Posted on 03/21/2005 5:59:51 PM PST by Free and Armed
This is gonna be a strange question. Have any of you ever drank absinthe before? Somebody was telling me about it tonight (never heard of it before then), saying it's a wild alcoholic beverage that makes you hallucinate, comparable to being on a drug trip. He said the original version is illegal in the US, but there is a legal version called absente or absinthe refined that contains small amounts of the neurotoxin which made it illegal here. Anybody ever drink the stuff that's legal here in the US? And does it make you feel like you're tripping?
Try not to be armed while drinking absinthe.
That's all I know.
Haha, I'll remember that.
I stick with Single Malt, thank you, properly aged. Nice and legal, though expensive..
Stick to beer, wine or brandy, they taste a whole lot better and will do the trick if you're looking for a buzz.
Web search:
Absinthe Liquor
For those not familiar with Absinthe, it is a liquor made from, among other things, wormwood. It is said to have a bitter, licorice flavor and is greenish/chartreuse in color. Originally brought to popularity in Europe, Absinthe found quite a following here in New Orleans ... the little Paris of the New World. Of course, when in New Orleans, the Absinthe House was the favorite spot for those who wished to imbibe the spirit.
Absinthe was a favorite drink of many, many famous people, particularly artists and writers who found inspiration in their Absinthe-induced stupor. It is said that Edgar Allen Poe's writings were essentially under the influence of nearly fatal mixtures of absinthe and brandy. It was said that Poe transformed himself into the "enchanted spaces of the unreal."
As it turns out, Absinthe was indeed a dangerous substance, as the wormwood used for making it had narcotic properties. The consumption of Absinthe was associated with hallucinations, delirium, madness and even death. It is further rumored that Jack the Ripper, an unknown killer of a number of prostitutes in 1888, went mad through his addiction of Absinthe. Consequently, it was outlawed in the United States in 1912.
Since Absinthe is no longer legally manufactured in the United States, there are several legal substitutes for it. Some of these are Ojen, Pernod Fils, Anisette and Herbsaint. Herbsaint, which is produced by a company here in New Orleans, features a picture of the Old Absinthe House building on their label. Naturally, it is the Absinthe substitute that we use most often.
"I seem to recall multiple references to it in "Moulin Rouge," complete with animated bottles of absinthe."
Yes, that little tinkerbell-like fairy.
The kid and I loved that movie, esp. the kid.
Vincent Van Gogh used to drink Absinthe. Check out his Arles paintings to see some of hallucinations he was having! (And he eventually killed himself.)
For legal booze, if you're into herbs and high proof, try Green Chartreuse. If you have a cold, it's better than Nyquil! For a quick trip to white noise, try Caribou. It's the drink of the Quebec Winter Carnival.
Sounds like Ouzo.
For what it's worth, you can buy wormwood at most any health store. In small amounts it strengthens the digestive system. (At least that's what the lable says :)
The only places Absinthe is legally allowed are Japan and Turkey. Nicknamed the "Blue Genie". In Japan you're only allowed two drinks. Derived from Wormwood, it's a narcotic and addictive. Your first bottle of Absinthe may well be your last.
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