Damn and I just ordered 2 bottles last week. I could have used the savings on shipping by having a few more people order!
Oh well, like people said, czech absinthe is absolute garbage. You might as well put some mint listerine in an absinthe bottle, and call it a day.
And no, you do NOT burn absinthe.
When my package arrives, I will be doing a photo shoot, featuring the classic french absinthe drinking ritual. Watch for that in the photo forum
Onto where to order, well there are several reputable dealers, mostly in spain, and some in UK.
The place I order from exclusively is
Fine Sprits Corner, based in Spain.
They have a HUGE selection of the most popular 'real' absinthes, as well as accessories, etc. They have good 'beginners' packages.
For absinthe reviews, the one and only place you need to go is
La Fee Verte (the green fairy)
They have tons of reviews on ALL absinthe, good and bad, from true absinthe afficianados.
My personal favourite absinthe is Segarra. The bottle isn't fancy or anything, but the louche is amazine (louche is when the drink turns from green to milk white when you add water), and the secondary effect is definitely noticable after a few drinks. Fee Verte gives this bottle 3 stars.
A good 'party' absinthe, or a good 'gift' absinthe I think would be Mari Mayans:
As you can see, it comes in a very nice bottle, and is 70% alcohol. It doesn't really give a secondary effect, but it louches like no other - your drink will go from a neon green to an absolute milk white.
If you are going to get absinthe as a gift, get this one
There are many other great absinthes out there; I ordered 2 bottles last week that I haven't tried yet, and can't wait to crack open those bottles. Hopefully by then I'll have recovered from my Vegas trip.
Let me know when you try absinthe, we can talk about it in here!
Whatever you do, don't buy czech crap, especially HILLS. And DO NOT BURN YOUR SUGAR/ABSINTHE!!!!
I would recommend avoiding vendors like the one the person above me posted. They carry mostly "king" brand, which is a disgusting czech brand. Check out the reviews from fee verte before you buy ANYTHING! But remember each person has their own tastes! Just try not to be sucked in by slimy companies trying to cash in on the recent popularity of this 'mysterious' drink.
When buying absinthe, do NOT just look for the ones claiming to be high in wormwood or thujone. That is NOT what indicates a good absinthe! Would you buy wine based on the alcohol content? Think of it that way! Don't get ripped off by the czech bastards
Look for one that tastes good, offers a nice louche, is fun to drink, and has some uniqueness to it. For instance, Mari Mayans I recommended above isn't the best tasting absinthe, but it will be fun and suits many needs just well. However if you got your friend a bottle of King or Staroplzenecky, you guys would be gagging that shit all night, wondering where your 'high' is...