Absinthe Essence Online

Absinthe is a strong spirit which is usually between 45 and 75% ABV (vol), about twice as strong as other types of alcoholic beverages such as whiskey and vodka. 

Also known as "The Green Fairy" or "La Fee Verte" Absinthe was the drink associated with La Belle Epoque and Bohemian Paris. It was given to French soldiers in the 1840s to treat malaria and they brought the drink home with them. Absinthe bars opened all over Paris and special Absinthe hours or "L'heure verte" took place daily. By the mid 19th century Pernod, distillers of Absinthe, drew more than 30,000 liters of Absinthe every day for the French people to buy! 

About Absinthe History

Legend says that Dr Pierre Ordinaire created Absinthe in the Swiss city of Couvet in the 18th century as an elixir or tonic for his patients. The Absinthe recipe eventually got into the hands of Henri-Louis Pernod, who first distilled Absinthe in Couvet and later in Pontarlier, France under the name of Pernod Fils. 

Pernod used a wine base and various herbs including common wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), anise, fennel, lemon balm, hyssop, Angelica, dittany, star anise, nutmeg and juniper. 

Famous drinkers of the Green Fairy were Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway, Degas, Gauguin, Verlaine and Baudelaire. 

Absinthe became more popular than wine in France, and the prohibition movement campaigned to get Absinthe banned because: -- 

- Thujone, in wormwood, was found to be similar to THC in cannabis and is thought to be psychoactive. 

- Absinthe was linked with the loose morals of the artists, writers and courtesans of Montmartre. 

- Absinthe should have psychedelic effects, to cause hallucinations, convulsions and to drive people insane. 

It was even claimed that an Absinthe drinker murdered his whole family - just the excuse that the prohibition movement sought to persuade the government to ban Absinthe. The purchase, sale and consumption of Absinthe in France was made illegal in France in 1915 and in many other countries around this time. 

Many studies have shown that Absinthe, including vintage Absinthe, which contain only very small amounts of Thujone, and is completely safe to drink. Absinthe has been legalized in many countries since the 1990s, and there has been an Absinthe revival in many countries including the U.S., which has only recently allowed a few brands go on sale. 

About Absinthe Essences

To enjoy Absinthe, you can either order bottles of Absinthe online, or you can make your own Absinthe using essences from AbsintheKit.com. These essences are used by industry and Absinthe is made using traditional ingredients such as wormwood, anise and fennel. Simply mix with either Everclear or vodka to make your very own Absinthe. There are four different types of essence available. 

About Absinthe Preparation 

The correct way to prepare Absinthe is to follow the ritual: --

- Pour 25-50ml Absinthe into an Absinthe glass. 

- Rest a slotted Absinthe done on top of the tube. 

- Place a sugar cube on the spoon. 

- Drip iced water over the sugar using an Absinthe fountain or pour slowly from a jug. 

- See Absinthe Louch. 

- Drink your wonderful Absinthe drink. 

I hope you have learned everything about Absinthe, the mysterious drink with a very interesting history and good taste.