What to Know About Absinthe (2024)

Absinthe is no ordinary alcohol — at least, that’s what legend would have you believe.

Whimsically dubbed the “green fairy” due to its verdant hue, absinthe has long been associated with hallucinogenic effects. It’s been blamed for everything from psychosis and seizures to dangerous behavior and murders among those who dare to drink it, and over the years, this lore has shrouded absinthe in mystery.

Now, inquiring minds must know: Is absinthe really any different from other hard liquors?

What Is Absinthe?

Absinthe is an herb-infused alcohol derived from fennel, anise, and the leaves and flowers of a small shrub called wormwood (otherwise known as Artemisia absinthium).

Absinthe is typically between 90 proof and 148 proof, but it's possible to find 179 proof absinthe — this proof means that it contains a formidable 89% alcohol. By comparison, common liquors like vodka and whiskey generally contain 40% alcohol. Due to its high alcohol content, absinthe is best diluted with water before drinking.

How Is Absinthe Distilled?

Traditionally, absinthe is distilled from dried herbs and wormwood. After mashing the wormwood and herbs together, the mixture is distilled in a water or steam bath until the distillate reaches an alcohol volume of 60% to 80%. At this point, more wormwood and herbs are added to the clear, colorless distillate to give it that characteristic green color. Finally, the distillate is diluted with water to make the absinthe drinkable.

What Does Absinthe Taste Like?

Absinthe is a strong alcoholic beverage, and it has a strong taste to match. In his short story “Hills Like White Elephants,” Ernest Hemingway likened absinthe’s flavor to licorice. Many would agree with this comparison — but the Wormwood Society argues that quality absinthe should never taste like licorice candy. Instead, it should have a slightly bitter, dry, and astringent flavor that’s both complex and subtle.

History of Absinthe

Long before it gained popularity as the star ingredient in absinthe, wormwood was used medicinally. The first recorded use of wormwood in medicine dates back to 1552 B.C., and absinthe itself was initially used to treat illness — but its potential didn’t go unnoticed for long. Here’s a timeline of absinthe’s tumultuous journey from medical invention to banned booze (and back again):

  • 1789 — While living in Switzerland, French doctor Dr. Pierre Ordinaire develops the first recipe for absinthe (which he intends for medicinal use).
  • 1798 — Dr. Ordinaire’s recipe is repurposed for industrial production of absinthe as a recreational alcohol, which begins with the founding of the Pernod-fils distillery.
  • 1840s — Absinthe hits the shelves in France.
  • 1849 — In France, 26 distilleries are producing 10 million liters of absinthe.
  • 1850s to 1890s — Absinthe gains popularity partly due to its mystique and partly because it packs a punch — people find its high alcohol content makes it more effective and affordable. Absinthe becomes the drink of choice among Europe’s bohemian creatives, like Vincent van Gogh and Oscar Wilde. Meanwhile, a growing group of people from the medical community and temperance groups attempt to prove its inherent evil.
  • 1869 — Psychiatrist Valentin Magnan, physician-in-chief of France’s primary asylum, publishes research that shows that inhaling wormwood oil causes seizures in animals. Although his study draws prompt criticism after its publication, he (along with many others) believes it proves the legitimacy of “absinthism.” Magnan concludes that the negative effects of drinking absinthe are due to absinthism, not alcoholism.
  • 1905 ­— Following a drinking binge that starts with two shots of absinthe, a man murders his wife and children in Switzerland. His lawyers cite “absinthe madness” as his motive, and anti-absinthe sentiment seizes Europe.
  • 1905 to 1915 — Absinthe is banned in an increasing number of countries, including Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, the U.S., and finally France. It remains legal in some countries like Spain, the U.K., and the Czech Republic, but its popularity takes a hit there as well.
  • 1990s — Decades later, countries slowly begin revisiting and revising their absinthe bans to allow the production of absinthe with limited amounts of thujone, among other caveats.

Switzerland lifted its absinthe production ban in 2003, and France followed suit in 2011. Gradually, absinthe has made its way back into bars around the world — but an air of caution still surrounds the controversial booze. For instance, the U.S. only permits thujone-free absinthe, and France doesn’t allow the word “absinthe” to appear on bottles unless they’re to be exported.

After all this time, you have to wonder: Is there any legitimate reason to fear absinthe?

Is Absinthe a Hallucinogenic Alcohol?

Does absinthe have hallucinogenic effects? In short, no.

Wormwood contains a psychoactive compound called thujone that’s long been linked to its purported hallucinogenic properties. In fact, absinthe is often defined by two time periods: “preban” and “postban” (i.e., before and after the absinthe ban). This is mainly due to the belief that the thujone concentration in absinthe was significantly decreased upon its reintroduction. But it turns out that the amounts of thujone in preban absinthe were generally overestimated — in reality, both preban and postban absinthe contain similar amounts of thujone.

Not only that, but a 2008 study confirmed that thujone is not responsible for the reported psychedelic effects of absinthe. The concentration of thujone in preban and postban absinthe simply isn’t high enough to have any hallucinatory effects, even if you guzzled a liter of absinthe (not that anyone is recommending that you do that).

This same study determined that one absinthe ingredient could explain absinthism: ethanol. Ethanol is also known as the chemical compound that puts the alcohol in alcohol. In all likelihood, heavy absinthe drinkers were suffering from the negative effects of chronic alcoholism or alcohol poisoning. Even if there was reason to deem absinthe a hallucinogen, alcohol was not to blame. But it's possible that preban absinthe drinkers were reacting to, or even poisoned by, toxic additives in certain absinthes.

Absinthe Effects

Contrary to urban legend, a couple shots of absinthe won’t prompt a visit from a green fairy or cause temporary insanity. Drinking modern-day absinthe will get you drunk, but that’s about it. As with any potent alcohol, you should consume absinthe responsibly. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to accidents, injuries, alcohol poisoning, addiction, memory loss, and death.

In the days of preban absinthe, though, it's possible that absinthe drinkers experienced other effects due to poor quality control and ingredient regulation. While top-tier preban distillers made absinthe without additives, some less reputable manufacturers used toxic additives like methanol, tansy, and sweet flag. Antimony was another common addition to preban absinthe. Although it was intended to decrease the absinthe’s toxicity, it likely had the opposite effect, as antimony can cause nausea and toxic effects of its own.

Is Absinthe Legal?

Yes, absinthe is legal. Most countries lifted their absinthe bans by the early 2000s. If you live in the U.S., though, absinthe is only legal if it’s thujone-free.

Is Absinthe Safe?

Bottom line: Absinthe is safe when consumed in moderation. Don’t forget to dilute it with water, drink responsibly, and enjoy!

What to Know About Absinthe (2024)

FAQs

What to Know About Absinthe? ›

Absinthe is, at its core, a high-proof spirit infused with a whole bunch of herbs, spices, and other botanicals that give it its distinctive licorice flavor and emerald color. Chief among those (in classic absinthes, anyway) are grand wormwood, green anise, and florence fennel.

What you need to know about absinthe? ›

It's a high-proof spirit flavored with wormwood and anise, with other botanicals playing a supporting role. Since absinthe contains no added sugar, it's technically not considered a liqueur. Named for Artemisia absinthium—the wormwood plant— absinthe typically features “the holy trinity” of wormwood, anise and fennel.

What is the proper way to drink absinthe? ›

The absinthe ritual

The ritual involves carefully pouring cold water over a sugar cube placed on a slotted spoon above a glass of absinthe. The addition of sugar and water helps to balance the bitter taste of the wormwood and create a smoother, more palatable drink.

What is absinthe and why is it illegal? ›

Because of its popularity, the Temperance League lobbied against absinthe due to the high rate of alcohol related crime and false claims that it made you hallucinate or “go crazy” (which it did not). Absinthe was banned in most of Europe between 1905 and 1910, and the United States followed in 1912.

Is it bad to drink absinthe straight? ›

If you drink absinthe straight it has the potential to burn your taste buds and cause serious health problems. The alcohol content is so high and the flavor is so powerful, it all but requires distillation to make it enjoyable and safe. The ideal way to drink absinthe is to dilute it with water and a sugar cube.

What is so crazy about absinthe? ›

Whimsically dubbed the “green fairy” due to its verdant hue, absinthe has long been associated with hallucinogenic effects. It's been blamed for everything from psychosis and seizures to dangerous behavior and murders among those who dare to drink it, and over the years, this lore has shrouded absinthe in mystery.

What does absinthe do to the brain? ›

It is a GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) inhibitor, meaning it blocks GABA receptors in the brain, which can cause convulsions if you ingest enough of it. Thujone occurs naturally in many foods, but never in doses high enough to produce negative effects. And there's not enough thujone in absinthe to hurt you, either.

Should you put ice in absinthe? ›

The "absinthe drip" is very similar to the traditional ritual, though it adds ice and club soda to soften the drink a bit more. You also don't need a special spoon or glass; common bar tools work just fine. In a mixing glass half-filled with crushed ice, pour 1 ounce of absinthe. Place a sugar cube on top of the ice.

What to do while drinking absinthe? ›

Even if you're using miniscule amounts of absinthe, the pros still suggest mixing with some water or stirring with ice to tamp down its strength. Bartenders will also employ tools like the absinthe rinse or an atomizer to introduce enough of the spirit to add complexity to the drink without overpowering it.

Why do you need a spoon for absinthe? ›

What are the spoons used for? Absinthe spoons are simply used for placing a sugar cube on. Absinthe, a spirit obtained by the maceration and then distillation of plants at 68º to 72º, has no sugar added to the bottle. In order to soften this strong spirit, sugar is added just before drinking.

Why would anyone drink absinthe? ›

The height of consumption for absinthe was in the late 19th century when it was used both as an antimalarial aid, and enjoyed as an alcoholic beverage. Absinthe was banned in many countries in the early 20th century.

Why is absinthe called the green fairy? ›

Absinthe, is a distilled, anise-flavored spirit. Traditionally, the spirit is green from the inclusion of green anise, and this is where the nickname, "la fée verte" or “The Green Fairy” comes from.

Is absinthe the strongest alcohol? ›

Absinthe (45 % to 85%) The absinthe enjoys the tenth place on this list, as it's the most commonly available poison for those who enjoy a stiff one every now and then. The drink gets it's name from the artemisia absenthium or the wormwood bark and it's alcoholic content is in the range of 45 to 85 per cent.

Why use a sugar cube with absinthe? ›

As the chilled water and sugar mixes with the spirit, it turns from clear to cloudy, demonstrating that it's the proper temperature. Your absinthe, properly diluted and sweetened by the sugar cube, will still be powerfully aromatic and flavorful and should be sipped and savored slowly.

Why is absinthe so intense? ›

It is spirit with a high alcohol content traditionally produced from wormwood, anise, and other herbs such as fennel. These herbs give absinthe its hallmark green color. Wormwood contains thujone, which has been identified as the agent rumored to cause hallucinations and convulsions when consumed in high doses.

Do you sip or shot absinthe? ›

A very high alcohol content is not considered to be excessive because absinthe is traditionally diluted with water before drinking and it is meant to be sipped slowly over time, so as not to allow the effects of alcohol to overwhelm the subtle and pleasant effect of the herbs.

Does absinthe have any health benefits? ›

Absinthe helps boost immunity and fight infections. It also improves memory and brain function. Typical health advantages of drinking Absinthe include pain reduction and relaxation. It is also suitable for the body system, such as the immune and digestive.

Does absinthe pop on a drug test? ›

Absinthe is not a drug and it will not show up on a drug test, unless the test is specifically made to detect traces of any of the (very common) ingredients of absinthe. Many myths and rumours about absinthe's hallucinogenic properties have been floating around for ages and ages.

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