[red_sir]

It's my friend's b-day next week and I'd like to get him a bottle of Absinthe. I'm looking for the real kind with wormwood. I'm assuming I have to order it from out of the country. For the people who have done this before, what site did you buy it from? What was the brand/cost? Did you have any troubles with customs? And lastly, does anyone know where I can get a bottle asap, since I would like to have it by next week if possible (or at least not too long after). The only site I found so far, spiritscorner.com says it'll take approximately 3 weeks even with airmail. =/
TIA.

[bcrdukes]

You can buy it locally but selections are limited as only few brands/countries of absinthe were allowed in.

You can try the BC Liquor store on Cambie and 41st area. They're the larger liquor store and I have seen it there.

Most of the absinthe being sold here is from the Czech Republic. I'm not sure which countries are being featured and sold.

[4DSC]

I thought my understanding of absinthe was that the "real" kind with the (ahem) "special effects" aren't sold or actually allowed anywhere in North America?

[bcrdukes]

^
You're probably right. Wormwood is actually banned in Canada but then again, I may be wrong. :)

I just remember my first year English prof brining of the Czech Republic stuff to the classroom and was talking about absinthe for an hour. :D

[Hondaracer]

talk to skinnypupp

[omgawp123]

You can buy it online... that's where I got my stuff. It is legal to purchase absinthe in BC, so don't worry. Make sure the stuff that you buy is above 30mg of wormwood to get the full effects... 3-4 shots should get the ball rolling (legal limit in BC is 1.5 mg, in Europe is 10mg). The bottle that I bought from Czech was 30 mg for 200 Canadian.

[Triple5souL]

dear god that stuff got me screwed over in korea... lol

i remember going to work the next day i passed out in my closet at work .. hahahah .. but then again we drank till 4 am and had to be at work by 730am .. lol

[mistake]

sweet man..thats what I like to hear...
C'mon people...show some sites that you buy this stuff from. Everything I have seen is pretty decent, but then the shipping kills you.

[Ulic Qel-Droma]

the stuff u get in canada is Hill's absinth.

and it sucks. just get 151 instead.

if u want the real one. u have to import it from europe somewhere.

[2k1Rice]

Originally posted by 4DSC
I thought my understanding of absinthe was that the "real" kind with the (ahem) "special effects" aren't sold or actually allowed anywhere in North America?

Absinthe with wormwood, contrary to popular belief, is 100% legal in Canada for sale and to have. In the States you can have it, but stores just arent allowed to legally sell it.

The kind you buy at BC liquor stores is the real stuff, you just gotta watch what type you get, cuz some of them suck. Czech Republic stuff is the most common. A friend of mine came back in the summer from there and brought me 2 bottles - 70% Alc. as well too.

To get good stuff locally you can go to this guy: http://www.absinthe.bz/ If I remember right, their office is on Burrard.

Nice markup on it though considering you can get a 2-6 in Czech for under $10

[SkinnyPupp]

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 (http://www.spiritscorner.com/ing/index.html), 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 (http://www.feeverte.net/) (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.

http://www.feeverte.net/guide/images/segarra02.jpg

A good 'party' absinthe, or a good 'gift' absinthe I think would be Mari Mayans:

http://www.feeverte.net/guide/images/marimayans02.jpg

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...

[2k1Rice]

Skinnypuppy how much does it usually cost to get it shipped to your place? Any other fees?

[4DSC]

Jeezus, after a post like that even I'm curious now... :lol:

[SkinnyPupp]

It works out to about 20EUR per bottle.. so $40 CAD. It depends on how much you order though, I think more bottles would bring the overall shipping cost down.

The bottles range a lot though; Segarra is 40EUR ($80) and a bottle of N.S. is only 20EUR ($40)...

Compare that to the prices that place on burrard is charging for that czech garbage, and it's pretty reasonable actually.

[unKnown]

if anybody wants to buy some and would like to split the price of shipping let me know, i'm down for at least two bottles

[ultra_man99]

i would be down for a bottle

[red_sir]

Cool, thanks for all the helpful replies.

unKnown and ultra_man99, I still haven't ordered a bottle yet, so I'm down for a group buy too. Does ordering from Fine Sprits Corner sound ok to you guys? Let me know what you guys want and I'll check the shipping cost for all of us and get back to you.

[SkinnyPupp]

First price break on shipping is on the 3rd bottle (goes down to 10EUR after that)

[Ghost]

Count me in for 2 bottles.

[SkinnyPupp]

BTW Spirits Corner is selling Pernod 68 at cost until they run out of current stock. If you're going to buy absinthe soon, this is a decent absinthe, but a great deal!

http://www.spiritscorner.com/scriptsing/buscar.asp?K=Detalle&IdProducto=3278

[mistake]

so how are gonna do this? cus we need to get going on this buy. get together and purchase with one credit card? i'm not sure how this usually works.

[stylez2k4]

bumping a old thread.

anyone still up for a group purchase? interested in a bottle Deva or Segarra

[Ulic Qel-Droma]

so do you ever like.. see the green fairy

[Tiphness]

Originally posted by Ulic Qel-Droma
so do you ever like.. see the green fairy

yes, please do tell.

[SkinnyPupp]

holy crap 1 year old almost to the day!

[Enecsver]

anyone want to start up another group buy?

[Enecsver]

they are having this special right now for the 3 bottles with the strongest wormwood stuff for 77 bucks usd right now. If you buy now, we may be able to get it by airmail for spring break, or regular mail for the summer. haha

[SkinnyPupp]

"strongest wormwood stuff"

That does NOT make the best absinthe.

Imagine - does 7% alcohol beer like Wildcat and Lucky XXX taste great? Why not? It has more alcohol than other beer...

Don't get hooked into marketing because absinthe became a buzz word in movies and music videos. If you are interested in enjoying really good absinthe, please read my previous replies (and in other threads, do a search... wow I just realized how long I've been drinking the stuff... I guess it has no side effects! :lol)

[bananana]

group buy? im down for 2 bottles.

[SkinnyPupp]

I'm moving next month, so I won't be buying any more for a while.

[winson604]

drink the real shti and chase the green fairy as they call it. dont buy that crap here its like the weak ass canadian version.

[SkinnyPupp]

My favourite Absinthe is now available in a premium edition, 70% alcohol... Woo can't wait to order this :D

http://www.spiritscorner.com/scriptsing/buscar.asp?K=Detalle&IdProducto=3903

[Ulic Qel-Droma]

so, have any of you actually gotten a high off this stuff

[SkinnyPupp]

Define "high"

[EvoAris]

i want some

[ExcelPremium]

What is this stuff exactly? and what do you get out of it?

just drunk? sorta like baca 151?

[K-Dub]

bump. skinny where's the photoshoot of the french ritual?!

[defskee]

What is this stuff exactly? and what do you get out of it?

just drunk? sorta like baca 151?
Not even on the same level of 151, ...i swear this shit....the real shit..w/ wormwood is like doin a new drug,...definately different kind of drunkness...sorta feel like god or sumthin

[Hondaracer]

so what does it actually feel like when u get the good stuff?

[SkinnyPupp]

bump. skinny where's the photoshoot of the french ritual?!
Sorry, never got around to it! I still don't have very nice authentic glasses, or a nice water pitcher, so I never thought of doing a photo shoot of it.
so what does it actually feel like when u get the good stuff?
It's sort of like being drunk, but the artistic part of your brain is in overdrive. It's not easy to explain.. But it's very subtle, so anyone who says they feel a profound high is probably getting some sort of placebo effect ;)

[murd0c]

what stuff do you recammond?

[SkinnyPupp]

what stuff do you recammond?
Segarra 45 (Spanish) is my all time favourite, and Duplais (Swiss) is what I am drinking currently. I'm dying to try the Segarra 68, but it's like $380 per bottle! :(

[brokentelephone]

Sorry, never got around to it! I still don't have very nice authentic glasses, or a nice water pitcher, so I never thought of doing a photo shoot of it.

It's sort of like being drunk, but the artistic part of your brain is in overdrive. It's not easy to explain.. But it's very subtle, so anyone who says they feel a profound high is probably getting some sort of placebo effect ;)

Thujone doesn't have psychoactive properties so the content is irrelevant. Its just very strong booze which causes intense drunkness. I've drank it a few times, and cannot discern anything more than the regular subtle differences of drunkness which result from drinking different liquors.

[SkinnyPupp]

Thujone doesn't have psychoactive properties so the content is irrelevant. Its just very strong booze which causes intense drunkness. I've drank it a few times, and cannot discern anything more than the regular subtle differences of drunkness which result from drinking different liquors.
What did you drink

[brokentelephone]

What did you drink

No idea! But I drank it in the UK with friends that love the stuff, and pretty sure it was the real deal.

[SkinnyPupp]

No idea! But I drank it in the UK with friends that love the stuff, and pretty sure it was the real deal.
OK let's see if I am clear on this then:

1) I have been drinking absinthe for over 6 years, I have tried dozens of brands of varying qualities from all over Europe
2) You drank it "a few times" in UK, and have "no idea" what brand you tried
3) UK is famous for serving terrible quality "absinthe" - the same cheap fake crap that gets sold in BC
4) You are saying that you didn't experience a secondary effect
5) Somehow, this means you are an expert on absinthe, and telling everyone who knows better that they are wrong.

Is that about it?

[brokentelephone]

OK let's see if I am clear on this then:

1) I have been drinking absinthe for over 6 years, I have tried dozens of brands of varying qualities from all over Europe
2) You drank it "a few times" in UK, and have "no idea" what brand you tried
3) UK is famous for serving terrible quality "absinthe" - the same cheap fake crap that gets sold in BC
4) You are saying that you didn't experience a secondary effect
5) Somehow, this means you are an expert on absinthe, and telling everyone who knows better that they are wrong.

Is that about it?

First things first, using the term "secondary effect" sounds ridiculous.

You're correct, though. While I doubt this effect is anything other than a different form of drunkness, it isn't my place to tell you what you experience.

[SkinnyPupp]

First things first, using the term "secondary effect" sounds ridiculous.

You're correct, though. While I doubt this effect is anything other than a different form of drunkness, it isn't my place to tell you what you experience.
Exactly. Some day you should try some real absinthe. You will experience a secondary effect (whether you like the term or not, that's the term used).

[brokentelephone]

Exactly. Some day you should try some real absinthe. You will experience a secondary effect (whether you like the term or not, that's the term used).

Dude, as I said, I'm sure I've had 'real' absinthe. The group of buddies I've drank it with are all major whiskey drinkers, so I would imagine that their passion for booze would translate when purchasing absinthe. Buying alcohol is very different in London than in Vancouver -- if you go to a great store, they simply wouldn't sell crap.

But yah, will try again.

[SkinnyPupp]

Dude, as I said, I'm sure I've had 'real' absinthe. The group of buddies I've drank it with are all major whiskey drinkers, so I would imagine that their passion for booze would translate when purchasing absinthe. Buying alcohol is very different in London than in Vancouver -- if you go to a great store, they simply wouldn't sell crap.

But yah, will try again.
I can almost guarantee you that it wasn't legit. UK was the first country where the whole 'absinthe craze' started in the early 2000's. Back then, the big brand was Hill's from Czech Rep. Nobody knew better, and didn't know that they were basically drinking scope in a fancy bottle.

Trust me, I know my absinthe history. I am 99% sure that you either had Hill's or some other brand with very little similarity to real absinthe. Those are the only brands sold in UK (and therefore BC, which based its absinthe regulations on UK).

Your friends can be the biggest whisky enthusiasts in the world; the fact is that you can't buy good absinthe in any store in UK if you tried.

And the fact that you didn't experience a secondary effect, and that you felt "intense drunkness" further proves my theory (the stuff they bought is most likely 150 proof)

[brokentelephone]

I can almost guarantee you that it wasn't legit. UK was the first country where the whole 'absinthe craze' started in the early 2000's. Back then, the big brand was Hill's from Czech Rep. Nobody knew better, and didn't know that they were basically drinking scope in a fancy bottle.

Trust me, I know my absinthe history. I am 99% sure that you either had Hill's or some other brand with very little similarity to real absinthe. Those are the only brands sold in UK (and therefore BC, which based its absinthe regulations on UK).

Your friends can be the biggest whisky enthusiasts in the world; the fact is that you can't buy good absinthe in any store in UK if you tried.

And the fact that you didn't experience a secondary effect, and that you felt "intense drunkness" further proves my theory (the stuff they bought is most likely 150 proof)

If I ever see absinthe again I will pour it down the drain because I wouldn't want to consume any alcohol which you so passionately revere. Eat a major cock, you cock.

[SkinnyPupp]

If I ever see absinthe again I will pour it down the drain because I wouldn't want to consume any alcohol which you so passionately revere. Eat a major cock, you cock.
I love it when people turn into complete moronic cretins when they are proven wrong about something. Can't you just accept it and learn something new?

[brokentelephone]

I love it when people turn into complete moronic cretins when they are proven wrong about something. Can't you just accept it and learn something new?

How was I proven wrong ? You surmised that I must have had a certain type of absinthe, and, similar to your assertion of my behaviour, refused to accept my beliefs based on my experience alone.

You concluded that I couldn't have drank 'real' absinthe simply because I did not experience a secondary effect. You have zero knowledge of where my absinthe was sourced, and made assumptions about a market of which you clearly have no understanding. I went to Gerry's today on Old Compton Road in London (look it up -- amazing liquor store), and saw over 30 types of Absinthe ranging from £10 to £300.

It is pretty obvious that you haven't done any real research on thujone because it is scientific fact that it has no psychoactive properties whatsoever. Frequenting a forum with other absinthe enthusiasts probably isn't the best place to learn objective information (which is where I assume you must have learned your rudimentary facts).

And by the way, you needn't italicize words for emphasis.

[murd0c]

so whats the cheaoest bottle I can buy here that I can get this "secondary effect"? do you have to get really hammered to get it or what?

[wasabisashimi]

It's my friend's b-day next week and I'd like to get him a bottle of Absinthe. I'm looking for the real kind with wormwood. I'm assuming I have to order it from out of the country. For the people who have done this before, what site did you buy it from? What was the brand/cost? Did you have any troubles with customs? And lastly, does anyone know where I can get a bottle asap, since I would like to have it by next week if possible (or at least not too long after). The only site I found so far, spiritscorner.com says it'll take approximately 3 weeks even with airmail. =/
TIA.


You are in luck, I saw authentic Absinthe at Duty-free store on the way back into canada at the Sumas border (abbotsford).

Its labeled " first legalized authentic Absinthe in North America". It is about $55 USD i think ( or $45)

it looks green in color. Alcohol content was very very high, i cant remember but at least over 70%. Ingredient list includes Wormwood.

[SkinnyPupp]

I went to Gerry's today on Old Compton Road in London (look it up -- amazing liquor store), and saw over 30 types of Absinthe ranging from £10 to £300.

You think price means anything? You fool. What brands did they carry? Which brand was the one you tried? Until you can answer that, you have been proven wrong.

Let's just go back to the basics:

1) I have been drinking absinthe for over 6 years, I have tried dozens of brands of varying qualities from all over Europe
2) You drank it "a few times" in UK, and have "no idea" what brand you tried
3) UK is famous for serving terrible quality "absinthe" - the same cheap fake crap that gets sold in BC
4) You are saying that you didn't experience a secondary effect
5) Somehow, this means you are an expert on absinthe, and telling everyone who knows better that they are wrong.

And finally, you're the one who brought up Thujone, not me. Whether that is the active ingredient that gives the secondary effect is unknown (it may just be the mixture of other herbal ingredients that do so). In any case, a good, proper distilled absinthe will give a secondary effect. Drinking cheap British coldmixed crap will give "intense drunkness" and nothing more.

And anyway, the "secondary effect" shouldn't be your main goal when choosing an absinthe to buy anyway. Like any other good spirit, you need to consider flavour, colour, and other subtle things that make a drink special. If you are looking to get 'high' or even experience some lucidity, you are better off huffing a can of paint or something.

EDIT: looking at the site for the store (http://www.gerrys.uk.com/CatalogueAndCartOct07.aspx) you went to, they do sell one good absinthe (Clandestine) but the rest is complete utter crap (yes, every single one of those 11 bottles is garbage). You can check the reviews here (http://www.feeverte.net/guide/).

So I assume you are suddenly going to remember what brand you tried, and it was certainly Clandestine, right? If not, there is an 83% chance the stuff you bought was cheap coldmixed crap.

Hopefully you don't get all upset again, and can begin to accept facts.

[brokentelephone]

You think price means anything? You fool. What brands did they carry? Which brand was the one you tried? Until you can answer that, you have been proven wrong.

Let's just go back to the basics:

1) I have been drinking absinthe for over 6 years, I have tried dozens of brands of varying qualities from all over Europe
2) You drank it "a few times" in UK, and have "no idea" what brand you tried
3) UK is famous for serving terrible quality "absinthe" - the same cheap fake crap that gets sold in BC
4) You are saying that you didn't experience a secondary effect
5) Somehow, this means you are an expert on absinthe, and telling everyone who knows better that they are wrong.

And finally, you're the one who brought up Thujone, not me. Whether that is the active ingredient that gives the secondary effect is unknown (it may just be the mixture of other herbal ingredients that do so). In any case, a good, proper distilled absinthe will give a secondary effect. Drinking cheap British coldmixed crap will give "intense drunkness" and nothing more.

And anyway, the "secondary effect" shouldn't be your main goal when choosing an absinthe to buy anyway. Like any other good spirit, you need to consider flavour, colour, and other subtle things that make a drink special. If you are looking to get 'high' or even experience some lucidity, you are better off huffing a can of paint or something.

EDIT: looking at the site for the store (http://www.gerrys.uk.com/CatalogueAndCartOct07.aspx) you went to, they do sell one good absinthe (Clandestine) but the rest is complete utter crap (yes, every single one of those 11 bottles is garbage). You can check the reviews here (http://www.feeverte.net/guide/).

So I assume you are suddenly going to remember what brand you tried, and it was certainly Clandestine, right? If not, there is an 83% chance the stuff you bought was cheap coldmixed crap.

Hopefully you don't get all upset again, and can begin to accept facts.

One cannot create fact out of presumption.

[K-Dub]

I love it when people turn into complete moronic cretins when they are proven wrong about something. Can't you just accept it and learn something new?
No offense Skinny, but when you discuss things that you are passionate about, you come off as a complete asshole and dickwad.

You could be nicer with your words and your attitude.

That being said, I want to try some real stuff. Too bad you're all the way in HK.

As you can see from my blog, I got a taste of Hills...didn't really like it. Just felt like I was drinking licorice flavored 151.

[SkinnyPupp]

No offense Skinny, but when you discuss things that you are passionate about, you come off as a complete asshole and dickwad.

You could be nicer with your words and your attitude.

That being said, I want to try some real stuff. Too bad you're all the way in HK.

As you can see from my blog, I got a taste of Hills...didn't really like it. Just felt like I was drinking licorice flavored 151.
I fully admit to being an asshole; I just have a very low patience and tolerance threshold for stupidity. Dickwad may be a bit strong, but I only get that way when dealing with stupid people. Others will be treated with the respect they deserve. Even ignorance I can accept, as being ignorant just means you haven't learned yet, but have the ability to do so. But when some idiot comes in and spouting nonsense like they know everything, it sort of becomes my mission to prove them wrong. And being stupid, they become even worse when they are proven wrong.. So that just irritates me even more, and you get the picture ;)

Yeah I have never tried Hill's, but I know its reputation. It's the first mainstream "absinthe" (I use that term loosely) to get popular in UK and subsequently BC, etc. There are so many shitty absinthes out there, that I wish more people would pay attention and spend some time learning the facts. Even I have bought my share of crappy absinthe (I still have a bottle of "NS" sitting on my liquor shelf that I bought long before I moved to Hong Kong.. We drank some of it, and it gave my sister an ulcer). People respect fine whisky and fine wine, but when it comes to Absinthe, for some reason it's treated as this whacky "fad" that people want to drink in an ignorant attempt to "get high" or feel "intense drunkness"

EDIT: I see on your blog that Morton's has an "absinthe" tasting, and are using Hill's. That saddens me deeply, as people will go there and probably pretend to like the stuff, thinking that it is the way asbinthe is supposed to taste. Poor them :(

Your photography is good, and demonstrates just what is wrong with Hill's (besides the taste and the fact that is it not absinthe, and is essentially cheap vodka mixed with herbal extracts). When the water is added, the asbinthe should "louche" which turns it a milky white. I have seen various levels of this effect, and it is part of what makes absinthe so enjoyable to drink. Sometimes you get a louche that is as white as milk. Really good absinthe will have different characteristics with the louche; the lowers part of the glass will appear thicker and almost oily, while there will be light whisps of cloudiness at the top, and gradients in between. Sometimes, I will just drop a few icecubes in some pure absinthe, and let them melt as I watch the streaks of white clouds emanate from them. It's these nuances that makes absinthe so wonderful. You will get none of that with the garbage that is commonly sold and mass marketed, which is really, really sad.

[K-Dub]

I fully admit to being an asshole; I just have a very low patience and tolerance threshold for stupidity. Dickwad may be a bit strong, but I only get that way when dealing with stupid people. Others will be treated with the respect they deserve. Even ignorance I can accept, as being ignorant just means you haven't learned yet, but have the ability to do so. But when some idiot comes in and spouting nonsense like they know everything, it sort of becomes my mission to prove them wrong. And being stupid, they become even worse when they are proven wrong.. So that just irritates me even more, and you get the picture ;)

Fully understood, I also don't tolerate stupidity, but I seem to have a better threshold compared to you. ;)

Yeah I have never tried Hill's, but I know its reputation. It's the first mainstream "absinthe" (I use that term loosely) to get popular in UK and subsequently BC, etc. There are so many shitty absinthes out there, that I wish more people would pay attention and spend some time learning the facts. Even I have bought my share of crappy absinthe (I still have a bottle of "NS" sitting on my liquor shelf that I bought long before I moved to Hong Kong.. We drank some of it, and it gave my sister an ulcer). People respect fine whisky and fine wine, but when it comes to Absinthe, for some reason it's treated as this whacky "fad" that people want to drink in an ignorant attempt to "get high" or feel "intense drunkness"

EDIT: I see on your blog that Morton's has an "absinthe" tasting, and are using Hill's. That saddens me deeply, as people will go there and probably pretend to like the stuff, thinking that it is the way asbinthe is supposed to taste. Poor them :(

Your photography is good, and demonstrates just what is wrong with Hill's (besides the taste and the fact that is it not absinthe, and is essentially cheap vodka mixed with herbal extracts). When the water is added, the asbinthe should "louche" which turns it a milky white. I have seen various levels of this effect, and it is part of what makes absinthe so enjoyable to drink. Sometimes you get a louche that is as white as milk. Really good absinthe will have different characteristics with the louche; the lowers part of the glass will appear thicker and almost oily, while there will be light whisps of cloudiness at the top, and gradients in between. It's these nuances that makes absinthe so wonderful. You will get none of that with the garbage that is commonly sold and mass marketed, which is really, really sad.

Yea, the owner answered questions, and one of them was why they did the ritual of sugar cube + dripping water, and he said that it's so the drink turns milky white, aka louching like you said.

He even said that Muslims [or whatever religion/middle easterns that cant drink alcohol] louche their absinthe on purpose so as to fool the Allah, cause it looks like milk. Now that I don't know, but seems possible.

After I got home (I didn't drink too much, not enough to feel drunk, but just a slight buzz) I did some of my own reading and research. Really got confused as to why the Hills drink didn't louche...

Is real absinthe supposed to taste so strongly of anise/licorice? I really don't like the taste of it.. never liked the candies as a kid. :(

[SkinnyPupp]

Fully understood, I also don't tolerate stupidity, but I seem to have a better threshold compared to you. ;)



Yea, the owner answered questions, and one of them was why they did the ritual of sugar cube + dripping water, and he said that it's so the drink turns milky white, aka louching like you said.

He even said that Muslims [or whatever religion/middle easterns that cant drink alcohol] louche their absinthe on purpose so as to fool the Allah, cause it looks like milk. Now that I don't know, but seems possible.

After I got home (I didn't drink too much, not enough to feel drunk, but just a slight buzz) I did some of my own reading and research. Really got confused as to why the Hills drink didn't louche...

Is real absinthe supposed to taste so strongly of anise/licorice? I really don't like the taste of it.. never liked the candies as a kid. :(
The "holy trinity" of absinthe is green anise (not star anise, although many use that since the louche is much stronger), fennel, and wormwood. Every brand is different though, and can add various herbs (including licorice). Depending on your tastes, you might not like the flavour of anise. To me, it does have similar characteristics, but you should try others before writing absinthe off. Don't let Hill's ruin your opinion of this wonderful drink ;)

I am enjoying a glass of Duplais Verte right now, and I made a video of the louche. I'll post it on Youtube and put it up here so you can check it out. Duplais doesn't have an intense milky louche, but it is enjoyable. My favourite characteristic is when the water/sugar first hits the absinthe, and forms tiny crystals that seem to dance around in the liquid. It is also enjoyable to observe the small chunks of undiluted sugar as they drop down. As they hit the absinthe, they leave trails behind in the liquid, almost like a shooting star.

[SkinnyPupp]

My video is up - be sure to watch in HQ mode. I am currently enjoying my second glass. I am almost out of Duplais :(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEnXwuypR6A

[brokentelephone]

I fully admit to being an asshole; I just have a very low patience and tolerance threshold for stupidity. Dickwad may be a bit strong, but I only get that way when dealing with stupid people. Others will be treated with the respect they deserve. Even ignorance I can accept, as being ignorant just means you haven't learned yet, but have the ability to do so. But when some idiot comes in and spouting nonsense like they know everything, it sort of becomes my mission to prove them wrong. And being stupid, they become even worse when they are proven wrong.. So that just irritates me even more, and you get the picture ;)

Yeah I have never tried Hill's, but I know its reputation. It's the first mainstream "absinthe" (I use that term loosely) to get popular in UK and subsequently BC, etc. There are so many shitty absinthes out there, that I wish more people would pay attention and spend some time learning the facts. Even I have bought my share of crappy absinthe (I still have a bottle of "NS" sitting on my liquor shelf that I bought long before I moved to Hong Kong.. We drank some of it, and it gave my sister an ulcer). People respect fine whisky and fine wine, but when it comes to Absinthe, for some reason it's treated as this whacky "fad" that people want to drink in an ignorant attempt to "get high" or feel "intense drunkness"

EDIT: I see on your blog that Morton's has an "absinthe" tasting, and are using Hill's. That saddens me deeply, as people will go there and probably pretend to like the stuff, thinking that it is the way asbinthe is supposed to taste. Poor them :(

Your photography is good, and demonstrates just what is wrong with Hill's (besides the taste and the fact that is it not absinthe, and is essentially cheap vodka mixed with herbal extracts). When the water is added, the asbinthe should "louche" which turns it a milky white. I have seen various levels of this effect, and it is part of what makes absinthe so enjoyable to drink. Sometimes you get a louche that is as white as milk. Really good absinthe will have different characteristics with the louche; the lowers part of the glass will appear thicker and almost oily, while there will be light whisps of cloudiness at the top, and gradients in between. Sometimes, I will just drop a few icecubes in some pure absinthe, and let them melt as I watch the streaks of white clouds emanate from them. It's these nuances that makes absinthe so wonderful. You will get none of that with the garbage that is commonly sold and mass marketed, which is really, really sad.

Hopefully your reference to stupidity wasn't in reference to me!
You insert emphasis where it isn't necessary.

[keifun]

haha..my prof. was just talking about absinthe today in my plant biochem. class.

she showed us a table where the most potent ones are made before and after the ban in N.America. I remember the prof. saying the ones with the highest content of Jugone, which is the molecule that makes u hallucinate is made in Turkey..but its illegal to import here.

I'll find the table somewhere and post it..but yeah..other places that have high concentration of the drug are in Switzerland and somewhere else..

[vl_86]

My video is up - be sure to watch in HQ mode. I am currently enjoying my second glass. I am almost out of Duplais :(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEnXwuypR6A

nice video, but you should have made the subtitles in black!

It was killing my eyes trying to read it with the white table!

[SkinnyPupp]

haha..my prof. was just talking about absinthe today in my plant biochem. class.

she showed us a table where the most potent ones are made before and after the ban in N.America. I remember the prof. saying the ones with the highest content of Jugone, which is the molecule that makes u hallucinate is made in Turkey..but its illegal to import here.

I'll find the table somewhere and post it..but yeah..other places that have high concentration of the drug are in Switzerland and somewhere else..
Your prof is just perpetuating the myth that high thujone = good absinthe. Pre-ban absinthe had barely any thujone in it at all. Unless you just misunderstood the lesson ;)

[imiaKe]

Absinthe is pretty nice

I prefer the Swiss one though ... Well its the only one I tried lol

When I was in swiss I saw a bottle from the 1800's in a museum I wanted to jack it :haha:


I like the taste of anise ....... mmmm I also like ricard a lot

[MyPresIzBlack]

Theres a locally made bottle of Absinthe called "taboo". Go to the BC liq store on hastings and willingdon. 60% alcohol content. It DOES have wormwood in it. And its made locally!

750ml bottle sells for $60 bucks. Tastes like poison. Enjoy.