Absinthe Is Legal In The US Again      

I overheard that Absinthe is legal in the United States again.

The first time I heard about Absinthe was in the 2004 movie, Eurotrip. Since not everything is real in the movies, I looked to see if there was such an alcoholic beverage and there is.

Absinthe, or you may see it spelled as Absinth, is a strong, green colored, anise (liquorice) flavored, alcoholic drink. It has been called the 'Green Fairy' The herb Artemisia absinthium, Woodworm, is the main ingredient in Absinthe. Woodworm has a psychoactive chemical called thujone, which is said to cause hallucinations of a Green Fairy and create a different experience than other alcoholic drinks.

The woodworm-infested cocktail has been outlawed in the United States since 1912 because of the thujone. With Absinthe being recently legalized again, consumers are not yet able to purchase it at the liquor stores. I was able to get my hands on the drink, purchasing it and having it shipped from overseas. There are many different versions of the drink, extra woodworm, anise (original) flavored and I have also seen more fruity flavored combinations available. Beware though, buying Absinthe online does not mean you are getting true Absinthe. Prices range from 50 to a few hundred dollars, the cheaper being of less quality. I have also seen a 'kit' where they send you what is supposedly woodworm and give you directions on how to brew it - like brewing tea.

Absinthe is traditionally enjoyed with sugar cubes and ice water. There is a special 'spoon' with holes through it. You first fill your glass with a shot or two with Absinthe, then you continue by putting the sugar cube on the spoon, pouring cold water, slowly, over the cube until it is dissolved. Then the drink is ready. I have had Absinthe that I purchased online, I drank it the traditional way Absinthe is served - but I did not notice any Green Fairies with my drink, but I also did not consume too much. From my experience though, Absinthe has a very strong, different taste, than most other drinks. There is a bar in downtown Raleigh (where I live) that has the drink available for purchase. I will be going downtown soon, I would recommend giving it a try and posting your experience!



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinthe
http://www.absinthebuyersguide.com/
http://www.absinth.com/