September 13, 200717 yr I was under the impression you can't buy it in the US. Not sure why you would want to unless you want to cut off your own ear. Try the internet. I think you can get it shipped from overseas.
September 13, 200717 yr You used to be able to order it over the internet. Not sure if that is still legal. Or you can just make it yourself.
September 13, 200717 yr yeah, i know where to get from the internets, but heard of a new type that is legal in the U.S. i think cutting off my ear would be kinda fun.
September 13, 200717 yr If the new type of absinthe is legal in the US, then it isn't absinthe. BTW, I've had it, and it is the single most hideous thing I have ever tasted. If you must try it, go ahead, but it's not worth the effort.
September 13, 200717 yr Why is absinthe not sold in the United States? Absinthe is not sold in the United States because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not allow the sales of spirited beverages that contain the chemical compound thujone. Real absinthe is made using wormwood, which contains thujone. FROM: http://www.absinthebuyersguide.com/
September 13, 200717 yr i've heard that unlike other european countries the czechs make the most potent real deal stuff with thujone, so you might look for brands from there.
September 13, 200717 yr i've heard that unlike other european countries the czechs make the most potent real deal stuff with thujone, so you might look for brands from there.
September 13, 200717 yr Just out of curiosity, how thorough is our customs? Do they check inside packages and envelopes? I know they went through one of my boxes from Japan. I wonder if that could be intercepted by authorities.
September 13, 200717 yr I would rebottle it but if it wasn't sealed with factory seal they could get suspicious. Just mail it from wherever you bought it from. Just out of curiosity, how thorough is our customs? Do they check inside packages and envelopes? I know they went through one of my boxes from Japan. I wonder if that could be intercepted by authorities.
September 13, 200717 yr What is this stuff that you guys are talking about? What is absinthe? Absinthe is a strong-herbal liquor distilled with wormwood and anise. It can contains other aromatic herbs like star anise, anise seed, fennel, licorice, hyssop, veronica, lemon balm, angelica root, dittany, coriander, juniper, and nutmeg. What is wormwood? It is a Mediterranean perennial herb or shrubby plant (Artemisia absinthium) of the family Asteraceae (aster family). We know it as the bitter herb used to make Absinthe, and is the source for the chemical compound thujone. What is thujone? Thujone is a chemical compound. It is a colourless liquid with a distinctive menthol odour. It is a ketone and a monoterpene, and is found in two stereoisomeric forms. It is found in a number plants including sage, thyme, rosemary, caraway, sassafras, and yarrow. Thujone is used in several modern products including Absorbine Jr.®, Vicks Vaporub, Absinthe, Gammel Dansk, and many more. FROM: http://www.absinthebuyersguide.com/
September 13, 200717 yr What is this stuff that you guys are talking about? What is absinthe? Absinthe is a strong-herbal liquor distilled with wormwood and anise. It can contains other aromatic herbs like star anise, anise seed, fennel, licorice, hyssop, veronica, lemon balm, angelica root, dittany, coriander, juniper, and nutmeg. What is wormwood? It is a Mediterranean perennial herb or shrubby plant (Artemisia absinthium) of the family Asteraceae (aster family). We know it as the bitter herb used to make Absinthe, and is the source for the chemical compound thujone. What is thujone? Thujone is a chemical compound. It is a colourless liquid with a distinctive menthol odour. It is a ketone and a monoterpene, and is found in two stereoisomeric forms. It is found in a number plants including sage, thyme, rosemary, caraway, sassafras, and yarrow. Thujone is used in several modern products including Absorbine Jr.®, Vicks Vaporub, Absinthe, Gammel Dansk, and many more. FROM: http://www.absinthebuyersguide.com/ Also it is said to cause hallucinations and I believe it is thought that Van Gogh had been drinking it when he cut off his own ear.
September 14, 200717 yr ^ old vincent was definately an absinthe drinker, but that is prob more a myth and not directly the reason he cut his ear off. the guy had a gazillion mental health and general health problems, many of his own making, that could have lead him to do that. oddly enough on the positive side drinking absinthe may have helped him control grand mal seizures, although that isnt clear: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh's_medical_condition i have not tried it personally, but even still i wouldnt worry about even the top notch absinthe making you see the green fairy and cut your ear off. otoh it's alcohol content will definately get you stinky drunk.
September 14, 200717 yr I've learned more bizarre things on this forum than I would have ever thought, or sometimes cared to (ie: I've never heard of absinthe before today). "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 10, 201015 yr I've been researching absinthe and plan on buying my first bottle sometime in June. It's fully legalized in France (where they love it) and is being legalized in the states. As of today you can buy a bottle of true absinthe as long as the thujone level is at or under 10 ppm. From what I'm learning most overseas absinthe thujone levels are generally around that level at any case. The chemical thujone come's from wormwood which is used for the taste of the spirit and not for any mind altering reasons. At the beginning of the nineteen hundreds, grape growers had a few bad years of harvest and many of the French people switched to drinking absinthe instead of the wine that became very expensive. When the harvest finally made a come back many choose to continue drinking absinthe over the traditional wine. A smear campaigned ensued and absinthe eventually became outlawed. Drinking absinthe claims to cause convulsions but many feel that was from improper distillation methods of the day. Today they can not find anything in absinthe to cause harm to one but alcohol which should always be used in moderation of coarse. Absinthe has a very strong alcohol content and is diluted slowly with ice cold water. It should never be drank straight and also should be sipped slowly and enjoyed. The brands in looking at for my first bottle are Lucid, Mansinthe (from Marilyn Manson), Kubler, Jade or Pacifique. I want my first bottle to be a true absinthe and a good one. I've heard many like Jade and Pacifique but they are expensive and I may not want to go there right now. Lucid is a true absinthe and the first Americans could buy in 2007. Now that it is 2010, I'm sure it it easy to find absinthe locally. If not here is a link. Cheers! :drunk: http://www.drinkupny.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=absinthe&Search.x=0&Search.y=0 Lucid link: http://www.drinklucid.com/
May 10, 201015 yr There's generally sugar involved in the preparation, too, though it can be dissolved by dripping the water over it or lit on fire and thrown in then dowsed with water to extinguish and dilute. I thought at the time that it was the most horrible thing I'd ever drank, but I now think it wasn't diluted enough- it was maybe 1 to 1 instead of 1 to 3-5 parts water, which is what it should be.
May 10, 201015 yr I had some several years ago in CA at a friend's house. Not much to my liking. Certainly no hallucinations, but we didn't drink very much of it. While the comment is old now, I can't believe KJP never heard of absinthe before this post, wow! KJP, I consider you fairly well-read and it's not an uncommon reference, I'm surprise you never bumped up against it.
May 10, 201015 yr What brand did you have X? I don't remember. This was 9-10 years ago. Some Czech or Eastern European stuff, I think. It wasn't one of the trendy newer labels that sound like a bad dance club.
May 10, 201015 yr I had some several years ago in CA at a friend's house. Not much to my liking. Certainly no hallucinations, but we didn't drink very much of it. While the comment is old now, I can't believe KJP never heard of absinthe before this post, wow! KJP, I consider you fairly well-read and it's not an uncommon reference, I'm surprise you never bumped up against it. Well, don't make the old codger feel too bad. Up until 15 minutes ago, I'd never heard of it either.
May 10, 201015 yr I had some several years ago in CA at a friend's house. Not much to my liking. Certainly no hallucinations, but we didn't drink very much of it. While the comment is old now, I can't believe KJP never heard of absinthe before this post, wow! KJP, I consider you fairly well-read and it's not an uncommon reference, I'm surprise you never bumped up against it. Well, don't make the old codger feel too bad. Up until 15 minutes ago, I'd never heard of it either. +1
May 10, 201015 yr SERIOUSLY? Wow you guys, I'm just really surprised. It's just not that exotic. I just thought it was a more normal part of regular vernacular.
May 10, 201015 yr Sounds too arsty fartsy for the circles I ran in. I imagine those drawn to absynthe were art history / literature majors, into lounging around on their velvet couches discussing the Proust they just read in class that morning. My circle of influence back then was more inspired by stone washed denim, hair metal, the "high five and WHOOO!" and wondering why more chicks weren't at our parties* *In the years since I've learned the answer to that question was threefold 1) we wore stone washed denim leisure suits 2) we did the "high fived WHOOOO" 3) we referred to females as "chicks" Suddenly I'm longing for a Michelob Dry.
May 10, 201015 yr Just a few movies which mention absinthe: Alfie 2004 Bright Young Things 2003 CSI Deceiver 1998 Dracula 1992 Eurotrip 2004 For Whom The Bell Tolls 1943 From Hell 2001 Lust for Life 1956 Madam X 1966 Moulin Rouge 2001 Murder by Numbers 2002 Pretty Baby 1978 Sleepy Hollow 1999 Total Eclipse 1995 Van Helsing 2004 Wilde 1997 XXX 2002
May 10, 201015 yr Sounds too arsty fartsy for the circles I ran in. I imagine those drawn to absynthe were art history / literature majors, into lounging around on their velvet couches discussing the Proust they just read in class that morning. Close, but I don't think my crowd was fartsy, just artsy. I think it would be hard to find a theater major who didn't know every type of alcohol that's out there. And drugs. Artists historically have consumed a lot of both, so maybe that's why it's more familiar to me.
May 10, 201015 yr Sounds too arsty fartsy for the circles I ran in. I imagine those drawn to absynthe were art history / literature majors, into lounging around on their velvet couches discussing the Proust they just read in class that morning. Close, but I don't think my crowd was fartsy, just artsy. I suppose it depends on diet.
May 10, 201015 yr Sounds too arsty fartsy for the circles I ran in. I imagine those drawn to absynthe were art history / literature majors, into lounging around on their velvet couches discussing the Proust they just read in class that morning. My circle of influence back then was more inspired by stone washed denim, hair metal, the "high five and WHOOO!" and wondering why more chicks weren't at our parties* *In the years since I've learned the answer to that question was threefold 1) we wore stone washed denim leisure suits 2) we did the "high fived WHOOOO" 3) we referred to females as "chicks" Suddenly I'm longing for a Michelob Dry.
May 11, 201015 yr Sounds too arsty fartsy for the circles I ran in. I imagine those drawn to absynthe were art history / literature majors, into lounging around on their velvet couches discussing the Proust they just read in class that morning. Also Marilyn Manson fans....I remember reading he was a being a big fan/consumer...
May 11, 201015 yr Is Marilyn Manson really considered artsy fartsy? I don't really see Oscar Wilde or Van Gogh as artsy fartsy either, but maybe I'm too artsy fartsy to see it myself.
May 11, 201015 yr MM fans were not included with the artsy and fartsy crowd, they were in addition to. As far as your second question goes, if you have to ask you probably are.... :)
May 11, 201015 yr MM is absolutely artsy fartsy. His entire image is a construct. I saw that high school yearbook picture. He's a dork that sat down one night and said "I'm going to be a musician, but I can't do it with a mullet. I know, I'll be a gender ambiguous goth vampire. THAT'S edgy. Soooo....what do gender ambiguous goth vampires drink...hmmmm let's check Alta Vista....AHA! There it is...Absynthe! Now I'm an antidisestablishmentarian!" Anyone who works that hard to present an 'anti-establishment' image is no different in my book than the guy who goes to the coffee house with a jaunty beret and snaps at poetry.
May 11, 201015 yr I was talking about his fans that just like scary pictures, man boobs, flashing lights and loud noise. Also two chord songs.... BTW I totally agree that MM is totally a performance artist...
May 11, 201015 yr I was talking about his fans that just like scary pictures, man boobs, flashing lights and loud noise. Also two chord songs.... BTW I totally agree that MM is totally a performance artist... He's a mime that hasn't figured out that he should be quiet.
May 11, 201015 yr I haven't heard anything from him in years. He may have figured it out. Musical talent aside, was his shtick really that different than David Bowie and Alice Cooper? or Dee Snyder?
May 11, 201015 yr No, no and no. Nor was it any different from King Diamond, or GWAR, or the Doodlebops. I'm pretty sure the Doodlebops are into Absynthe too.
May 11, 201015 yr I have had the real thing while in Mexico and the homemade stuff at a friends in Colorado. I agree that it is some nasty stuff. I couldn't stomach enough of either kind to see if it is really a hallucinogen. And in Mexico we even did it the "real way" with the sugar. The sugar helps but it's still nasty.
May 11, 201015 yr I haven't heard anything from him in years. He may have figured it out. Musical talent aside, was his shtick really that different than David Bowie and Alice Cooper? or Dee Snyder? Not to mention the original "shock rocker", Cleveland's own Screamin' Jay Hawkins: Marilyn Manson covered this at some point. So not as good as the original.
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