Absinthe... the 'lil green drink that is fun

I was telling a friend of the drink Absinthe today... and he had no idea what it was. Then, after asking a handful of other people, I realized not a lot of people have any idea what it is. So I figured I post something describing the drink.

Absinthe is a 140-proof green liqueur made from herbs like fennel, anise, and the exceptionally bitter leaves of Artemisia absinthium. For a century, absinthe has been demonized and outlawed, based on the belief that it leads to absinthism - far worse than mere alcoholism. Drinking it supposedly causes epilepsy and "criminal dementia."

This is just not true.

Absinthe was first distilled in 1792 in Switzerland, where it was marketed as a medicinal elixir, a cure for stomach ailments. Absinthe came to be associated with artists and Moulin Rouge bohemians. By the early 20th century, Absinthe was becoming popular in America.

"It is truly madness in a bottle, and no habitual drinker can claim that he will not become a criminal." declared one politician. The anti-absinthe fervor climaxed in 1905, when Swiss farmer Jean Lanfray shot his pregnant wife and two daughters after downing two glasses (Overlooked was what else Lanfray consumed that day: crème de menthe, cognac, seven glasses of wine, coffee with brandy, and another liter of wine). The truth is if you drink two or three glasses of Absinthe, you can feel the effects of the alcohol, but your mind stays clear - you can still work. Marilyn Manson has boasted of recording an album while "on" absinthe. Johnny Depp compared its effects to marijuana. "Drink too much," he said, "and you suddenly realize why Van Gogh cut off his ear."

There are some tips to consuming the drink properly if you do ever get the privilege of drinking Absinthe. Pour it slowly... that's the secret to making it taste good. If the water's too warm, it will taste like donkey piss.

Absinthe is still illegal in the US under FDA regulations. (But American connoisseurs are able to find it). Click here to read more about Absinthe.