Is it wrong

[snapdragen]

to be a little excited that our local "distillery" is going to be offering Absinthe? :cool:

http://www.stgeorgespirits.com/


ROAD TRIP!!!

[Zen]

What could possibly go wrong?

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/absinthe2.jpg

[snapdragen]

Eggzacktlee! :D

[OakLeaf]

LMAO Zen! That is DH's favorite saying. I never knew that was the picture that went with it! :D

[jobob]

That just happens to be the final stop of the Progressive Bar Hopping Series (http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?p=267982#post267982) to train for the pre- & post-Cinderella get togethers. No hangovers this year! :cool:

Please remember to bring your insurance card and the name of your next of kin.

[elk]

OK then...Boho gathering!!!

[Brandi]

It probably is not the same stuff. There is a certain ing I know they are leaving out. They would have too. I can not imagine it would be legal in this country.

[mimitabby]

I think it has the ingredients that will enhance the flavor. If t hey are leaving out anything, it's a poison! that's a good thing.
read this:

[Q]uality absinthe, properly distilled, does have a different effect over and above the results of alcohol, though at up to 70%, the effects of the alcohol alone can be considerable. Absinthe's effects, despite popular conception, are not due to the wormwood (Artemisia Absinthia) alone. Absinthe's constituents consist of a very delicate balance of various herbs, most of which contribute in one way or another to its intoxicating effects. [Chemist and absinthe expert] Ted Breaux once explained it that it is a push-me, pull-you effect of the various herbs, as some are of an heightening effect, and others are lowering. The effect on the individual is subjective, and can best be described as a kind of heightened clarity of mind and vision, mildly ponderous and sparkling, and warmed by the effect of the alcohol. This seems to wear off after 20 or 30 minutes, leaving one with an alcohol buzz. 2-3 glasses seems to do the trick. More than that, depending on the proof of the alcohol, will just make you very drunk.

But saying all that, 'secondary effects' seem to be quite subjective. Some have never felt them at all. Some say one brand works for them, others another. Many absintheurs ... have placed absinthe's 'effects' low on their priority list when it comes to judging modern commercial absinthes, preferring to focus on actual herbal constituents, manufacture and historical detail.

and more:

When considering why the temperance groups were so keen to ban absinthe in the last century, one must also consider the contribution of the high alcohol content to "absinthism", as well as the flood of cheap and adulterated products in the market at its heyday (many unscrupulous absinthe manufacturers added toxic chemicals to the brew to achieve the green color and the "clouding" effect when the water is added, both of which came from wholly natural and herbal sources in proper absinthe). When someone consumes 20 or more glasses a day of a 120-150 proof alcoholic beverage (which were possibly contaminated with toxic metals as well), it can tend to have a deleterious effect on them.

to answer your question; I don't think it's wrong. If I drank, I would surely want to try it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Some tidbits....


Wormwood, Artemisia absinthium, has been used for centuries as a moth repellant, general pesticide and as a tea/spray to repel slugs and snails. Before its' toxicity was known it was used as the name implies: a worming medicine for people and animals.
You may have heard of the alcoholic drink "absinthe" a green colored beverage that is illegal in some countries. Absinthe has a history in Eastern Europe and France; it was used as a stimulant mainly by artists, for example painter Vincent van Gogh. The story goes that he was imbibing of absinthe when he lopped off his ear.
History:
The name of this plant occurs in many old writings; egyptian, roman and christian. It's sometimes called a poison, sometimes a medicinal herb of value. Its latin name, Artemisa absinthium, tells us that it was named after the goddess Artemis, who was the goddess of the hunt in Greek mythology.
The intensely bitter, tonic and stimulant qualities have caused wormwood not only to be an ingredient in traditional medicinal preparations, but also to be used in various liqueurs, of which absinthe is the chief. The basis of absinthe being absinthol, extracted from wormwood. Wormwood, as employed in making this liqueur, bears also the name 'Wermuth' - preserver of the mind - from its medicinal virtues as a nervine and mental restorative. It was about twice the strength of any other spirit (more than two-thirds alcohol). And the wormwood in it not only provided part of its green colour and a characteristic bitter taste, but also thujone, an hallucinogen that is a relative of the active ingredients in cannabis. No wonder there was being told that it drove people mad and it was banned in many countries early this century. Inferior absinthe is generally adulterated with copper, which produces the characteristic green colour.
Warning:
Wormwood is poisonous. Long and intensive use can lead to addiction, corporal and psychical decline and it can lead to nervosity, restlessness and cramps. High doses can cause headaches and dizziness. Higher doses are psycho-activating and have a paralyzing effect. Intoxication effects due to overdose are arbitrary stools, unconsciousness, coma and death. After making absinthe, try one small glass at first and wait about an hour for the effect. Try it again at another opportunity. Better to dose too less with no effects than too much, risking poisoning yourself or making yourself sick. Do not drive motorized vehicles under the influence of wormwood.

Contraindications:
Regular use of wormwood can become addicting. The plant contains glycoside, known to be poisonous, and the volatile oil is a central nervous system depressant. Longer-term use (over four weeks) or intake of amounts higher than those recommended can cause nausea, vomiting, insomnia, restlessness, vertigo, tremors, and seizures. Overuse of wormwood can initiate nervousness, stupor, convulsions, and death. Wormwood is known to be allergonic and can cause contact dermatitis.

[smilingcat]

well, I'm really confused about absinthe.

I thought it was banned in Europe. The famous painting by Picasso during his blue period... And its now back. I knew it had poison... And mimitabby says they took out the poison but still call it absinthe?

Is it still more or less the same stuff? or different but with same name? and does the drink turn milky colour when alcohol is added like the original? something about a keloid that turned milky when alcohol was added...

I'm not even sure about the proper way to drink absinthe. I thought the serious drinkers had a special absinthe spoon.

Anyway, I occasionally drink wine, anything stronger and I get that oozy feeling so I don't think I'll be drinking that anytime soon.

Smilingcat

[mimitabby]

yes, it still turns cloudy because the wormwood isn't the "good" part, the herbs and spices are.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I thought absinthe turned cloudy when you add water, not alcohol....since it's already mostly alcohol to begin with.

[mimitabby]

that's correct. did she say add alcohol? :p

[Brandi]

Soooo... they still don't put wormwood in it right?

[snapdragen]

Soooo... they still don't put wormwood in it right?

Yes, they do.

[maillotpois]

There was a GREAT article in the NY Times about absinthe, featuring reviews of three different kinds, including the Hangar One one. Sounds similar to pastis, but maybe more delicate flavored.

[Wahine]

Man. It was mandatory to drink Pastis in Provence, so I did as not to be rude to my various hosts. But it was disgusting.:eek: I know nothing about Absinthe. But if it's like Pastis I won't be trying it.

I always learn so much on this forum.:)

[snapdragen]

The NYT article is very good - worth the registration. I can't wait to try the St. George Spirits version! From the article:

St. George, which will cost around $75, is the most layered of the three. Mr. Winters has a history of capturing delicate aromas in a bottle (a vodka of his called Hangar One smells just like mandarin blossoms) and his Absinthe Verte is full of fresh green herbs. Anise and fennel make their scheduled appearance but hardly dominate.

[ummbnb]

aaahhhh, just seeing that word brings on ptsd for me. Oh what a night it was I spent with the green fairy. :eek:

[mountainchick]

I've seen it sold here (in Japan). I haven't gotten the guts up to buy it yet...

[Zen]

The New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/05/dining/05absi.html?ex=1212987600&en=e0137751f967d5c3&ei=5087&excamp=NYT-E-I-NYT-E-AT-1212-L4&WT.mc_ev=click&WT.mc_id=%20NYT-E-I-NYT-E-AT-1212-L4) article is free.

[bmccasland]

You can get it here in the Big Easy at the Old Absinthe House. I believe it was one of the first places in the States that it was legal to sell it again.

So come on down!

[Mr. Bloom]

...before reading this thread, I didn't know what absinthe was, what it consisted of, whether it was legal, and what the big deal was.:confused:

...after reading this thread, I still don't know what absinthe is, what it consists of, whether it is legal, and what the big deal is.:rolleyes:

So there, it's settled...I'm not alone!;)

[Kitsune06]

Absinthe is a liquor made famous in the victorian era by various artists and philosophers who were known to imbibe quite heavily.

Made of a wide array of herbs including (but not limited to) star anise, liquorice and hyssop, the star attraction of Absinthe was its use of Greater Wormwood, which contained a large amount of thujone.

Wormwood (thujone) being a neurotoxin, it was long used by doctors to cure patients of actual parasitic infections (remember, this is the 1800s...) and having been included in Absinthe, the active chemical thujone was widely reputed to be psychoactive, leading to (after great excess, much like tequila) hallucinations etc -but unlike tequila, most who overly imbibed on Absinthe claimed to have a very sober drunk- that is to say their inhibitions were inhibited and their creativity given reign. That also lead to victorian petting parties. *shrug*

Absinthe was vilified much like demon rum (though earlier) as those shiftless artists blamed it for their visions. (how dare they!) though it's been recently proven no more dangerous than regular alcohol.

The use of greater wormwood is still illegal in the states, but Absinthe can still be made with lesser wormwood with almost none of the thujone. I suppose it'd be like smoking industrial hemp (hey, man, it's for the flavor...)
or the novelty, but hey. I'd still go for it.

Actual practice is to pour a little into a glass, put a special slatted spoon over the glass with a sugar cube on top, then pouring cold water over the sugar cube to dissolve it and create a mildly sweeter (though still wickedly bitter) apartif. The chemicals in the anise, like ouzo, make it milky when water is added.

I think That's about it as far as I remember, Mr. Silver. Just the facts, sir. :D

[Mr. Bloom]

:D :D :D :D :D :D Thanks :D :D :D :D :D :D

[Bad JuJu]

Here's another take on absinthe, for your viewing pleasure:
Absinthe and Women (http://www.strindbergandhelium.com/absinthe.html)
:D

[alpinerabbit]

Kewl movielet...

the anise family of liqueurs is an acquired taste. I used to hate it too. I used to hate Gin too. You get older...

I've just encountered mauresque in southern france, that's a pastis with a dash of bitter almond syrup. Quite ladylike.

It is coming back in a big way over here, with a limit on the Wormwood content I believe, but as stated above it was probably overrated at the time when they banned it.

[teawoman]

:D :D

http://jssgallery.org/Other_Artists/Degas/Absinthe_Drinker.htm

[Kitsune06]

a lot of the biggest fans of absinthe also did a lot of other stuff that was newly introduced from other countries- opium as just the black stuff etc from the oriental immigrants, or as morphine and later heroin from their doctors looking for new medicines (remember, ether for surgeries was a new thing, so pain killers in general were much sought after) marijuana from Indian emissaries...etc. so really, if you combined all that stuff in a night... I think Absinthe would be the least of your worries, but all of those things happen to be illegal (still). I just think it's amusing that it's taking so long for the 'states to *finally* be okay with absinthe. "Watch out! We'll all turn Victorian on you!" :rolleyes: Our artist will go nuts! Count on it!"

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

a lot of the biggest fans of absinthe also did a lot of other stuff that was newly introduced from other countries- opium as just the black stuff etc from the oriental immigrants, or as morphine and later heroin from their doctors looking for new medicines (remember, ether for surgeries was a new thing, so pain killers in general were much sought after) marijuana from Indian emissaries...etc. so really, if you combined all that stuff in a night... I think Absinthe would be the least of your worries, but all of those things happen to be illegal (still). I just think it's amusing that it's taking so long for the 'states to *finally* be okay with absinthe. "Watch out! We'll all turn Victorian on you!" :rolleyes: Our artist will go nuts! Count on it!"

They also gathered in cafes to drink hot cocoa and coffee- novel and addictive exotic substances as well! :p