it’s legal. now what? absinthe…
if you read trendy mags, frequent nice haunts, or have hip friends, you’ll likely know that absinthe was recently legalized in the US. and in case you couldn’t tell, we’re exited about it!
but what to do? where to buy? how to make? when to drink? seems everyone’s getting in on absinthe’s act, and there is a plethora of websites selling absinthe and its related wares. what originally started as a medicinal healing tonic two centuries ago, grew into a feared libation, causing it to be outlawed in many countries. the US only legalized it again late last year (thanks to some very dogged absinthe enthusiasts)! with such a dramatic and colorful past, we just can’t help but be more than a little curious. the person behind the infamous ban was 18th century french druggist henri schmidt, who said absinthe lead straight to the madhouse or the courthouse. thujone, the hallucinogenic ingredient derived from wormwood, is what’s to blame. commonly referred to as the “green fairy,” there is a type of absinthe made from white herbs known as the “white fairy” as well. 
thujone can be found in many other plants too. sage, various varieties of lavender, cypruss and juniper, tansy, mugwort, yarrow and white cedar all contain this mind-altering substance. while absinthe originally contained large amounts of the psychoactive element thujone, today it contains only the legal limit, which is said to cause no side effects. so fear not, explore absinthe in this blog. ready to taste forbidden fruit of the spirit world and go buy absinthe? do it right, and hold a proper dégustation. for those of you not fluent in french, that means, a careful, appreciative tasting.” yup, go all out – get the cool absinthe set and the funky spoon to go with it… enjoy and buy absinthe.
I haven’t tried it yet, although I’m looking forward to the absinthe-themed d card party here in New York this Saturday, it should be an interesting way to start out the spring. There’s bound to be lots of botanical drinks between the green fairy’s wormwood and the usual Bulldog gin bar, so that’s something.
You know, you are the first blogger to point out that absinthe DID have hallucinogenic properties; others would have us believe that that aspect was a myth, and it was banned for other reasons. Any good sources on thujone?
Comment by MikeTank — March 13, 2008 @ 10:16 pm
no, sorry!
Comment by Gwen — March 14, 2008 @ 2:17 am