The Sacred, Illicit Buzz
Absinthe, or La Fée Verte, is perhaps not the mythical buzz it is purported to be, and certainly owes its many misconceptions to over-imaginative literary and art hipster figures of the 19th century. Or is it? Let’s start with the origins of this magical glowing green stuff. First we find it is used in the middle ages as a cure for flatulence. Ah, sweet serendipity… The first absinthe distillery is created by Pernod, and the drink becomes popularized and mythologized in the 19th century by the bohemian artiste set, sales and hence production soar, but all the while prohibitionists and wine executives are out to demonize the elixir (thus reclaiming market share.) La Matin, the French left-wing daily, constantly published front page news any crime remotely involving absinthe. And you thought the “liberal media” was on the side of the artists? The final blow would come when a Swiss peasant murdered his family after having a couple of glasses of Absinthe (and a few bottles of wine and brandy.) In the early 20th century absinthe is banned in more and more countries around the globe.
But the Green Fairy is back today. Switzerland re-legalized it in June, 2004. The Netherlands legalized it in July, 2004. It is legal in Germany and the Czech Republic. And it has always been legal in Spain and Portugal. The thujone levels have to be under 10mg per bottle, according to EU regulations. But little is known as to how much was in the bottles of yesteryear, as apparently much of the thujone is lost in the distillation process. Thujone is the stuff in wormwood that gives Absinthe it’s magical and maniacal zing.
So if you happen to be travelling in any of these countries and think about taking a bottle back to the US, fear not:
“Production, sale, and importation are banned, but mere possession is not, and customs agents typically ignore a bottle or two in your suitcase.”
At worst, they seize the bottles. You can also buy it over the internet, but it is ridiculously expensive.
September 26th, 2005 at 8:42 pm
So the stuff you recently brought back is good? I always head the risk (after repeated use) was ‘blowing out an eye’. When I had a few shots in Czech back in ‘97, I ended up crying a bit, which isn’t my usual drinking habit, though I was with Trey Corsey, discussing how he’d almost died and all of the stress of that car wreck scenario, so it was sort of an emotional situation and not just Wormwood. Didn’t trip at all…that time.
September 27th, 2005 at 12:10 am
Crybaby. No, I don’t know if it’s good yet, haven’t done any yet. Saving for the right time. You are welcome to participate.
September 27th, 2005 at 6:31 am
I had some at a party a couple years ago. The guy had brought it back from Czech Republic and I thought it was just some kind of hokey scam imitation, but he insisted it was the real deal.
After all the hype and build-up, I have to say that the drink and it’s effects were pretty disappointing. Nocino is better.
September 27th, 2005 at 7:46 am
Yeah, but com’on AL, everyone knows what hapens when you drink nut juice…. No really, shout out to the I-tie booze, Limoncello, Vento Gripa, Nocino etc etc
September 27th, 2005 at 10:45 am
I think it’s key to get some good stuff. The thujone is what does the magic, supposedly. The hard part is you have to get sort of drunk to feel it, and are you going to be able to discern the green faery in your stupor? I will say this: I’ve taken that Kava stuff that’s been all the rage, and it works. You can get the root and make tea, but the pills work well, for a breezy relaxed buzz, that you can function just fine on.
Here are some recipies fellas:
The Absinthe Daiquiri
45ml absinthe
235ml crushed ice
1 T. confectioner’s sugar
Blend and serve.
The Sazerac
45ml absinthe
60ml cognac
3 dashes bitters
1 t. sugar
Shake with ice. Strain and serve.
September 29th, 2005 at 6:03 pm
It is still legal in New Zealand too, green, purple and some other color (which are supposed to be indicative of their respective strengths.) I’ll be there in 2 weeks at which time I’ll do some R&D and get back to you…
September 30th, 2005 at 2:48 am
I brought a bottle back from Portugal, called Extase. It was a while before I noticed it was supposed to be pronounced like “Ecstasy”. It just got me really drunk, being 110 proof. No hallucinations, just vomiting after drinking more and more hoping for hallucinations. I also brought a bottle back from Heathrow airport- the Duty-Free area has a Chezch brand that is labeled ‘contains thujone’ and you can’t get it in the UK proper. it also got me drunk, but no hallucinations. One of the websites I read pointed out that the people who typically tripped on the stuff were also typically malnourished, and some of the stills for making it were less than awesome in quality, and probably made a bit of the bad type of alcohol- the kind that makes you blind in large enough quantities. Guess I’ll just have to score shrooms or acid.
October 20th, 2005 at 2:49 am
Greeen Fairy has been obtained. work party haunted house next week. Will report more when consumption has been achieved.
October 20th, 2005 at 2:52 am
what the hell am i supposed to do with absinthe reciepes in metrics? speak english, motherfucker!
October 24th, 2005 at 1:15 pm
and how did the green fairy treat you?