Gothamist: America Goes Green with Absinthe

baldmarmoset

Sun, 18 May 2008 04:02:12 -0500

Lucid is not Thujone free but it does pass the U.S. standard of 10ppm. When absinthe is distilled almost all of the Thujone is left behind while retaining the bitterness of the wormwood. Tests done on old bottles of authentic french absinthe showed little to no thujone. So to answer the question, yes Lucid is real absinthe

hhuntington2

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 14:02:04 -0500

There's a good vid called Forbidden Fruit: The Absinthe Drinker (at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZa5ezt2ojI) that shows a neurosurgeon talking about why he enjoys drinking it, the effects on the brain, and going through the ritual. I wonder if the legalization will actually hurt its popularity in the long run?

greendevil

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:38:46 -0500

This and many other articles coming out now give the impression that the laws have changed. NO Laws have changed and traditional absinthe is still illegal. These companies have just filtered out the chemical Thujone , found in wormwood so that they can pass the FDA regulations. More Info http://www.greendevil.com/absinthe_us.html The companies offering absinthe in the US are now on a public relations / marketing campaign to give the impression that “Absinthe is now legal” In reality no laws have changed. No matter what impression they give you the finished product is “Thujone Free” according to the FDA. Of course they are downplaying the role of Thujone with some slick “organizations” promoting absinthe in the US.

mr_absinthe

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:02:58 -0500

Lucid..., Absinthe is now purported to be legal in the US as long as it is THUJONE FREE! How strange as Absinthe is made from Artemisia Absinthium, the herb that gives Absinthe it’s name, and produces Thujone so what is the truth, are they selling Absinthe?

Bob

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:32:38 -0500

Night Train?!?! Well why didn't you say so!

JMH

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:52:46 -0500

If those studies are right and thujone doesn't actually cause hallucinations and the like, then what's the point? (I mean, it'll get you drunk, sure, but besides that.)

Ph

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:32:37 -0500

That's an insult to clown shoes.

Opinion Jones

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 08:58:14 -0500

People who celebrate absinthe also wear clown shoes.

Karen

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:16:42 -0500

If it tastes like anise...yuck. I hate ouzo, black licorice and anise.

emilydickinson

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:30:26 -0500

I've been drinking Absinthe fairly regularly for the last 15 years, and it's fantastic. The whole 'tripping' aspect, I'm not so sure about. I think it mainly stems from the fact that you're drinking 180 Proof alcohol with tons of sugar. If you do the whole ritual the right way, with caramelized sugar, some ice cubes and a bit of water, the Absinthe will change color from green to a milky white, and tastes wonderful. It's a bit of an acquired taste, but no more so than Scotch. I've been buying great stuff off the web from Switzerland for a few years now, and it's much less expensive than the $60 a bottle these jokers want. Also, like everything else quality matters. There is Absinthe on par with Glenlivet, and Absinthe on par with Night Train. It makes all the difference. Hill's, one of the Czech Absinthe's is hideous, Vidiot.

Vidiot

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:03:52 -0500

Czech "absinthe" is nothing of the sort, and is unspeakably vile.

Doug Funny

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:05:00 -0500

The Park Avenue Liquor Shop has it for $59.99. They have Kubler too!

Leon Freilich

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:12:18 -0500

WILL YOU FORGET IT? Far from being a European disaster, Absinthe merely makes the heart beat faster. Drink up! Though long considered decadent, Absinthe turns out to be heaven-sent.

andoman

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:47:03 -0500

You have to try it once and do the ritual thing. Then its important to pretend you're especially high off of it, even though you're just drunk. Make sure to pretend tho, even if nothing happens. (nothing will happen, except you getting drunk, its just strong flavored alcohol that reacts strangely when you do the ritual thing).

Rabid Koala

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:42:58 -0500

Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder.

sandradayoconnor

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:19:43 -0500

Ah, well that explains why I saw what was clearly labeled "absinthe" in an Astoria liquor store just about 3 days ago. That confused the hell out of me at the time.

driftwood

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:01:52 -0500

Whenever I've had absithe it does require preparation, and it was pretty good afterwards. So make sure you're doing something to it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinthe#The_.22ritual.22_.28preparation.29

slappy

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:54:45 -0500

Absinthe requires a ritual of preparation. There are various directions out there on the internet. But you have to be good at it. Like opium, you just dont't stick it in a pipe and light it. It has to be "chefed". When I lived in Prague for a couple of years it was available there in some clubs. I didn't think it was all that great. But there is a mild delirious aspect to it. Though a similar effect is reached through the Czech tradition of very good lager beer interrupted by shots of brown rum.

Roger McDowell

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:44:50 -0500

Borisal Liquor is the strangest liquor store I've ever been in my life. I'm not sure you even go into it.

John Del Signore

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:41:52 -0500

@barryap: Apparently drinking it neat is NOT the way to go. Lots of cocktail recipes here: www.wormwoodsociety.org/

Gregoire

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:40:32 -0500

I cant imagine any mixer that would taste good with absynthe. Maybe motor oil? Bacon grease?

Fritzdecat

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:37:13 -0500

I would rather spend the same amount of money on a good bottle of Calvados. If you have not tried ot yet go to The Brandy Library in NYC and give it a go . They have a great selection

Ph

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:14:30 -0500

This stuff is a shitty high and it tastes absolutely awful. Just eat some dots or squares and have a real go at it.

barryap

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:10:13 -0500

I've had absinthe a few times and it's absolutely putrid. I know it's probably blasphemous, but are there any good mixers for it?

Rocknrope

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:10:08 -0500

Nice shout out for Borisal Liquor in Brooklyn, that place is hilarious.