alvin5182 Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Gents: Especially you Eastern block folks, A friend of mine recently returned from a 2 month trip to Europe and brought me back a small bottle of Absinth (Staroplzemecky brand). I've heard some pretty silly stories about this stuff. Any hints to enjoy this "strange brew? Alvin5182 by the way, this stuff is "banned" and not for sale in Ontario, Canada. But, then again is marihuana! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jester292 Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 I had it while I was in Prague in July. It tastes terrible! If you find a way to truly enjoy it, then please, spread the word. Aaron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinro Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 (edited) A friend of mine once told me but I wasn't really paying attention--I only care about scotch :P I vaguely remember something about putting a sugar cube on a spoon (that had lots of holes in it) laid across the top of a glass with absinthe in it, then dripping water on said setup. Edited September 9, 2011 by Jinro Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Old Blind Dog Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 I recall a scene in a movie called "Euro-Trip" that would have me a bit wary of the stuff! :lol: cheers Old Blind Dog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PetarB Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Absinthe was valued by artists and bohemians because it could induce hallucinations. Powerful stuff, caveat emptor! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 pour the absinthe into the glass, then set a flat spoonlike utensil with holes in it over the glass... put a sugarcube on there and slowly pour hot water over it to melt the sugar into the absinthe, then you drink it. It's only /real/ absinthe that's banned in Canada (and most elsewhere)... the one that contains wormwood and is thus a psychedelic drug like lsd or magic mushrooms... (why Van Gogh went nuts...). Absinthe nowadays is made without the wormwood - and you can get that even in BC liquor stores, but I don't think anybody bothers to drink the crap except for goths, just for the sake of the style. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 The old chestnut about absinthe being hallucinogenic is just that - an old chestnut. That rumor got started and took hold, which caused the stuff to be banned in the early 20th Century in many places, but none of that was ever proven, and was in fact false. I've had it, and frankly I can't figure out why anyone would voluntarily drink the stuff other than to try to be chic (sort of like Jägermeister - nasty!). It's not what made van Gogh crazy... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevan Vogler Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 I was offered absinthe a couple of times after I arrived in the Czech Republic. I'd heard the stories, but the stuff left me quite disappointed. Pretty vile stuff, even with the sugar cube melted into it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinro Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 The amount of whatever chemical is in wormwood that causes hallucinations is so low, that you would die of alcohol poisoning before getting high. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 (edited) love the stuff! Edited September 9, 2011 by Shawn M Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peebeep Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 I think the Absinth reputation came about originally because of its very high alcoholic content. If you wanted to get mullered quickly, then Absinth was the shortest route and drinking it became stigmatised because of the association with alcoholism, irrespective of its Bohemian cachet. Check out this painting by Degas, entitled L'Absinthe Many English critics viewed it as a warning lesson against absinthe and the French in general. George Moore described the woman in the painting: “What a whore!†He added, “the tale is not a pleasant one, but it is a lesson.†I read somewhere that modern Absinth has a much reduced alcohol content. peebeep Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alvin5182 Posted September 10, 2011 Author Share Posted September 10, 2011 The only sign I can see of ANY kind of content, is the figure 70%. So, I'm guessing it's 70 "proof" which is 35% by volume. Average North American liquors are about 80 proof or 40% by volume. I stand to be corrected. Oh, by the way, this is only a very small bottle. Airline size. Thoughts? Alvin5182 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
William G Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 (edited) Wiki Absinthe Never was a big fan of it But it is an acquired taste. Kinda mediciney by itself As to the bottle sizes I have had... they usually are small bottles and cost a pretty penny William G Edited September 10, 2011 by William G Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nigel Bunker Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Alvin I think you will find that is 70% by volume - that is why sugar & water is added to it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Arkasha Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder. (I'll get me coat). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 it "is" available in the US but the Thojune and wormwood content is less then whats available abroad. I get mine online from Poland or when a friend goes across the pond. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bonehammer73 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 (edited) It tastes good if you like the taste of aniseed. I think you already gathered some good suggestions, I'd add that it has to be mixed with iced, not room-temperature, water (dissolved ice is fine). Try a ratio of 3/4 water to 1 absinthe, and leave alone the flashy stuff like setting the sugarcube on fire - it will ruin both the absinthe and the spoons. Edited September 13, 2011 by Bonehammer73 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
datahiker Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 As mentioned above, absinthe typically no longer contains wormwood, so no hallucinations. I tried it once last year, with the burning sugar preparation. I'm not a big fan of the taste of black licorice (anise), so I wasn't that fond of it. Rum, that's another story . . . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigjugs Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 First, if you don't like licorice, you will not like Absinth. It's closest cousins are Pernod and Ricard. The French generically refer to this type as Pastis. Liqueurs of similar taste are the Greek Ouzo and Turkish Raki. Absinth can be drunk with or without ice cube, and always with a bit of water to turn it cloudy, as it should be. Given the herbal base of Absinth, it may turn more a yellowish / greenish color, reflecting the color of the liqueur. Sugar was used because it help hide the bad taste of crappy, cheap absinth. It has become a fashion statement based solely on ignorance and pretense. On a summer late afternoon or early evening, there can be nothing more relaxing than sipping a pastis (with ice). Absinth has more of a reputation as a bar drink, but it is wonderful cocktail. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big Texan Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I thought vampires only drank this stuff! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BadCop Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Everything you'd want to know about Absinthe Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.