The Ultimate Wine Guide

There has been much controversy regarding the thujone levels in Absinthe and whether Absinthe can really make you hallucinate but what about its alcohol content – How much alcohol is in Absinthe?

All commercial alcoholic drinks are labeled to show their alcohol content which makes easy for people to decide about the drink and also the quantity of intaking them.

Alcohol content is measured by using a hydrometer. A hydrometer looks partially like a fishing float with a thermometer attached. The direction of hydrometer is upright when put in liquid. When it is put in water, the water line will move towards the level marked 1.000, if it is put in sugared water the level will be higher because the water is denser. In the fermenting alcohol the float moves lower due to use of hydrometer. There is done two measurements of alcohol, one is taken with the sugar but before the yeast is added and then the final reading is taken after the fermentation of yeast.

One can detect the volume of alcohol by the following formula
The calculation of alcohol content can be done by the formula, Original gravity – Final gravity x 131 = Alcohol by volume.

The alcohol by volume content of drinks is shown by label both in the EU and the US. One can find proof to be approximately two times more alcohol by volume.

Different brands of Absinthe have different alcohol contents. Look at the following statistics:-

Lucid Absinthe 62% abv (124 proof)
La Clandestine Absinthe contains 53% abv (106 proof)
According to the studies Sebor contains 55% abv 
Pere Kermanns 60% abv (120 proof)
The alcohol content is found to be 68% abv in Pernod Absinthe
Mari Mayans Collectors 70 is available with 70% abv (140 proof) of alcohol
Tips about La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse 53% abv (106 proof)
The alcohol content is found to be 68% abv (136 proof) in La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise
Knowledge of La Fee Bohemian 70% abv (140 proof)
La Fee Parisian contains 68% abv of alcohol
The alcohol content is found to be 53% abv in Carte D’Or Kubler 53
Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or 65% abv (130 proof)
The alcohol content in Roquette 1797 is 75% abv
One can get 68% abv of alcohol volume in Jade PF 1901
The alcohol content in Jade Edouard is 72% abv (144 proof)
What is Jade Verte Suisse 65% abv (130 proof)
Jade Nouvelle Orleans 68% abv (136 proof)

As you can see Absinthe can range from 53% abv to 75% abv, quite a difference. Now, let’s compare those levels to other alcoholic drinks:-

Absolut Blue Vodka 40% abv (80 proof)
One can get 38% abv (76 proof) in Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila
Beer can have 4 or 5% alcohol by volume.
One can get Table Wine with 9-12% alcohol by volume.
Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch Whisky is available with 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof).
Everclear 95% abv (190 proof)

No other alcoholic drink seems to come close to Absinthe!

The alcohol content can differ in homemade Absinthes. A person can mix an Absinthe essence from AbsintheKit.com.One can either use Absolut vodka (40% abv) or the Everclear (95% abv) .

Absinthe was banned in the 1900s because of claims that thujone, the chemical in wormwood, was like THC in the drug cannabis and that it was psychoactive and caused psychedelic effects. We now know that claims that Absinthe is an hallucinogen are completely false but we do need to remember that any liquor can be harmful to our health if we consume too much. People in Memphis have realized this and, in 2006, Memphis was the city that drank the least alcohol in the USA – more than 6/10 Memphis citizens had not even consumed a sip of alcohol in at least a month when they were polled.

Although alcohol does not harm if consumed in balanced amount but people should be familiar about how much alcohol is in Absinthe and other alcoholic drinks.

Artemisia Absinthiumis the botanical and Latin name for the plant Common Wormwood. The name “Artemisia” was kept from the name of the Greek Goddess Artemis. Artemis was famous goddess of forests and hills, of the hunt and also a defender of children. Artemis and the moon was linked later. It is thought that the Latin “Absinthium” comes from the Ancient Greek for “unenjoyable” or “without sweetness”, referring to wormwood’s bitter taste.

The Common Wormwood plant is a perennial herb which often grows on arid ground and in rocky areas of Asia, North Africa and the Mediterranean. After spreading from people’s gardens it developed in parts of North America. Common wormwood is also known as armoise, green ginger and grande wormwood.

Wormwood plants appear beautiful with their tiny yellow flowers and silver gray leaves. One can get Wormwood oil from the tiny glands on the leaves. The Artemisia group of plants also includes tarragon, sagebrush, sweet wormwood, Levant wormwood, silver king artemisia, Roman wormwood and southernwood. The Artemisia plants are members of the Aster family of plants.

Since ancient times wormwood has been used as a herbal medicine
– Relaxing labor pains in women.
– Counteracting poisoning from toadstools and hemlock.
– One can use it as an antiseptic.
– It is used to ease digestive problems and to stimulate digestion. Wormwood is helpful in dealing with the problem of insufficient stomach acid.
– In pharmaceuticals it is used as a cardiac stimulant.
– Fevers decreases by it’s use.
– One can use it as an anthelmintic to expel intestinal worms.
– As a tonic.

According to the research wormwood can be efficient on healing Alzheimer and Crohn’s disease.

Effects of Artemisia Absinthium

Wormwood is a key ingredient in the liquor Absinthe, the Green Fairy, which was banned in many countries in the early 1900s. Absinthe is named after this herb which also gives the drink its characteristic bitter taste,

Absinthe was banned because of its alleged psychedelic effects. People thought that it was responsible for hallucinations and mental illness. Absinthe was also associated to the Bohemian culture of Parisian Montmartre with its loose morals, courtesans, artists and writers.

The effects of thujone in wormwood and THC in the drug cannabis are said to be the same. There has been an Absinthe revival since the 1990s when studies showed that Absinthe actually only contained very small amounts of thujone and that it would be impossible to drink enough Absinthe, for the thujone to be harmful, because Absinthe is such a strong spirit – you would be comatose first!

As Absinthe is two times more stronger than whisky and vodka so care should be taken while consuming it.

One is not getting the real Absinthe without Artemisia Absinthium. A lot of manufacturers make “fake” Absinthes using other herbs and flavorings. If you want the real thing you must check that they contain thujone or Common Wormwood or use essences,such as those from AbsintheKit.To prepare Absinthe containing Artemisia Absinthium one can take advantage of AbsintheKit.com.

A large number of contradictory Absinthe information is available online and in books which can confuse a person.

Misleading Absinthe Information

One book “Absinthe The Cocaine of the 19th Century: A History of the Hallucinogenic Drug and its Effect on Artists and Writersin Europe and the United States” by Doris Lanier, compares Absinthe to drugs such as cocaine because it was said to be addictive, to give a sense of euphoria, have psychedelic effects and weaken the brain and other faculties.

The period during which Absinthe became a well known product is known as “The Great Binge”. This was a time in history when most of today’s illegal drugs was used by normal everyday people for different purpose. In drinks also. Popular drinks in bars were Absinthe, Vin Maraiani (cocaine and wine) and Coca Cola (then made from cocaine, wine and kola nuts). These drugs and drinks were all thought to be harmless and were widely consumed throughout Europe.

Absinthe was linked with these drugs because of its popularity with Bohemian artists and writers, who liked to overindulge to help their creativity, and with the loose morals of the courtesans of the Moulin Rouge and Montmartre.

Wormwood contains thujone which was thought to be psychoactive and alike THC in the drug cannabis. THC affects the central nervous system whereas thujone affects the GABA receptors in the brain. The consumption of wormwood in large quantities give rise to the same effects as caused by the cannabis intoxication.

Absinthe was banned along with some drugs in the early 1900s and was made illegal to buy and sell in many countries around the world. We now know that its ban was just part of the hysteria of the time. People lumped Absinthe together with drugs and even as magic mushrooms, LSD, weed, cannabis and ecstasy. 

Absinthe Information – What we now know

We know that medical studies on Absintheand wormwood in the past were not accurate and were “colored” by the prohibition movement of the time and the worry that Absinthe was a drug. Absinthe contains very small amounts of thujone after it is distilled which is insufficient to cause any harmful side effects or hallucinations. Even tests on vintage pre ban Absinthe has shown that it hardly contained any thujone at all. Before suffering from thujone a person would die of alcohol poisoning.

Absinthe can now be enjoyed in bars and in homes across the world as it is authorized in most of the countries.

Because of it’s high proof one has no problem to get drunk on Absinthe. It should be drunk carefully because it contains double amount of the alcohol. A person drinking Absinthe will experience intoxication different from other spirits or fermented beverages. It is described as a “lucid” or “clear headed” kind of drunkenness by several people. A mixture of sedatives and stimulants can explain this. These qualities are improved by making cocktails having Absinthe and the caffeine loaded drink Red Bull!

The false Absinthe information can create confusion to a person. However, it is a great tasting herbal alcoholic beverage which is fun to prepare and has a great anise flavor. A person can also enjoy making his very own wormwood Absinthe at home by using real, top-quality Absinthe essences.com – a fun and economical way to enjoy Absinthe.

Absinthe has once again become a popular drink and, with the legalization of a few brands of Absinthe in 2007 in the United States, it can even be said that we are experiencing an Absinthe revival. Yet, some people don’t really know how to use Absinthe correctly or even what Absinthe is.

What is Absinthe

Absinthe is not a hallucinogen or a drug. It is a strong alcoholic beverage with an alcohol by volume of up to 75% and an anise flavor.

Dr Pierre Ordinaire prepared Absinthe as an elixir in Couvet, Switzerland in the 18th century. Henri-Louis Pernod used to distill Absinthe and sell it commercially by the turn of the 19th century. Pernod used a wine alcohol base distilled with different types of natural herbs including wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), fennel, aniseed, star anise, hyssop, lemon balm, angelica, juniper, dittany, nutmeg and melissa.

Absinthe or La Fee Verte (Green Fairy) became more famous than wine in France. As the Absinthe bars became famous the “Ritual” or traditional method of using and preparing Absinthe was born.

After presuming that Absinthe contained psychoactive chemicals and causes hallucinations, convulsions, insanity and death, the drink was banned in France. All over the world these claims have proven themselves wrong on careful examination. Absinthe cannot and does not give rise to such effects. In the 1990s Absinthe was legalized in most of the countries.

How to Use Absinthe the Traditional Way

To prepare Absinthe in the traditional way is to use the “Ritual”.
You will need:-
– A large glass or Absinthe glass is needed.
– Absinthe
– An Absinthe spoon– replica glasses and spoons can be purchased online at AbsintheKit.AbsintheKit.com makes a person available with top-quality Absinthe essences which he can use to prepare his own Absinthe. Get top-quality Absinthe essences to make your own Absinthe.
– One has to use a sugar cube.
– Sufficient amount of carafe of iced water.

Pour a shot of Absinthe into the glass.
The spoon should be kept motionless on the rim of the glass before putting the sugar cube on it.
Slowly drip, rather than pour, the iced water over the sugar to dissolve it.
The Absinthe louche appears when the water is mixed into the Absinthe. The essential oils in the Absinthe are insoluble in water which causes the mixture to louche.
One can stir Absinthe to feel the taste of the Green Fairy.

Absinthe is a strong drink and one can easily drink it. Absinthe is made out of a curious blend of herbs – some are naturally sedative in nature and others are stimulants. This blend of herbs can give a very different drunkenness than that caused by other spirits or wine or beer. Some describe it as a “clear headed” drunkenness.

The Czech or Bohemian Method

With this method, once you have poured the shot of Absinthe into the glass you dip the sugar cube into the alcohol and then set it alight on the spoon with a match. A person can add the iced water after the sugar has caramelized and melted from the spoon into the Absinthe.

One can have fun while drinking Absinthe with the Bohemian method. There can be chances of catching fire in the glass of Absinthe due to a waste of Absinthe! It is necessary to take care.

The Ritual is the very famous way of using Absinthe however it can also be used in cocktails.

Absinthe Green Fairyis an alcoholic drink with an interesting history. In the 18th century it was developed as an elixir and today it is among the most controversial and popular drinks of all time.

Absinthe is an anise flavored spirit which is absurdly strong between 45 and 75% Alcohol by volume. It is named as “Green Fairy” due to it’s emerald green color. Herbs are used in the making of this distilled liquor. The three necessary herbs are wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), fennel (fennell) and green aniseed. Herbs such as hyssop, lemon balm, nutmeg, juniper, veronica, star anise and dittany was used by Henri-Louis Pernod to prepare his original Pernod Absinthe recipe. Some manufacturers used the herb calamus along with wormwood and nutmeg which were assumed to be psychoactive. It is the essential oil extract from the herbs which causes Absinthe to louche when iced water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon. As the oils cannot mix with water so they cause the Absinthe to cloud.

Absinthe Green Fairy and the Art World

Absinthe is famous for inspiring many artists and writers associated with the Bohemian culture of the Montmartre area of Paris. Vincent Van Gough, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Degas, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde are popular Absinthe drinkers. Many writers and artists were convinced that Absinthe gave them inspiration and gave them their genius. Painters like Van Gogh and Picasso focused Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers in their paintings.

The prohibition campaigners required Absinthe’s association with old Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect. The link with the murder of a family and the growing problem of alcohol addiction in France were responsible for the restriction of Absinthe in France. Except the Czech Republic, the UK, Spain and Portugal it was banned in all the countries.

Wormwood contains the chemical thujone which was blamed for the psychedelic effects of consuming the Green Fairy. Thujone and THC in cannabis were believed to be the same. The main contents of Absinthe are alcohol, ethanol and minute quantities of thujone. There is no harmful effects of Absinthe and it is the alcohol content not the thujone that is dangerous. Several studies and articles have been written on the subject. It should be drunk in appropriate quantity because it is approximately twice as strong as vodka or whisky.

During the time of prohibition many people enjoyed buying and drinking vintage style Absinthe in Absinthe bars in the Czech Republic, served in the classic Absinthe large glassesand in surroundings decorated with vintage Absinthe posters. At present Absinthe is legal in several countries although thujone levels are controlled in the EU and the United States only allows Absinthe with trace amounts of thujone.

One can purchase Absinthe online by the bottle or order Absinthe essences.A person can make his own bottled Absinthe Green Fairy by going through the website. Real Absinthe and Absinthe essences contain the vital ingredient wormwood but some new Absinthes produced for the US market are free from the thujone content.

Absinthe Green Fairy is a delicious spirit and can be used in cocktails too – mix with champagne for a truly decadent drink!

Since there has been an Absinthe revival in many countries over the past few years, many people are seeking Absinthe info.

Absinthe is a strong herbal liquor which is nicknamed “La Fee Verte” or “The Green Fairy” because of its characteristic green color. It is not fermented like the alcoholic beverages, beer and cider.

The main herb in Absinthe is common wormwood, artemisia absinthium, which gives Absinthe both its name and its distinctive bitter taste. As thujone was restricted in the countries like the USA so they prepared Absinthe without wormwood.

The various herbs and essential oils such as fennel, green aniseed, star anise, hyssop, lemon balm, juniper, angelica, licorice, dittany, coriander, nutmeg and sweet flag are also used in the manufacturing of Absinthe. Absinthe louches in water due to the essential oils in it. The oils dissolve in alcohol but not in water which causes the drink to go cloudy.

Absinthe Info about the Ban

The prohibition movement claimed that Absinthe was harmful and that drinking Absinthe led to “Absinthism” which was characterized by convulsions, fits, madness, brain damage and ultimately death. Thujone, the chemical found in wormwood, was claimed to cause psychedelic effects and to be dangerous. It was assumed that Absinthe was very toxic and harmful due to a high quantity of thujone in it. Most of the countries banned Absinthe in the early 1900s.

Everyone is familiar that these statements and claims are far from the truths related to Absinthe. Thujone can be dangerous when taken in large amounts. Recent studies have shown that Absinthe contain a maximum of 6mg per kg of thujone. To have harmful effects of thujone one has to intake an impossible amount of Absinthe!

Absinthe has now been legalized in most countries and there are many types and styles available:-

- Clear Absinthe – This is known as La Bleue or Blanche Absinthe and is commonly distilled in Switzerland.

- La Verte – This is traditional green Absinthe, the Green Fairy.

Spanish Absinthe is more sweet than normal French or Swiss Absinthe because it is made with Spanish Alicante Anise.

- An Absinthe that does not contain other herbs such as aniseed or fennel is not a wormwood bitter.

All of the above Absinthes contain wormwood but some Absinthes are fake or substitutes which were developed during the ban If you want real Absinthe you need to look for an Absinthe which contains thujone or wormwood.

You can also make your own Absintheby using Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com. Modern carbon dioxide distillation is used to distill these essences. A person can prepare his own Absinthe by mixing with a neutral alcohol such as vodka or Everclear.

For purchasing essences, replica spoons and Absinthe glasses and getting more Abisinthe info one can visit to AbsintheKit.com.