Absinthe where can you buy

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Absinthe has been known by a number of nicknames over the years, including "the green fairy" due to its reputed hallucinogenic effects. In reality, you are not going to see things if you drink this spirit responsibly, of course.

But you will open yourself up to a complex and interesting liqueur that can be enjoyed in a variety of cocktails. The traditional way to drink absinthe is to place a spoon with a sugar cube on top of a glass, then gently pour water over it to dilute the spirit and open up the palate. Absinthe is flavored predominantly with anise, fennel, and wormwood, and is usually bottled at a very high proof.

For many years, real absinthe was banned in the U. Here are some of the best absinthes to drink now, according to some bar industry experts. Pernod is better known for its anise-flavored pastis, but the brand does make real absinthe as well. Read Next: The Best Cognacs. It balances well in cocktails without taking over. Absente may not be the lowest ABV absinthe at proof, but its alcohol content is manageable and the blend of botanicals makes it ideal for newcomers to the category.

Wormwood, mugwort, anise, peppermint and lemon balm are just some of the ingredients in this recipe that dates back to the 19th century, according to the brand. This widely available absinthe also contains the infamous hallucinogen thujone, but its reputation has been greatly exaggerated and there is only a small amount used.

Read Next: The Best Whiskeys. Absinthe Alembic is double distilled from wine in small batches, non-chill filtered and has no additional flavors or colors. Some of the botanicals used include artemisia absinthium, anise and fennel.

About Absinthe. From the latin, Artemisia Absinthium. No other drink has managed to acquire such a fearsome reputation. In , Dr Pierre Ordinaire wrote a recipe for a drink containing a variety of essential oils, including an extract of wormwood Artemisia absinthium.

There have been various studies of this peculiar substance over the years, and it is generally agreed that it does possess certain psychoactive qualities. Whether these manifest themselves after one sip of the drink or not until one has become a hardened enthusiast is somewhat contentious, but it is safe to say that the intoxication the drink encourages is certainly unusual. Pernod Opens First Absinthe Distillery.

Henri-Louis Pernod was the first to open an Absinthe distillery in Switzerland and then moved production to Pontarlier, France in In these early days was the l'heure verte the green hour where one or two absinthe were drunk as an aperitif and was said to be both an aphrodisiac and a narcotic. Authors and artists were proponents for inducing creativity. It's popularity soared from onward through advertisements touting it as being healthy.

It was exported to New Orleans and reached the same acclaim in the United States. It was one of the few drinks considered ladylike and women freely enjoyed it in the coffee houses where it was most commonly served. Victorian era men however, found women freely enjoying absinthe distasteful! It includes a number of herbs, including sage and fennel, in addition to the presence of grand wormwood.

George's Absinthe Verte is going to be a little sweeter than your average Absinthe, in part due to the fact that its base liquor is brandy. The spirit is made in the United States one of the few Absinthes that are and includes mint, lemon balm, basil, and other herbs in addition to wormwood.

This Italian one is going to have a really strong anise flavor.