What do you know about Absenth?

Question

Heard the buzz about it all around, bought a bottle online for $150. Illegal in the States, but I wasn't that impressed. There were several kinds, this was bitter. Was I doing something wrong? Or, is it just not that great. Tastes like Black Licorice. Suggestions?

Answer 1

I spent some time in Prague a few years ago. It's legal there. It does taste like licorice and it's super strong. No one I knew thought it tastes good.

In Prague, they give you a spoon of sugar. You dip it in the absinthe to get the sugar wet and then light it on fire. Let it burn until it goes out, then stir it into the shot. (DON'T put the fire into the shot glass - the whole thing will catch on fire!) It doesn't do much for the taste. Rumor has it that it's an old traditional to prove that it's real absinthe - it's so high in alcohol that it will burn for a while if it's real.

Traditionally, Absinthe had all kinds of hallucinagens (sp?) in it. Now, it's just strong, kinda gross tasting alcohol with a mysterious reputation.

You're better off having an extra shot of whatever you normally drink, or buying a bottle of everclear (similar alcohol levels).

Answer 2

A perennial aromatic European herb (Artemisia absinthium), naturalized in eastern North America and having pinnatifid, silvery silky leaves and numerous nodding flower heads. Also called common wormwood.

A green liqueur having a bitter anise or licorice flavor and a high alcohol content, prepared from absinthe and other herbs, and now prohibited in many countries because of its toxicity.

Answer 3

150 is too much. It's only illegal cause it has thujone in it. But Absinthe has safe levels of it. Try putting Absinthe in a glass, then place a tablespoon with a sugar cube on it. Then pour cold water to dissolve the sugarcube, then let the mixture of water and sugar trickle down into the absinthe.

Answer 4

yeh it tastes bloody gross. some people jus have it with water. we got some sent from relatives in ukraine, the real deal, but i guess its an aquired taste and as i hate black licorice it don't help! You can always get the bottle finished quick by doing "Statue of Liberty" shots, that is, dipping your thumb in the shot glass of absenth, lighting it on fire, hold your thumb in the air and down the shot! really thats for sambuca but they taste similar to me, and i can't handle both!

Answer 5

Absinthe does taste like licorice. You're supposed to rim the glass with sugar.

Answer 6

my dad's foster dad used to make this stuff at his chalet in switzerland. it is a really refreshing drink, if drunk properly. first of all, the distinct green color makes it unmistakable, light emerald green. it is also sometimes referred to as the green fairy because you get pretty darn happy after a few glasses. the proper way to drink it is to pour it over a cube or two of sugar, and then slowly, i stress the word slowly, drip some cold water over it, this will turn the absinth into a milky color. you can add ice to this if you like or drink it at this point. it tastes like licourice, anise...that sort of flavour.

Answer 7

I've read about it in Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises" and they would drink Absinthe like all the time. It's usually green and intoxicating. Must be a European thing. That's all I know about it.
:)

Answer 8

It's Absinthe and there are a couple of different types you can get, but not in the states (like you stated)..........you should try a pack of them (the smaller bottles) to try all the different kinds........

Answer 9

I drank some in Prague, one mixture I used was in Coca Cola...went down better than any other way. I think you have to drink a fair amount of it to experience anything freaky.

Answer 10

I've never had it but from what I hear it's supposed to taste like that.