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NitroXAdministrator
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Absinthe
      #97683 - 26/02/08 11:35 AM

Hemingway wrote about the "Green Fairy" Absinthe. Van Gogh, Picasso, Manet, Gauguin, Lautrec also all consumed it.

A quote:

Quote:

Absinth,the opaque emerald green liqueur known as the Green Fairy was the drink of favour for Bohemian poets, artists and musicians in 19th Century Europe. Its primary ingredient, an herb known as wormwood was perceived to have almost magical qualities.

To dance with The Fairy was to open the mind. Poets wrote odes to it, musicians sang to it, and lots more drank it. Toulouse Lautrec carried absinth in his hollowed cane. The most noted absintheur of all, Vincent Van Gough cut off his own ear after drinking bottles of it. The Fairy could be a diva or devil, depending on circumstances and the amount consumed.

"The first stage is like ordinary drinking, the second is when you begin to see monstrous cruel things, but if you persevere you will enter upon the third stage where you see things that you want to see, wonderful curious things." -Oscar Wilde on Absinth.



Has anyone here tried it and did it had any of the 'fairy' effects?

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9.3x57
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Re: Absinthe [Re: NitroX]
      #97690 - 26/02/08 01:37 PM

I'd be curious to know, too.

Recently saw a TV show "Modern Marvels" on distilleries that had a segment on it.

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What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

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DarylS
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Re: Absinthe [Re: 9.3x57]
      #97698 - 26/02/08 04:02 PM

Around 80% alcohol or a bit more - pretty snappy stuff. They have it at all the local liquor stores. VERY expensive - too much for me to try.

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Daryl


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gryphon
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Re: Absinthe [Re: DarylS]
      #97707 - 26/02/08 05:30 PM

The Wormwood is the key to the hallucinations,i will try for the taste but a bit wary of having a session.

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Absinthe [Re: gryphon]
      #97710 - 26/02/08 05:57 PM

I bought a bottle a while ago, 60% alcohol, an original Czech recipe. Mixed with water and sugar. Not different from normal alcohol but I don't plan to drink to excess.

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Paul
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Re: Absinthe [Re: NitroX]
      #97712 - 26/02/08 06:24 PM

I check out different brands of this stuff on occasion because I'm allergic to beer and get bored with standard spirits. But without getting a skin full I can't see what the big deal is. I still can't work out why you'd put sugar in it, especially the French ones.

I've seen it in a couple of areas known for their alternative lifestyles and wonder if the 'boys' get something extra out of it that ordinary mortals don't.

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9.3x57
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Re: Absinthe [Re: Paul]
      #97718 - 27/02/08 12:44 AM

Nitro:

The TV show I watched was quite interesting. Evidently for many years the stuff was banned in many countries and the USA. In fact, I think it still is in the USA?

According to the show, some of the reputation for hallucinations and the "myth" surrounding the drink was due to its meteoric rise in popularity, particularly in France in the late 19th century. As with many such market occurences, this popularity spurred the mass production of cheap, low-end "absinthe", or actually copies thereof as many distillers tried to get a piece of the growing pie.

Some of these cheap imitations contained arsenic and other toxic chemicals added as coloring agents and were in fact quite dangerous to drink. Recipes of even the legitimate makers were typically considered trade secrets and jealously protected, and this "secrecy" trumped production standards surrounding the drink. In other words, since the recipes were "secret", it was difficult to establish quality standards and any old basement bandit booze bottler could churn out any ole licorice-flavored, funky green, methanol-based, lamp oil and call it "absinthe". Things got so bad that the drink itself became synonymous with antisocial behavior; violence, crime, Rump-Ranging & Butt-Bashing, Bank robbing and the like. This, just at a time when anti-alcohol Prohibition movements were gathering steam. Indeed, the toxic absinthe knockoffs helped fuel that fire.

According to the show, properly-made absinthe is in essence {no pun intended...} no more or less hazardous to drink than...whiskey or rum or brandy... Of course, all spirits have their downside to be sure!!

We have to remember that before the Industrial Revolution, spirit-making was relatively inefficient, time-consuming and expensive. With the advent of the IR and economies of scale, spirits became cheaper and more available particularly to the urban masses and served as self-medication at a time when painkillers, etc were rare indeed {particularly in the new urban living that separated many people from traditional, natural meds}. And of course, freewheel drinkin-it-like water spirit-sucking is without a doubt a bad thing for all involved.

I am no tetotaller but I do thank the Prohibition and many church movements for a few things in that regard, one of which was assistance in building a culture of moderation involving drink.

Late-19th century "absinthe" was, evidently, something of a catchall term for drinks that led to really destructive behavior.

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AspenHill
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Re: Absinthe [Re: 9.3x57]
      #97721 - 27/02/08 01:07 AM

You do not need to drink anything to see fairies where I live.

--------------------
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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Absinthe [Re: AspenHill]
      #97754 - 27/02/08 02:16 PM

Quote:

You do not need to drink anything to see fairies where I live.



But are they green?

The green fairy image I believe comes from the practice of soaking a sugar cube in Absinthe and then setting it alight ie the flame is the green fairy. Later adding the carmelised liquid to the absinthe and water.

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John aka NitroX

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AspenHill
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Re: Absinthe [Re: NitroX]
      #97784 - 27/02/08 10:19 PM

I am sure the fairies here would love for you to light their fire too!

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Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Absinthe [Re: AspenHill]
      #97845 - 28/02/08 12:48 PM

Don't you wish for the days before our language was re-written into the gutter. When a fairy was a mythical little elfin creature of the forest. When gay was being happy or a girl's name!

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Absinthe [Re: Paul]
      #97847 - 28/02/08 12:53 PM

Quote:

I've seen it in a couple of areas known for their alternative lifestyles ...



Seems that is part of the culture here too as one of the companies major sponsors/advertisers is a number of art and burlesque reviews and houses.


***

There is reportedly differences in modern Absinthe too. It is still reportedly banned in most of the EU. The Absinth I purchased was made in the Czech Republic where it reportedly has never been banned and always has contained thujone in significant quantities.

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Absinthe [Re: 9.3x57]
      #97849 - 28/02/08 01:06 PM

Quote:

I am no tetotaller but I do thank the Prohibition and many church movements for a few things in that regard, one of which was assistance in building a culture of moderation involving drink.



Moderation is fine and the way to go, but I find the whole prohibition movement and past prohibition laws (in the USA) really quite ridiculous and totally in-effective.

It is officially illegal to serve alcohol to minors (less than 18) in Australia. Yet in Europe often in countries with a wine culture children brought up drinking small amounts of wine with meals from as young as five. Wine and alcohol is not a mystery or something forbidden.

Guess where the incidence of binge drinking occurs, and it is not in the cultures which start kids off responsibly at relatively young ages.

The Aussie wine industry has always marketed wine strongly associated with food and to drink responsibly. Also wine (and beer) in some ways are "food". A person drinking a glass or so of wine especially red wine, or a beer a day is generally healthier and less likely to have heart problems than someone whom totally abstains.

Hopefully that makes some of the NE members happy!

--------------------
John aka NitroX

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tinker
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Re: Absinthe [Re: NitroX]
      #97856 - 28/02/08 02:35 PM

John-

A few years ago I had some business in Amsterdam, spent a few weeks there and made some good friends in somewhat underground places while I was there. From a solid source who'd definitely know the difference between an impostor and the genuine article, I got the chance to spend a night with the Green Fairy.

No doubt, on proper snot you'll gain a very unique new perspective.

Here in Oakland there's been a bit of a Speakeasy revival.
For the past few years there have been quite a few underground efforts turning out proper absinthe.
Wormwood is definitely special stuff. The laboratory I work with has done some remarkable things via synthetic biological modeling on wormwood (not booze though)
Recently a distillery in a nearby town was given the up-and-up from the feds to produce absinthe, this is recent news from a few weeks ago.
It's now legal to make it here in the states!




--Tinker

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9.3x57
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Re: Absinthe [Re: NitroX]
      #97893 - 29/02/08 01:10 AM

[quoteModeration is fine and the way to go, but I find the whole prohibition movement and past prohibition laws (in the USA) really quite ridiculous and totally in-effective.



John, I agree with you 100%. You really nailed it.

My reference was to the total effect.

Prohibition didn't arise out of a vacuum. Prior to Prohibition, the mass production of alcohol in combination with the total breakdown in social structure created a national disaster for many countries. Most people think in terms of the "good ole days" and that our social ills today stand stark against the backdrop of historical "peace and prosperity" that existed in the "1800's". Nothing could be farther from the truth. During the Industrial Revolution, as mass influx to cities, the development of a worker class and hours worked soared, so did the destruction of many cultural norms.

Prohibition addressed certain problems arising all over the developing Western world; witness the fact that the USA was not the only country to institute such laws. Several Scandinavian countries did also, with, I believe, Finland being the most recent country to relax their extensive Prohibition laws.

My point was that Prohibition, tho as you say, ridiculous in many ways, put a point on the need to address these issues. Prohibition wouldn't have garnered the support it did in democracies if many didn't see the problems.

Also as you so rightly state, many of the "wine countries" didn't see the same level of trouble with alcohol as occured in the "beer and spirit countries". And, wherever the Eucharist was performed with wine, resistance to total Prohition was made by the churches {Roman Catholic, Orthodox, some Lutheran, etc}. Indeed, this was a point of contention between some of us Lutherans and other Protestants during the Prohibition years.

Anyway, from a young age, my kids were able to tell the difference between a Merlot and a Cabernet, and interestingly JUST AS YOU SAY, the "forbidden" nature of alcohol hasn't been an enticement for them. In fact, though they have utterly no qualms with drinking, idiotic behavior as a result of it is no attraction to them.

Funny conundrum arose at school one day some years ago...

The school has a "No Tolerance" alcohol policy and doesn't allow school sports participation unless a form is signed by the student promising not to use it {a silly rule for all the obvious reasons}. Anyway, one of my daughters who was particularly concerned with the truth of it all refused to sign and went to the school administration and told them she wanted to play sports but as a Christian, she couldn't sign such a thing since she "used alcohol" at the celebration of the Lord's Supper at Church and wouldn't lie and didn't want give up for track and field either. The administration stumbled for a moment and then caved. Evidently no kid had ever shocked them with this sort of honesty before!

Yes, plus one for God's grace, red wine and a little kid!

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Bramble
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Re: Absinthe [Re: NitroX]
      #97908 - 29/02/08 04:52 AM

[quote Hopefully that makes some of the NE members happy!



Hic !

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JabaliHunter
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Re: Absinthe [Re: 9.3x57]
      #97913 - 29/02/08 05:01 AM

It was banned in France around 1912-14 on the pretext that the stuff was making people go blind (due to the wormwood and high alcohol content)! However, I don't think there was ever any proof of this. more likely, it was vilified by the prohibitionists and social-conservatives, as well as the French wine makers, as it was being consumed in such large quantities that they feared the competition!

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Taos
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Re: Absinthe [Re: JabaliHunter]
      #100165 - 24/03/08 06:52 PM

It seems that I heard the same stuff about LSD in the 60's and 70's. It freed your mind, blah blah blah. I don't want to see ANYTHING I saw when I did that shit again! thank you very much. by the by when will the U.S Absinthe hit the marketplace???

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tarawa
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Re: Absinthe [Re: Taos]
      #103308 - 23/04/08 08:57 PM

My son visited the Czech Republic a few times and returned home with some Absinthe each time. There are some places that specialize in the serving of it, using sugar, ice and a special spoon. Almost cult-like over in Prague. There is a very good show on cable called "The Thirsty Traveler" that dedicated a whole show on the stuff still being used in France and Eastern Europe.

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apr1775
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Re: Absinthe [Re: tarawa]
      #116680 - 11/10/08 10:05 PM

I have a bottle of the Czech stuff in the basement; saving it for a special occasion, whenever that may be. The state owned liquor store was selling it.

Another health issue is still construction. Here in the states there was a problem with people getting lead poisoning from drinking moonshine. Some of the illegal distillers would do things like use an old car radiator for a condenser which had lead solder joints and glycol residue.

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Ripp
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Re: Absinthe [Re: Taos]
      #116695 - 12/10/08 02:23 AM

Quote:

It seems that I heard the same stuff about LSD in the 60's and 70's. It freed your mind, blah blah blah. I don't want to see ANYTHING I saw when I did that shit again! thank you very much. by the by when will the U.S Absinthe hit the marketplace???




Man, I hear you there---but you did remind me of free and "easy" times...What an era that was...suprised I actually lived through that...good times....


Rumor has it you can obtain it now in the US--I will investigate---havn't "freed" my mind in quite some time...


Ripp

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450_366
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Re: Absinthe [Re: Ripp]
      #116719 - 12/10/08 08:29 AM

They had some high concentration of Artemisia absinthium and some of them containes a toxic that could cause blindnes,cramps and loss of memory. They did also think that the toxic had some qualities that THS has, but this has later been been proven not. Anyway the newer (later that 1900)
doesent contain any of the toxics.

Also some history http://www.oxygenee.com/

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Andreas

"Yeas it kicks like a mule he said, but always remember that its much worse standing on the other end"

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Absinthe [Re: 450_366]
      #116744 - 12/10/08 05:33 PM

It appears the Czech "Absinth" stuff sold her is not true Absinthe, but more a wormwood flavoured snapps from a review I read today.

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John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
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Paul
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Re: Absinthe [Re: NitroX]
      #116844 - 13/10/08 05:13 PM

Some of them smell more like Parfait Amour or toilet cleaner than absinth, and they don't louche.

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thorshammer
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Re: Absinthe [Re: Paul]
      #122803 - 01/01/09 08:35 PM

As someone who has tasted more then 30 different absinthes from all over the world I will put the myth to rest no it does not make you see a fairy the ones In the US are void of a key ingredient Grande wormwood its high proof herbal liquor comes in many different colors green of course red blue clear and black the absinthe experience is one not to be missed it seems to put you in a state of awareness and relaxation unlike any alchol i have ever comsumed If going to try any brand in the US i strongly suggest Lucid a french style which louches a milky white or kubler a swiss style which louches a bluish slivery white the louche does not happen in all absinthe depends how much anese is in the blend

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