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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ABSINTHE...

A bitter spirit containing Wormwood and other herbs was one of the most popular alcoholic beverages of the late 19th century Europe. The emerald green drink was consumed by people from all walks of life, including the bohemian upper-class, artists, poets, and intellectuals. While the lower classes celebrated l'heure verte (the green hour) in numerous bars and cafe's, painters and poets created famous art dedicated to "the green fairy".

 

Because Absinthe consumption reached excessive and alarming proportions at the turn of the 19th-century, many European governments, as well as the U.S. administration, successively banned the icon of la vie bohème by several prohibition acts. Absinthe was used as an easy target of the temperance movement with the aim of later prohibiting alcohol in general. In some European countries (UK, Spain, Czech Republic) however, "the green fairy" survived, but consumption was comparitively low. The European council enacted in 1988 the directive "on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to flavorings of use in foodstuffs and to source material for their production" that reallowed Wormwood as ingredient of alcoholic beverages.

PROPER PREPERATION OF ABSINTHE...

 

FRENCH RITUAL

Ice-cold water is slowly poured or dripped over the sugar until the drink is diluted to between a 3:1-to-5:1 ratio. Using ice-cold water and pouring it slowly is essential to acheive the Louche effect.

 

CZECH RITUAL

Pour a dose of Absinthe into a glass, then place a sugar cube on an absinthe spoon. Soak the sugar in Absinthe by dipping the spoon into it or pouring a little Absinthe over it. Light the absinthe-soak sugar on fire for about one minute, allowing the sugar to caramelize and melt. If an Absinthe spoon is used, the burning, melted sugar should drip into the Absinthe. Dunk the still flaming spoon in the Absinthe, which may then ignite. Add ice-cold water to the Absinthe to quench the flames and produce the Louche effect.

ABSINTHE LIST:

 

KUBLER ABSINTHE SUPERIEURE/8.5

MOTIERS, SWISS 106 PROOF

GRANDE WORMWOOD, SWISS WHEAT, HYSSOP, LEMON BALM, CORIANDER, STAR ANISE, FENNEL, ROMAN WORMWOOD, MINT.

 

MATAHARI BOHEMIAN ABSINTHE/12

VIENNA, AUSTRIA 120 PROOF

GRANDE WORMWOOD, PETITE WORMWOOD, ANISESEED, CINNAMON, SALVIA.

 

PERNOD/11

PONTARLIER, FRANCE 136 PROOF

GRANDE WORMWOOD, STAR ANISE, FENNEL, HYSSOP, MELISSA OFFICINALIS, LEMON GRASS.

 

LUCID/8.75

LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE 126 PROOF

GRANDE WORMWOOD, GREEN ANISE, SWEET FENNEL, RICH NATURAL GREEN HUE.

 

LA MUSE VERTE/11

BORDEAUX, FRANCE 137 PROOF

STAR ANISE, SEE ANISE, FENNEL, SAGE, HYSSOP, THYME, LICORICE ROOT.

 

MANSINTHE/12

DEVELOPED BY MARILYN MANSON

TOUCH OF WORMWOOD AND PONTICA, FENNEL, HYSSOP, ANISE AND MELISSA.

 

BUTTERFLY CLASSIC ABSINTHE/13

BOSTON RECIPE, PRODUCED IN SWITZERLAND 130 PROOF

GRANDE WORMWOOD, PETITE WORMWOOD, HYSSOP, MELISSA & PEPPERMINT, STAR ANISE, FENNEL, & CITRUS.

 

LA CLANDESTINE/MKT

COUVET, SWITZERLAND 106 PROOF

HYSSOP, GRANDE WORMWOOD, MELISSA & PEPPERMINT, ANISE, FENNEL, & PETITE WORMWOOD.

 

HERITAGE/12

FOUGEROLLES, FRANCE 136 PROOF

GRANDE WORMWOOD, FENNEL AND GREEN ANISE.

 

VIEUX CARRE/10

GRANDE WORMWOOD, PETITE WORMWOOD, STAR ANISE, FENNEL SEED, COMPLEX FLAVORS

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