Absinthe Guide For Beginner's

Absinthe is a high alcohol volume, unique tasting liqueur infused with a plethora of flavors derived from variety of herbs.  It derives its Green Fairy nickname from its color and its humble beginnings as a miraculous cure all.  Absinthe’s unique coloring is the result of the chlorophyll present in the herbs.  These herbs include anise, hyssop, veronica, fennel, lemon balm, angelica and last but not least wormwood.  Wormwood produces the psychoactive constituent Thujone, which is responsible for producing the mysterious Absinthe “effects”.  For more information about Absinthe and its history, CLICK HERE.

In the United States, Absinthe IS LEGAL to possess!  Thujone is still banned, but as a food rather than a drug.  You aren't allowed to distill or commercially make Absinthe, but you can legally own a bottle and even make your own as long as it isn't distilled.  Besides, it's doubtful the Feds will shoot a stun grenade through your window for placing an order online.

Most members of the European Union now allow the sale of strong Absinthe.  Bars and restaurants in Britain began serving Absinthe when they discovered it was never formally banned in the country.

Germany - Thujone-containing Absinthe became available at bars and stores in Germany in 2002 and is quite popular in parts of Germany and Austria.

Netherlands - A 1909 ban on Absinthe sales was lifted in 2004. Thujone containing Absinthe is sold in liquor stores, as long as Thujone quantity remains within European-accepted levels.

New Zealand - Thujone containing Absinthe is curretnly sold in liquor stores

Switzerland - The prohibition of Absinthe was written into the constitution in 1907.  In 2000 this article was repealed during a general overhaul of the constitution, but the prohibition was written into ordinary law instead.  Later that law was also repealed, so since 2005, Absinthe is again legal in its country of origin, after nearly a century of prohibition.

British Columbia - Absinthe recently became legal in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Foremost of the stimulants is Thujone, the psychoactive chemical at the heart of the herb wormwood, which, along with anisette, gives Absinthe its bitter, black licorice taste.  While once thought to instigate similar reactions as marijuana’s THC, recent research suggests it modulates the neurotransmitter GABAA, which plays a vital role in cognitive thought. Subsequently, Absinthe provides a level of clarity not usually associated with alcoholic drinks.

The recipes for Absinthe, and thus the flavor, vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer, as was true at the turn of the century when there were over 200 Absinthe producers. Today, there are not nearly so many, but more and more crop up every day! Despite popular opinions, due mostly to people's erroneous assumptions upon sampling home brews, Absinthe, when properly distilled, is not extremely bitter.  Wormwood, whose extract used to be a popular ingredient in many perfumes, actually has strong floral & herbal flavor (and scent) that is heightened when extracted by proper distillation, which leaves behind many of the bitter absinthins.  So yes, there is bitterness (probably more evident in Absinthes with higher Thujone content allowed), but it is an undertone, and not overpowering in the slightest.  Our Absinthe King of Spirits Gold is somewhat more bitter than regular Absinthe, yet paradoxically more smooth - the usual sharp 140 proof edge appears to be in hiding in the herbs.