you must buy the flowers which may be difficult in most parts of the country. do not use the leaves it tastes bad.
the closest thing to absenthe and is reported to contan is a liquer made by carthusian monks Chartruese available at a good booze store.

absenthe also contains a a molecule similar to THC...cool huh?
this molecule is also found in traditional listerine....thymol.

Answer 6

It was banned in the United States back in 1915. You can buy it again over here in Europe but not there. Actually it's made from the leaves and flowers of the wormwood plant.

Answer 7

uh, no.. it's illegal here... you have to order it online from Europe.

but, you do know that it is for adults, right? stupid little teenagers think they can hang with the 'big-boys' but often end up praying to the porcelain god. also, don't be so dumb, that could kill you... especially if you do it in shots until the bottle is gone... which most 'wanna-be, cool' teenagers do.

Answer 8

Its a Portuguese drink...It tastes like liquorice...Try a big liquor store

Answer 9

absinthe is supposed to be close to lethal, is it not? not available in the usa, however try this website