Does anybody know where I can buy Absinthe? And what are the effects?

Question

I'm looking to buy Absinthe I heard it's not legal in the US...but where can order it from? What are the effects of drinking it?

Answer 1

Yes, it is illegal in the US. A few years ago I got some from Czechoslovakia.
http://www.absenta.com/
check that site out....I think I might buy some myself!

Answer 2

Yep a number of different top brands. There is no such thing as "full strength" absinthe, and any place advertising such should be avoided. Either it is absinthe or it isn't. Absente which is available in the US is not absinthe but pastis, the majority of absinth available in the czech republic (or made in the czech republic) isn't absinthe but a type of bitters. Absinthe is an anise flavored beverage made from green anise and wormwood, plus additional herbs. If it lacks either of those it isn't absinthe. Any after effects are minor and not experienced by everyone, don't fall into the myths, it wont make you hallucinate or anything like that. For those that experience "secondaries" it is often described as a clear headed drunk. I have found normal alcohol feels very heavy after drinking absinthe.

Answer 3

The History channel did a show on this subject. Many issues contributed to the outlawing of absinthe. The distilling was not regulated, and anyone could make/sell it. This meant lead poisoning was a problem and caused many of the ill effects. During this time period, a drought devastated the wine industry, and absinthe became the drink of choice. The wine makers went on a smear campaign to outlaw absinthe, and regain their market share.
When the EU was formed, Germany was the only country where absinthe was legal, and thus they legalized it in all EU countries. Although it is still illegal in the US, absinthe is as safe as any other distilled spirit (properly regulated and produced)

Answer 4

Proper absinthe is not nor has it ever been hallucinogenic, contrary to popular myth. If you are looking for a hallucinogen or noticeable effects beyond intoxication absinthe isn't for you.

Absinthe is a distilled anise and wormwood flavored liquor (brands, often from the czech republic, that don't contain anise are not absinthe and you also can't soak herbs in vodka to make absinthe). Absinthe is not illegal in the US but it is banned by the FDA and customs. That means while it's not illegal to possess it, it is illegal to sell and customs can confiscate bottles coming into the US (which is much lighter than the penalties from hiding it in a different bottle and lying to customs).

Answer 5

Absinthe is available in Canada at the Liquor Control Board outlets. It costs $80. 20 for a 700ml bottle of Pernod Absinthe imported from France.

Answer 6

I'm pretty sure you can order it over the internet. They just can't send it to you via U.S. postal service.

It's sold on nearly every street corner liquor store in the Czech Republic. Spanish and Japanese brands are also available. Remember that it's supposed to turn white when you add cold water, so that's how you'll know if you got a "good" brand.

I've gotten drunk on absinthe (I think about 5 shots with sugar and water had me feeling like road kill for 20 minutes or so, and normal drunk the rest of the time, with no vomiting or hallucinating. Not saying that no one hallucinates when they drink it, just that I didn't.)

I can tell you a couple of good brands, but not from the computer I'm currently at, so check back for the edit!

Answer 7

The best absinthe comes from the Czech Republic. Nothing sold in France or England can even remotely compare to Czech absinthe. With that said, it wouldn't be too hard to place a bottle in your luggage (padded VERY well) if you chose to do so. A single bottle in your luggage isn't going to raise any suspicions, and even if by chance your luggage was randonly searched, they would likely remove it and leave you a note.
p.s. I don't condone smuggling. It's hallucinogenic properties is largely a myth, and the only dangerous aspect of absinthe is it's high alcohol content. Many people have a very skewed concept of what absinthe really is, believing it to be dangerous/deadly or psychoactive. I suggest you read into it a little bit at the link below.

Answer 8

A friend bought my husband and I a bottle for a housewarming present. They bought it on line from Germany - I'm in the UK so I'm not sure whether you would be able to do that and have it delivered within the States.
It didn't effect us any differently to any other strong spirit - it's quite potent but no one at our party that drank it (including me and my hubby) had any hallucinogenic experiences (not due to the Absinthe anyway!!) It tastes a bit like aniseed.

Answer 9

It is illegal to buy Absinthe in the US, because it is a hallusingen and highly addictive. The main ingedent is an herb called Wormwood. It was/is used in Europian pagan rituals to communicate with spirits, either smoked or burned as an incence. I really shouldn't do this...
Quick Absinthe.

1 lb of wormwood
1 1.5 lt bottle of vodka or Everclear

Let the wormwood steep in the alcohol for atleats 1 month.

Absinthe is bitter and traditionaly it is served with a flaming or burnt sugar cube.

Drink, and enjoy chasing the Green Fairy.

Answer 10

You can buy Absinthe from supermarkets in the UK--and yes, it is the real deal and will have the same short and long term effects that it had on the French impressionist: hallucinations. blindness, madness, etc. I'm not sure that you are even allowed to import it into the US.

Answer 11

Like it says above, you can buy it in canada. I had a shot, and will never touch the stuff again, i got a huge tummy ache. My bf and a friend got trashed on it one night. They said the only tripy thing that happened was that colour didn't look right, or became the wrong colour. Oh and they were very sick the next day lol