Does anybody know about this stuff? I'm not even sure how to spell it. Which brand is considered the best? Does it really mess you up?

The local shop near me carries a brand called "Hills" from the Czech Republic. It's selling for about $80. Any knowledge?

Its spelled Absinthe. There is alot of information about absinthe available out there, but its hard to determine what is true info. Absinthe is illegal in the U.S., along with alot of other countries. Absinthe is anise flavored, and very strong depending on the brand. Like Cuban cigars, there are alot of fakes out there. It is usually about 70% alcohol. Alot of people think that its drug-like, which is wrong. Absinthe's constituents consist of a very delicate balance of various herbs, most of which contribute in one way or another to its intoxicating effects. Most people think its the wormwood alone that makes it different from other alcohol, this is not the case. The effect on the individual is subjective, and can best be described as a kind of heightened clarity of mind and vision, mildly ponderous and sparkling, and warmed by the effect of the alcohol. This seems to wear off after 20 or 30 minutes, leaving one with an alcohol buzz. 2-3 glasses seems to do the trick. More than that, depending on the proof of the alcohol, will just make you very drunk. for more into, check out this site.
http://www.feeverte.net/index.html

Also, Absinthe is illegal to import to the US, sell in the US. But it's not illegal to have it in your possesion for personal consumption.

The Czech's do produce Absinthe. The stuff they make tastes like mule piss. But if you are seeing it in your local store, most likely it is not real.

Segarra, francois guy, and un emile are some of the better brands that are quite enjoyable. These all contain thujone, the active ingredient of wormwood. The amount of thujone allowed depends on the alcohol content. The higher the alcohol, the more thujone is permitted.

I think Absinth is quite good when you know how to make it correctly. You should dip a sugar cube in to the absinth and light it up in spoon. When the sugar cube starts to "bubble" it is time to sink it in the booze and stirr it good.

I have tasted many different brands and I can tell when you are drinking liquor that has 70%-80% alcohol content, after few you are surely feeling toxicated. But there is nothing more than etanol that is messing your head.

The myth began from Vincent van Gogh whos favourite drink was absinth. And we know the story about hes ear...

I dont know if they added wormwood in absinth in van Goghs time, but Im sure that they dont do this nowadays.

They did use wormwood back in Van Gogh's time. Actually, they used a crapload of it. Those levels are not legal anymore, which may or may not be the reason why you don't get much from Absinthe anymore.

Supposedly the whole thing is a myth, but it's hard to tell since the levels of thujone allowed by law are much lower than it used to be and the amount of alcohol you have to intake to also intake alot of thujone will probably make you sick or drunk before you feel any kind of high.

The genuine Czech stuff is the worst tasting, but it has some of the highest levels of thujone because the govt regulation there is poor. So supposedly you get a good feeling from that stuff.

Wormwood provides the flavor and thujone. There are alot of genuine brands that still make it the old way (only with much less thujone).

In 1977 I drank in Sitges, Spain, I drank the absithe brand called Absenta 69.
I drank half the bottle at the camp ground bar.
Next morning people were calling me absenta because I had been so entertaining the night before. The bar did not charge me for the drinks I had since I was the entertainment. My brother told me I had been an obnoxious swine who tried to seduce a few females in a slovenly manner.

I think Spain is like France now and absinthe is not legal.

Perhaps you can still by it in Andorra.

Whether its myth or true apparently absinthe contains essence of worm wood. This essence ncreases the toxic effects of the alcohol. A bigger buzz and apparently a greater risk of long term deliterious effects to your mental & physical health.

You may have seen Toulouse Lautrec's famous painting of the absinthe drinkers.
Apparently the artist crowd then tempered their absinthe with haschisch.

I'll pass on the Thujone. I got my fill of hallucinagenics in high school off psilocybin. USed to eat mushrooms with everything. Not my cup of tea anymore.

I just drank the Absenta 69 like I used to drink Ouzo, Ricard or Pernod.
1/3 each ice, water and booze. Its very refreshing!

You like ouzo quebecmike? I have a nice collection of ouzo from over the years. Anyone who likes ouzo needs to check out barbayanni. It is the best ouzo there is period. I am working on getting a case for my wedding. Plomari is also pretty good and easier to find.

I thought it was illegal for resale inside the US, but if you bought from a business out of the US it was legal.

I've seen customs documents European countries that specifically target absinthe. I guess the reason was that citizens of a country where it was banned simply brought it back from a neigbouring country where it was not banned.

However the European Union (EU)has the mandate and the clout to force the harmonization of individual country's laws.

absinthe


BTW. This stuff and the others (Absenta, Pastice, Berger, Ricard, Ouzo, Pernod)I mentioned basically all taste like licorice.

It's legal in the UK, and you do get some very interesting effects if drunk properly and not over done. I have a bottle of it somewhere, but it's not cheap.

Not something I personally rave over.

Go to Fee Verte

There is ALOT of information on there. I enjoy drinking absinthe and is one of my usuals. My GF doesnt like the taste which means more for me! Oh, and if you think some CIGAR aficionados were snobish somethimes, wait till you talk to some absinthe ones...DAMN! If you got any more ?s, PM me.

Northend has an interesting point about absinthe's legality. It seems that the EU has legalized absinthe and established its standards in 1981 or 1988 or something.

As far as I see it must be 1988. I was in Spain in 86 and no absinthe.

Try yahooing EU directives absinthe
These are not official sites.
I looked in the EU.int site and could not find this.