Absinthe

[Bikerpunk]

Stereotypical goff drink, innit?!

4 shots of Hill's (deep emerald green, anise flavour) and 2 of Maison Pernod (chlorophyll green, herbal flavour) and I am well on my way to seeing la fee verte.

Any absintheurs in the hizzay? How does you prepare it?

[OrganizedKhaos]

I dont know but I'D LOVE to try it... I've only heard good things.

[Bikerpunk]

It's fucking AWESOME.

[OrganizedKhaos]

Oh, do tell

[VoldtaEngler]

I wonder how many more absinthe threads will be started this year.

[Bikerpunk]

Dude I am sorry to start a new one.

I can barely control my keyboard.

Jesus........

[OrganizedKhaos]

This one's special... BP please continue.

[Bikerpunk]

OK, it's like gearing your brain down. Things move in slow motion, and you're lucid for it all.

[OrganizedKhaos]

oooooooohhhhhhhhhhh

[Bikerpunk]

Indeed.

I prepare it in the Czech fashion. Burn the sugar on the spoon and mix it in

[OrganizedKhaos]

SO, once you make it, do you have to consume it THEN and THERE... OR how good does it last?

[OrganizedKhaos]

Indeed.

I prepare it in the Czech fashion. Burn the sugar on the spoon and mix it in

This is only partially related.............have you checked out the band Absynthe Minded?

[Bikerpunk]

nope

[OrganizedKhaos]

I want you to.... if you feel like it, go into greater detail.... about how it makes you feel....


what other kinds of drugs have you done, and how does it compare?

[Bikerpunk]

I plead the 5th.

Imagine drunkenness without the stupor and sleepiness, just the brain "geared down" and ticking over slower.

If you have any kind of ADD, it's gone. You think of one thing at a time, clearly.

[Morning Glory]

let me put it this way, is it worth spending 50 bucks on a bottle?

for that price I can get some acid, which I know kicks the shit out of absynth.

the only reason I care about absynth now being legal is that it's readily (although not cheaply) available. when it was illegal if I could get it through illegitimate means by placing a few phone calls, then that would be all well and good for me. But you could never find the shit.

[rikosaka]

There is a cool cafe here in Osaka, Cafe Absinthe. I think they have at least 15-20 different kinds of Absinthe.
http://www.kansaiscene.com/2003_10/html/drink.shtml

I have tried a couple of sips of a friend's drink, I mainly go to hang out and smoke a Shisha. I think a friend said their Czech Absinthe is the best. He also has some Wormwood stuff in a separate bottle, a couple of drops which will give it a little more punch, or so I've been told.

[Wickedanima]

Czech Absinthe is not really that good. At all. And the burning the sugar thing, while flashy, isn't really traditional or nessesary. In fact its a bit dangerous.

[One Eyed Cat]

Czech Absinthe is not really that good. At all. And the burning the sugar thing, while flashy, isn't really traditional or nessesary. In fact its a bit dangerous.

Yeah, Czech-sinthe isn't even proper absinthe. The wormwood is diluted at a different stage of production. It doesn't have anywhere near the strength of true absinthe.

OEC

[Bacchus88]

the absinthe you get the state isnt any where compared to the stuff from France.

Here biker, gives you all facts you need to know... I just found searching around the web for wormwood..
http://www.wormwoodsociety.org/

[Morning Glory]

eh, absinthe sucks. I think i'll stick to High Life to get me drunk.

[Bikerpunk]

Maison Pernod is French.

As for burning the sugar, you do need to do that to get it to dissolve. I don't have a fountain.

[Bikerpunk]

for the record I have Czech as well. Nasty stuff but with its own charm.

[Head Wreck]

burning sugar for bohemian, parisian to louche.

and finaly. Absinthe Cakes and Bummi Bears

green fairy cakes
gummi Bears

[aXa]

absinthe, mmm. if only i could drink you more often. and afford the good stuff that is like $200 US per liter. ive tried about 10 different types, dont really have a favourite.

i love the mellow buzz it gives you. rather than sloshing drunk. it makes me feel content, fuzzy, and slightly floaty. its a high-like buzz rather than drunkeness.

[Joel Awesome]

Czech Absinthe is not really that good. At all. And the burning the sugar thing, while flashy, isn't really traditional or nessesary. In fact its a bit dangerous.

I actualy got burned kinda badly one time when some dumbfuck poured absinthe all over my hand while pouring it over the sugar and then sparked a lighter before I could stop him. The glass went "FWOOOMPH!" and my hand and shirt caught fire.

[aXa]

owww, yeah, i can see that easily happening. sometimes the flaming sugar cube ignites the absinthe in the glass below. not the worlds easiest fire to extinguish. especially after having a few glasses of the stuff, where you just kind of sit there and go, "oh, pretty!" while watching the flames....

[DoctorZ]

Never had the stuff.

When did it become legal?

[Bikerpunk]

Very recently, dude.

[Avalokita]

It's legal in the U.S?? Just a few years ago it was banned here. But I also heard they're selling "absinthe" here that isn't the real stuff, just alcohol...

[Bikerpunk]

Jesus Christ. YES it is now legal in this country, and it is VERY VERY legal.

It is recently changed.

You used to only be able to get pastis, but now you can get honest to God Absinthe.

[Wickedanima]

Yeah, Czech-sinthe isn't even proper absinthe. The wormwood is diluted at a different stage of production. It doesn't have anywhere near the strength of true absinthe.

OEC

Well, the main problem for me is that it uses the 'essence' of the florals/herbs meaning it simply adds the oils of everything, rather than the distilled result of soaked herbs.

There seems to be a VERY big deal made about the level of wormwood in the Absinthe. While I understand people wanting to hit the absinthe like a sheet of tabs, the fact is the Wormwood is really only a piece of the puzzle. There should never be enough Wormwood in your absinthe to give you the psychedelic experience.

The balance is in all the marvelous herbs and florals that are in it. Lemon Balm, Fennel, Mugwort, all have long been held to have certain qualities beyond taste. So even 'legal' Absinthe can create that marvelous floaty-headed quality that sets Absinthe apart from say, Vodka.

And I -like- French, but Swiss is utterly superior to my taste.

As for burning the sugar, you do need to do that to get it to dissolve. I don't have a fountain.

I don't want to argue about it really. You could make a simple syrup, or poor cold water over sugarcubes... blah blah. Burning is ok if you want to, I don't really approve because of the Napalm-like qualities, and the fact that burnt sugar really overwhelms the general nose and taste.

OF course, I like the ritual, and never have been a HUGE drinker.

I actualy got burned kinda badly one time when some dumbfuck poured absinthe all over my hand while pouring it over the sugar and then sparked a lighter before I could stop him. The glass went "FWOOOMPH!" and my hand and shirt caught fire.

O.O YIKES! Dumbass + High Alchol content = DOOM.

And agreed Baccus, the wormwood society has one of the best Absinthe/Wormwood FAQ's I've seen yet.

[Bikerpunk]

I burn the sugar with the cheap Czech stuff, NEVER the French. Or the Swiss.

[Head Wreck]

or the Spanish, the Spanish make some good absinthe's actually

[Thoth]

According to the FDA, alcoholic beverages must be thujone-free pursuant to 21 CFR 172.510.

Alcohol is a GABA agonist. It stimulates the production of this neurotransmitter which causes drowsiness and sleep. Thujone is a GABA antagonist. It prohibits alcohol from performing that part of it's function. Absinthe is therefore a type of 'speedball', it's chemical constituents at once promote the production of GABA and opens its receptors, while also closing those receptors off. This explains the 'green fairy' effect that absinthe has, as oppossed to just normal drunkenness.

There is also a very good reason for the so called "French Ritual" adding a gentle and constant trickle of icey water produces a clouding, or louche, this is the herbal oils which are being held in suspension being released. Here lies the effect and the tatse. Water should be added at a ratio of 1:4, which is a blessing given the price of real absinthe.

Real absinthe with thujone is expensive. Why? Thujone is a naturally occuring terpene in artemisia absinthium and is also a benchmark for the quality of the wormwood. Artisnal brands like Century Absinthe with 100mg thujone or Roquette 1797 (35mg) etc are not cheap, and only available online.

In fact you can steep wormwood in high proof alcohol and produce Piołunówka which is a Polish farmhouse drink. This is not absinthe, but it is drinkable and the thujone concentration can be high if you know how to cultivate the plant.

[helcyon]

I've already posted this but I'm repeating the warning. Don't let this happen to you. My ex-flatmate got all angry on the stuff and deliberately knocked over the beer can pyramid we were building. It was... not nice ...but at least he couldn't see for an hour or so in the morning 'cos his eyes were seeing green blobs when he woke up. None of my friends have touched it since.

Tip: you can steal absinthe by siphoning it off and refilling the bottle with anti-freeze. The two are indistinguishable in taste, looks and effect.

[OrganizedKhaos]

According to the FDA, alcoholic beverages must be thujone-free pursuant to 21 CFR 172.510.

Alcohol is a GABA agonist. It stimulates the production of this neurotransmitter which causes drowsiness and sleep. Thujone is a GABA antagonist. It prohibits alcohol from performing that part of it's function. Absinthe is therefore a type of 'speedball', it's chemical constituents at once promote the production of GABA and opens its receptors, while also closing those receptors off. This explains the 'green fairy' effect that absinthe has, as oppossed to just normal drunkenness.

There is also a very good reason for the so called "French Ritual" adding a gentle and constant trickle of icey water produces a clouding, or louche, this is the herbal oils which are being held in suspension being released. Here lies the effect and the tatse. Water should be added at a ratio of 1:4, which is a blessing given the price of real absinthe.

Real absinthe with thujone is expensive. Why? Thujone is a naturally occuring terpene in artemisia absinthium and is also a benchmark for the quality of the wormwood. Artisnal brands like Century Absinthe with 100mg thujone or Roquette 1797 (35mg) etc are not cheap, and only available online.

In fact you can steep wormwood in high proof alcohol and produce Piołunówka which is a Polish farmhouse drink. This is not absinthe, but it is drinkable and the thujone concentration can be high if you know how to cultivate the plant.

Many blessings on you for your first post....

I used to grow artemisea in my flower garden. and its called worm wormwood but I've been told that its not the one that makes Absinthe....

Do you recognize the distinction, and are able to distinguise the two?


I am so curious about this...


Thank you Hely for your imput.
It's always appreciated.

[Wickedanima]

I burn the sugar with the cheap Czech stuff, NEVER the French. Or the Swiss.

YAY! <3

[helcyon]

I burn the sugar with the cheap Czech stuff, NEVER the French. Or the Swiss.

I would burn the French and the Swiss. Fuck 'em. NEVER the Czechs as they are often just too good looking.

[Thoth]

Many blessings on you for your first post....

I used to grow artemisea in my flower garden. and its called worm wormwood but I've been told that its not the one that makes Absinthe....

Do you recognize the distinction, and are able to distinguise the two?


I am so curious about this...


Thank you Hely for your imput.
It's always appreciated.

Hello

Might be one of these two:

Artemisia absinthium (Grande wormwood)
Artemisia abrotanum (Southern wormwood)

wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinth_Wormwood
wikipedia.org/wiki/Southernwood

Grande wormwood is the thujone bearing species and used in absinthe. Cultivation to get max thujone content is tricky, but it grows like crazy. BTW Absente is made with Southern Wormwood. There are folks who specialise in growing organic mountain wormwood for use in steeping recipes like Piołunówka. You can also make a version of absinthe using high-proof liquor at home:

The Independent Liquorist: OR, The Art of Manufacturing and Preparing All Kinds Of Cordials, Syrups, Bitters, Wines, Champagne, Beer, Punches, Tinctures, Extracts, Essences, Flavorings, Colorings, Worcestershire Sauce, Club Sauce, Catsups, Pickles, Preserves, Jams, Jellies, Etc, Etc. by L. Monzert, Practical Liquorist and Chemist, Published by Dick & Fitzgerald, 18 Ann Street, New York, 1866:

151.- Absinthe

Take 26 ounces of fennel seed.
5 ounces anise-seed.
13 ounces liquorice root.
8 gallons alcohol 95 per cent.
6 do. water
4 ounces peppermint.
12 ounces wormwood.

Let the whole infuse ten days. Press it in a fruit-press, and filter through a paper pre-pared filter. (See filter No. 1.)

Obviously you need to tweak the recipe a bit! The taste is not to everyones liking and is a challenging complex bitterness. PM me if you need more advice.

Note: I am not suggesting that you distill it