291207 Thu Dec 12 14:42:32 -0800 2002 50 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1583508 I ran across a company that will import genuine absinthe into the states. Their legal disclaimer is rather vague but suggests that one can buy absinthe in the U.S. for personal consumption - i.e. a bottle or two. Does anyone know if this is actually true? Any thoughts on absinthe in general? Link: http://www.eabsinthe.com Thu Dec 12 14:42:32 -0800 2002 0 BGrey 1 1583510 Absinthe can legally be imported into the country if it doesn't contain wormwood. Thu Dec 12 14:46:30 -0800 2002 1583508 0 JudiAU 2 1583515 But this stuff does have the wormwood. It is real, genuine absinthe. Thu Dec 12 14:57:39 -0800 2002 1583510 0 BGrey 3 1583520 Why would you want to cause yourself permanent brain damage? Thu Dec 12 15:14:57 -0800 2002 1583515 0 ironmom 4 1583531 From the admittedly scant research I've done thus far, it seems to me that wormwood is an unfairly maligned substance. Certainly not setting out to cause myself permanent brain damage, but if I can taste a bit of 19th century France and be no worse for the wear, I'd like to. I imagine the brain damage, etc. ascribed to wormwood was actually more a matter of alcohol poisoning. The stuff is darned strong. But, if I can drink a glass of cask-strength Laphroig without melting my brain, I expect I can handle this. Thu Dec 12 15:33:02 -0800 2002 1583520 0 BGrey 5 1583535 Legal or not, who cares? Go for it! Thu Dec 12 15:44:13 -0800 2002 1583531 0 AlanH 6 1583658 This all seems very silly to me. Why would anyone want to mess around with absinthe -- real or imagined? Oh, sure, artists used to drink it and see all sorts of bizarre things. But at the same time they also used to eat opium, inject cocaine and down laudanum by the pint. Mind you, this was also the time when tuberculosis was romanticised and women dying of "consumption" were considered to look "ethereal." If someone on the internet were claiming that they could legally send hemlock to you, would you be buying it to recreate the romantic times of Socrates? By the way, the key word in the English site's disclaimer, from a legal standpoint, by the way, is "send." It's still illegal to receive. If you want to know what absinthe tasted like, try "Absente," or ouzo, or anis, or go suck on a piece of licorice and have a shot of Everclear. Fri Dec 13 10:53:46 -0800 2002 1583535 0 Kirk 7 1583696 Kirk, I would strongly suggest you don't order any, given your position. Why do you care so much what others want to do? I thing vegetarianism is silly, but I don't jump in to the veggie threads telling people to abandon their wishes. Fri Dec 13 13:12:22 -0800 2002 1583658 0 AlanH 8 1583744 My comment truly wasn't meant to be a criticism of anyone, their tastes, desires or beliefs. If anyone took it that way, I am sorry. Fri Dec 13 14:56:03 -0800 2002 1583696 0 Kirk 7 1583705 Jeez. I just have a healthy curiosity and more than a bit of a kid in me still. If I want to pretend for an evening that I'm a 19th century French poet with a consumptive lady (or gentleman) on my arm, I don't see what harm I'm doing you. Or myself. Fri Dec 13 13:30:05 -0800 2002 1583658 0 BGrey 7 1583718 Kirk, for what it's worth, I think you're right. There's a whole lot of fantasizing going on here and the note of reality you injected broke somebody's bubble. But in the end, all this is harmless fun. None of these people are *ever* going to order this stuff. Fri Dec 13 14:05:16 -0800 2002 1583658 0 Bob Martinez 8 1583732 Fantasizing! The horror! For the record, I've ordered some and will report back (from jail, the asylum or otherwise). Fri Dec 13 14:34:25 -0800 2002 1583718 0 BGrey 9 1583766 Good for you! I admire your courage! My own experience with dangerous drinks consists of a few Everclear episodes. I made the mistake of applying logic to something that went beyond the bounds of science. Three friends and I decided to try the legendary Drink of the Depraved. After examining the bottle closely and reading the warnings ("Contents may explode if exposed to open flame", "Drinking undiluted contents may cause death") I noted that the proof level was 190. Doing a little quick math I decided that since EC was twice as strong as normal liquor all I had to do was double the amount of mixer and all would be well. Numbers can sometimes lie. My friends and I each had 2 drinks and suddenly realized we were entering into uncharted territory. The results were more like a drug episode than any alcohol that I've ever had. Definitely a real surprise to all of us. Anyway, good luck with your absinthe tasting. Fri Dec 13 15:56:50 -0800 2002 1583732 0 Bob Martinez 9 1583845 If you really end up getting absinthe, after you have had your obligatory classic absinthe & sugar cube drink, have an absinthe-champagne cocktail. I did not make this up - it was a cocktail served in Paris back when they served it. Find a dry champagne or a decent sparkling wine [the dry is critical, I have done this cocktail with a mildly sweet sparkling wine and almost keeled over from sugar shock ;-/ ] Pour a glass of champagne then add the absinthe. Start with half a shot, then increase if it isn't to your taste. Enjoy the pretty green tinged bubbly beverage. Then sip away. Its much tastier than straight shots of absinthe or that sugar cube drink. Sat Dec 14 04:13:27 -0800 2002 1583732 0 Rochelle McCune 9 1583865 The link below is an interesting discourse on the sazerac cocktail.. (This website has a lot of interesting info on cocktails in general actually--go to 'previous featured cocktails') And another recipe for 'Absinthe cocktail': 1 oz absinthe 3 dashes Benedictine (which is a French 'herbal cognac' with juniper, myrrh, angelica, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, taa, honey, and much much more..) 2 dashes bitters 1 oz water Shake w/ice & serve up. I bet this is an awesome color! I haven't tried it though--our absinthe experiment was sort of abandoned. Link: http://hotwired.lycos.com/cocktail/99/07/index3a.html Sat Dec 14 12:57:37 -0800 2002 1583732 0 cheyenne 7 1583833 > But at the same time they also used to eat opium, inject cocaine and down laudanum by the pint. I can think of good reasons to do those things besides what great artists did in Paris before I was born! There are good reasons not to shoot up, but Matisse's opinion is irrelevant. Besides which, unlike the subjects of eatin' and drinkin' drugs, that debate has no place in the General Topics thread. Absinthe is legal in Canada, you even can buy it at government liquor stores. I'd suggest that people save their money for real hallucinogens, or tastier liquor. Absinthe is a bad compromise. It's really no big deal. The kind you can buy in British Columbia is the color of Listerine, but not nearly as tasty. I love black licorice, ouzo, and anisette--but this stuff makes me gag. People claim that absinthe has psychedelic effects, but I suspect that the combined effects of acute alcohol intoxication and the placebo effect explain a lot. Thujone is the active ingredient in absinthe. Even high thujone absinthe contains such a low ratio of thujone to ethanol that most people would pass out drunk long before they achieve high enough thujone levels to have any effect. Fri Dec 13 23:07:15 -0800 2002 1583658 0 Lindsay B. 5 1583545 Besides, with the loss of any brain cells you won't care anyway. And you claim that Laphroig didn't melt your brain. To anyone's knowledge is it illegal to BUY or POSSESS absinthe. I think it would be a bit embarassing to tell my fellow cell mates I was in for absinthe possesion. Also, having avoided the slammer so far in my life, I'd like to keep it that way. But this does intrigue me. I missed my chance to try it in Spain. Also, it would be a conversation piece to have in my home bar ... that sounds better than it is. My home bar is a couple of bottles of booze in the kitchen cabinet. Thu Dec 12 16:37:53 -0800 2002 1583531 0 Stanley Stephan 6 1583550 My worry is more getting it seized by customs and being out a fair amount of cash. I doubt you would ever be prosecuted. Thu Dec 12 17:02:02 -0800 2002 1583545 0 BGrey 7 1583661 Try bringing in a bottle of tincture of paregoric sometime (it's quite available in Spanish pharmacies and used to be legal in the States when I was a kid), and see whether you just get a fine from customs. Fri Dec 13 11:00:50 -0800 2002 1583550 0 Kirk 8 1583702 I brought back two bottles of Absinthe back from my travels through Europe. One from Spain and one from the Czech Republic. Never got stopped. I gave the Hills Brand(Czech) away as a wedding gift. The other bottle I shared with my friends at a local bar. It was pretty good tasting and not exactly like Pernod or Pastis. Those are too heavy on the Black Liquorice end of the spectrum. It'll get you pretty loaded as well. Fri Dec 13 13:24:15 -0800 2002 1583661 0 SLAP 4 1583539 I'm tired of temporary brain damage ? Thu Dec 12 16:01:51 -0800 2002 1583520 0 FatBob 5 1583557 Oh man...this past April, in a village near Montpellier, a French friend grinned and sneaked a quarter-full magnum-size bottle of genuine pre-WWII absinthe out of his closet (he inherited it with the house) and poured us each a slug...with water, and the mandated sugar cube...and it was soooooo delicious. And then...a second shot...and yikes, I made it through half of that one and had to quit. The temporary brain damage was swell. :) Thu Dec 12 17:55:47 -0800 2002 1583539 0 Cristina 3 1583526 Then it is illegal to import, even for "personal use." Thu Dec 12 15:25:00 -0800 2002 1583515 0 JudiAU 1 1583528 Absinthe without wormwood is just another licorice liquor. My understanding is that true absinthe is now indeed legal in this country. And chowhound's Technical Advisor, Pierre Jelenc (a biochemist with PhD from Columbia with particular expertise in matters of food/drink) informs me that wormwood is not toxic in anywhere near the quantities in which it's used in this spirit. The reason those French dudes at turn of last century went nuts on absinthe was because of its staggering alcohol content. ciao Thu Dec 12 15:27:47 -0800 2002 1583508 0 Jim Leff 2 1583533 According to this site that wants my hard-earned cash, it is probably legal to import it from the UK. Their oddly worded disclaimer: It is illegal to sell absinthe in the United States, however the regulations regarding shipping from the UK are complicated to say the least. We currently believe that it is legal to possess, drink and import absinthe for personal consumption (i.e. no more than two bottles), but it is your responsibility to ensure this is the case; we cannot be held responsible for loss of product due to breach of regulations or laws governing import etc. hmmmm.... I may have to risk it. An interesting site anyway. Link: http://www.eabsinthe.com Thu Dec 12 15:38:00 -0800 2002 1583528 0 BGrey 3 1583846 I love the 5cl miniature bottle "stocking stuffer" and the eye absinthe spoon! I think I have to order a bunch. FYI, the other brand (Hills) that they don't ship to the US is not so tasty (its quite harsh) so don't image that you're missing anything. Sat Dec 14 04:20:45 -0800 2002 1583533 0 Rochelle McCune 1 1583534 Well I got very excited when I saw your post, I imediatly loged on to eabsinthe.com to order bottles for all of my friends for christmas, but then I read their delivery page and this is what it says with respect to the US: It is illegal to sell absinthe in the United States, however the regulations regarding shipping from the UK are complicated to say the least. We currently believe that it is legal to possess, drink and import absinthe for personal consumption (i.e. no more than two bottles), but it is your responsibility to ensure this is the case; we cannot be held responsible for loss of product due to breach of regulations or laws governing import etc Thu Dec 12 15:41:30 -0800 2002 1583508 0 rockin-good 2 1583536 But, you'll note on their "testimonials" page, many happy customers all around the states. Hate risking the cash, but..... Thu Dec 12 15:44:17 -0800 2002 1583534 0 BGrey 1 1583552 There is an "absinthe liqueur" that was introduced here in the US during the past year and is stocked at some shops but this is not "real" absinthe, which as I understand is illegal to sell here. I don't know about ordering it but I have brought a bottle on several occasions from Spain and had no trouble at customs.... Thu Dec 12 17:16:15 -0800 2002 1583508 0 erica 1 1583570 If they toss in "The Compleat Works of Percy B. Shelly" and a wad of opium, I'm in. Thu Dec 12 18:52:42 -0800 2002 1583508 0 flavrmeistr 1 1583587 When I was planning my last trip to Europe, I did some poking around on the U.S. Customs Service web site. It turns out that the importation of absinthe is in fact illegal. If you're one of those folks who believe that it's only illegal if you get caught, however, that's your choice. That being said, I have tried absinthe in the past, both some stuff made overseas and one homebrew version. There are a few things you should keep in mind: -The absinthe you're getting now apparently is not the same as the absinthe from the good old days. I've read that the active ingredient (thujone) is present in significantly smaller quantities than in the original formulations. -Do NOT attempt to make your own. Do some poking around on the web and you'll find out why. The homebrew stuff that I had was actually quite good, but the guy who made it was *very* experienced at making booze. -I didn't think it really tasted all that great--very bitter and herbal, and occasionally with a very strong anise flavor. (Bear in mind, I'm somebody who will happily drink green Chartreuse straight at room temperature.) -Yes, it did have interesting effects, and I could see why artists would drink it. I ended up focusing VERY CAREFULLY on visual images. -All in all, it really wasn't worth it. If it were cheap and legal, I'd say yeah, go for it. But since it's illegal and probably expensive (I haven't looked at the web site you reference), I honestly wouldn't bother. -Oh yeah, one last note. You don't say where you're located, but I *think* it's now legal in Canada. So if you're within easy travel distance, you might want to see if you can find it there. (Or you can just go to Europe on your next vacation...) Thu Dec 12 20:28:19 -0800 2002 1583508 0 Karl B 2 1583591 Regarding homemade absinthe: A friend of mine recently decided to try this. He found an reasonable-looking recipe online, soaked the wormwood in the volatiles for x number of days, added the anise, etc., and arrived basically at *The* Nastiest Concoction imaginable. (Although a lovely emerald green.) We all tasted it; his girlfriend was immediately taken back to the days of health care on the commune (i.e., homemade tinctures of staggering variety, ALL of them really gross.) It was excruciatingly bitter, herbal, medicinal, made ya cough, etc. Turns out that you have to then distill it (which in the US is illegal, etc.). Takes all the bitterness out. I guess that part wasn't quite as obvious in the online instructions. Otherwise, he was right on track. Bummer too: we were all set to make sazeracs that night. Thu Dec 12 20:56:48 -0800 2002 1583587 0 cheyenne 3 1583604 It is legal to distill liquor. You just can't sell it. You're allowed 10 gallons per household per year. Thu Dec 12 22:00:08 -0800 2002 1583591 0 flavrmeistr 4 1583633 It is legal to brew beer or make wine for your own use. It is not legal to distill beverages. Fri Dec 13 08:26:03 -0800 2002 1583604 0 ironmom 5 1583652 The legality of home distilling should vary from state to state, so you may both be right. Fri Dec 13 10:24:49 -0800 2002 1583633 0 kjhart 6 1583666 Distilling is strictly controlled by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. It's not up to the individual states. Fri Dec 13 11:25:42 -0800 2002 1583652 0 ironmom 7 1583708 Ah yes, the "Revenuers" strike again. My mistake. Fri Dec 13 13:37:21 -0800 2002 1583666 0 kjhart 5 1583828 Ironmom is correct. It is legal to distill water (if the total capacity of the still is less than 1 gallon), but you cannot distill *anything* containing alcohol for any purpose without a special permit. See the ATF FAQ linked below (Items S4, S5, and G10 are relevant). To my knowledge, the only country where it is legal is New Zealand. Link: http://www.atf.treas.gov/alcohol/info/faq/ Fri Dec 13 21:56:18 -0800 2002 1583633 0 BigLizard 6 1583849 Oh sure! Once a mom, always a mom. Next she'll be telling us we can't grow our own reefer. Sat Dec 14 08:35:15 -0800 2002 1583828 0 flavrmeistr 3 1583694 It's probably perfect by now. Bring it over to the house and we'll run off a batch. Fri Dec 13 13:08:28 -0800 2002 1583591 0 flavrmeistr 1 1583600 of course all you absinthe fans have seen this website right? if not you must check it out. make sure to turn the sound on. the weird shorts are as addicting as absinthe itself and i love the voices. Link: http://www.skumpy.com/eha/ Thu Dec 12 21:30:37 -0800 2002 1583508 0 mrnyc 2 1583747 Oh, those shorts are absolute perfection! thank you! (can't shake the Helium voice saying: In H E L L ! ) Fri Dec 13 14:57:33 -0800 2002 1583600 0 Jackie Avery 1 1583609 I tried "real" absineth while in Prague. Spain and Czech Republic have the wormwood version. I was surprised it didn't taste nearly as bad as some articles had stated. It had a more herbal/medicinal flavor - actually not bad. However, I did not see the green fairy or Kile Minogue dressed up as the green fairy - and that was after having 3 glasses of it in one sitting. Thu Dec 12 23:03:00 -0800 2002 1583508 0 mark 1 1583660 Ever since Van Gogh died, I have no one to talk to. C'est tres terrible. Henri Fri Dec 13 10:58:57 -0800 2002 1583508 0 Toulouse-Lautrec 1 1583715 There are two types of wormwood, one legal(southern wormwood, or Artemisia vulgaris) and one (Artemisia absinthium) illegal. The Absinthe available in the US has the legal variety, which is much lower in Thujone - the active ingredient. Many experts now attribute much of the 'insanity' previously blamed on absinthe to rampant and untreated syphilis! Incidentally, the word Vermouth is German for wormwood. Fri Dec 13 13:49:26 -0800 2002 1583508 0 dewyman 1 1583735 A friend ordered the real deal a few months back from Spain ... Not sure of what company he used. Took a while to get it ... we were pretty sure it had been caught in customs, but then it arrived! Definitely ordered it pretty much expecting to lose the $$, and hoping that it would eventually show up. Wouldn't have been shocked if it had never arrived. I think he paid approximately $90 for it. Why did we do it? Mainly a curiousity factor. It is a gorgeous drink. Beautiful green, and the clouding when mixed with water is very cool. Link below to the TYPE of absinthe he purchased, however I am not sure of the company. Link: http://www.spiritscorner.com/scriptsing/buscar.asp?K=Detalle&IdProducto=2782 Fri Dec 13 14:45:46 -0800 2002 1583508 0 jjm 1 1584416 Mine just arrived!!!!! Fri Dec 20 11:56:48 -0800 2002 1583508 0 rockin-good 2 1584421 When you come to again, let us know how it was. Fri Dec 20 12:25:33 -0800 2002 1584416 0 ironmom 2 1584454 Excellent! I'm expecting mine on Monday. We will have to compare notes.... Fri Dec 20 20:53:57 -0800 2002 1584416 0 BGrey 3 1585190 On the positive side: it was delicious!!!! On the questionable side: what happened after we left the restaurant? I seem to be drawing a blank… Moderation is key!!! Mon Dec 30 15:27:51 -0800 2002 1584454 0 rockin-good 4 1585319 Mine never arrived because I stupidly tried to send it as a gift to my mother in Georgia. Forgot that you can't even send liquor-flavored candies through the mail in Georgia. Ack! Did you do the whole sugar cube business? Tue Dec 31 15:49:26 -0800 2002 1585190 0 BGrey