A history, how to make it, and where to find it now

Absinthe. Edgar Allen Poe wrote about it. Vincent van Gogh's paintings expressed his enjoyment of it. Julius Verne, Ernest Hemingway, and even Leonardo DiCaprio indulged in it.

Absinthe, a strong alcoholic drink with a mix of herbs, from the Artemisia absinthium plant, has been popular throughout history. Dr. Pierre Ordinaire appears to have been the inventor, creating the drink in 1792. However, there are documents that say a manufacturer was making it in the 1750's. While who and when the drink was made is not clearly known, what is true is that the Pernod Fils Absinthe company went into production in 1852 and helped to promote the Absinthe drink throughout Europe and other continents.

The drink did become very popular, perhaps made even more famous because of the many artists and writers who have attributed part of the success of their work to the drink. However, the erratic behavior of such famous people (such as Van Gogh cutting his ear off and sending it to a lover) became a focal point and it was banned in certain countries in the early 1900's.

Sugar and Absinthe

Absinthe is thought to be too strong and too bitter a taste for most people. The famous image of a sugar cube burning in a spoon above a glass of absinthe is linked in the minds of many people. Mixing sugar and water in absinthe is very common.

The drink is also mixed with other types of sugars and other ingredients in order to make different recipes. Absinthe recipes mainly include some form of sugar, some sort of dilution like water, and often an additional flavor, like orange or other liqueurs.

One should note that the sugar cube burning is also very dangerous. Obviously the high alcohol content in Absinthe is highly flammable and one should take caution in attempting it. The method of pouring water over a sugar cube is probably a bit safer.

Absinthe and Eccentric Behavior

There have been a lot of assumptions about Absinthe and the effects it has on people. Absinthe has a very high level of alcohol, being in a range of around 190 proof. While there are rumors of it being a hallucinogen, the effects appear to be subjective per person. While some might have little to no effect other than getting drunk or a buzz from drinking quicker than from other drinks, some say they experience 'clarity' or a sense of everything being 'crazy'.

In any case, it was for the crazy part that was basis for it's original banning in certain countries in the 1900's. Some say it was the nature of the person, rather than the drink, and that the drink only gave them 'courage' or lowered inhibitions. Some say that right alcoholic drink could induce similar behavior, however it is still deemed banned in certain countries, including the United States.

Why is Absinthe Illegal?

Traditional Absinthe is banned from being sold in the United States. The product traditionally had thujone in it, which is said to be a drug causing psychoactive. A psychoactive drug primarily alters brain function, changing things like perception and mood. This is the famous altering state that some people have said to experience from drinking Absinthe. Therefore anything containing thujone, like Absinthe, is considered illegal to sell. On top of that, it is not legal to distill herbs in alcohol in the United States, at least without a license.

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