Absinthe drinkers?

[stukibuilt]

So the last real absinthe thread I could find in Tapatalk was from 2009, and I know how the membership has grown since then. Who is into collecting and drinking absinthe on here? It's my spirit of choice and I think it pairs well with most cigars, and I know I can't be the only one.... Ha.

 

[mwlabel]

Only had the Great Lakes Distillery versions, thought they were pretty good. Not a black licorice fan, so overall not for me.

 

[Smoqman]

Ding!

 

[stukibuilt]

Only had the Great Lakes Distillery versions, thought they were pretty good. Not a black licorice fan, so overall not for me.

Star anise is a heavy flavor in a lot of blends, but you might like the Swiss Blanche style. I was never a black licorice fan either, but really well blended stuff has a lot more to it that you might find more palatable.

 

[stukibuilt]

Ding!

Nice bro, what are your favorites?

 

[King Kill 33]

Do any states allow the 'good stuff'? Or it is without the naturally found chemical, what ever that is called.

 

[mwlabel]

Do any states allow the 'good stuff'? Or it is without the naturally found chemical, what ever that is called.

1. Wormwood is not allowed.
2. Based on my conversation with the people at GLD, even wormwood isn't the magic ingredient. They claimed it came from people messing with it, and many times from working heat into the mix. Basically made the "good stuff" sound like a sham. Not sure on their credibility, and honestly could not care less myself. But, I thought it was interesting.

 

[King Kill 33]

http://www.absinthe101.com/laws.html

Looks like BC is the place for the 'good stuff'.

 

[stukibuilt]

It is legal. Has been for a few years now. It was made illegal because of the wine companies in France pushing propaganda which is actually very similar to how the tobacco and paper industries campaigned against Marijuana here in the states. Rather than actually test it we just followed suit. All that ended in the late 90s early 00s. It doesn't make you hallucinate. It gives you are more lucid and present buzz than other distilled spirits in that it doesn't make you sloppy and slow, it's just generally more enjoyable IMHO. Reports of hallucinating I chalk up to either someone not really having real absinthe (home brew like what mwlabel is mentioning), borderline alcohol poisoning (it's high proof which is why you prepare it by diluting it with water), and the placebo effect. Wormwood is allowed in the distilling process, and thujone is the psychoactive component that people are referring to when saying Wormwood.

 

[King Kill 33]

Ok. Cool man. Thanks for the heads up. I may have to give some a try!

 

[stukibuilt]

It was the premier aperitif in France during the Belle Epoque, and they weren't all tripping balls... Ha. There are some historical cases of people going insane, but they had also been drinking wine all day so it had to be the absinthe that drove them to murder people. Not mental illness and being drunk as all get out... Ha ha ha.

Edit: murder is not funny, but the logic used is pretty comical.

 

[mwlabel]

So what are ones actually worth trying?

 

[King Kill 33]

No. Murder is not funny. But I did chuckle as you took te time to make sure everyone knew.

Are there absinthe for sale in the US with any amount of thujone in it?

 

[stukibuilt]

Personally I like most anything Ted Breaux distills. He makes the Jade liqueurs brand in the Combier distillery in France. Old antique alambics and he is an engineer who reverse engineered the pre-ban recipes. Combier makes their own stuff on the side as well. LaFee is decent for a mass produced absinthe, but they use some coloring and whatnot that Jade doesn't (at least they did the last time I had any), and they are really popular. Their branding is a little cheeky in my opinion, but the Parisian is palatable and better than several that I've had for more money.

The one I've been drinking most recently is some Jade 1901, which is one he reverse engineered from pre-ban pernod fills. I like it a lot. If you want a heavier herbal finish then the edouard is the most in your face he makes. The Verte suisse is a good middle ground, and is not quite a blanche but not has heavy as a Verte. I actually use blanche de fougerolles to clean my pipes. Not bad but not great. I've had some Austrian ones that added cinnamon which I thought were OK but not something I'm really into.

I'm definitely interested in hearing what other guys like though, as I fell out of it for a while and am sure that there is some other good stuff I've never had the opportunity to try as of yet.

 

[stukibuilt]

Oh, and I would stay away from the "Czech" style. It's glorified grain alcohol in my opinion, and you shouldn't be lighting stuff on fire with absinthe... It doesn't always end well... Ha ha

 

[Argus17]

Personally I like most anything Ted Breaux distills. He makes the Jade liqueurs brand in the Combier distillery in France. Old antique alambics and he is an engineer who reverse engineered the pre-ban recipes. Combier makes their own stuff on the side as well. LaFee is decent for a mass produced absinthe, but they use some coloring and whatnot that Jade doesn't (at least they did the last time I had any), and they are really popular. Their branding is a little cheeky in my opinion, but the Parisian is palatable and better than several that I've had for more money.

The one I've been drinking most recently is some Jade 1901, which is one he reverse engineered from pre-ban pernod fills. I like it a lot. If you want a heavier herbal finish then the edouard is the most in your face he makes. The Verte suisse is a good middle ground, and is not quite a blanche but not has heavy as a Verte. I actually use blanche de fougerolles to clean my pipes. Not bad but not great. I've had some Austrian ones that added cinnamon which I thought were OK but not something I'm really into.

I'm definitely interested in hearing what other guys like though, as I fell out of it for a while and am sure that there is some other good stuff I've never had the opportunity to try as of yet.

Total Wine has Lucid which they claim is distilled by Breaux at Combier. Just wondering if you have tried that one, and your opinion. This thread has peaked my interest.

 

[KLF]

Absinthe is like arak?

 

[Smoqman]

Revisiting this:
My first introduction to absinthe was in a restaurant of all places.

A friend/ owner mentioned her employee had just come back from New Orleans where a certain someone was making it.

She poured me a small amount in an odd shaped glass and then added some water. It started to look cloudy and stayed that way for a moment.


I recall the first sip - glorious, divine even. I then recall everything looking more beautiful and a feeling of contentment. I don't recall leaving, but then again.......I am old, now.

 

[ENV]

Had different levels of absinthe while overseas. Those were some fun nights. Sugar cubes and smoking hot women

 

[stukibuilt]

Revisiting this:
My first introduction to absinthe was in a restaurant of all places.

A friend/ owner mentioned her employee had just come back from New Orleans where a certain someone was making it.

She poured me a small amount in an odd shaped glass and then added some water. It started to look cloudy and stayed that way for a moment.


I recall the first sip - glorious, divine even. I then recall everything looking more beautiful and a feeling of contentment. I don't recall leaving, but then again.......I am old, now.

Sounds about right. Ha ha. Great story!