It's not a drug, it's a drink (Absinthe)

Member Name: bosharpe

Product:	Absinthe
Date:	25/08/09 (334 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Refreshing and green

Disadvantages: Don't fall for the cheap stuff out there. Other than that, none

Absinthe is spirit known for its distinct herbal flavours . It is derived from 3 main herbs- Anise (strongest flavour), Fennel and Wormwood. Its historically known to be consumed by poets and artists sure as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and more recently Johnny Depp on the set of Sleepy Hollow.

A common myth attached to it is that it will make you trip due to a psychoactive ingredient "Thujone" in wormwood.
Very little Thujone actually makes it into Absinthe and the chemical (also found in Sage) can be poisonous in high quantities. Absinthe is more likely to make you horribly drunk albeit a more clear-minded, lucid drunkenness than see green fairies.

It's best to avoid inauthentic Czech "Absinth" or sites that boast levels of Thujone. These pseudo-brands of absinthe have a substandard quality and no "louche" or opalescence when mixed with sugar/water (mainly due to lack of oils used in traditional absinthe). Another misconception is that the Bohemiam drinking ritual (Popularised by films such as Moulin Rouge and From Hell) is an age old and superior way of mixing in the sugar- to caramelise it by burning. But this is a more recent trend. It's much nicer to place a sugar cube on a perforated "Absinthe spoon", rest it above your glass and drip ice water onto it. Then watch the nebula of oils mix and separate. Mmmm ssnice. The sugar use is down to personal taste and since many cheaper brands of absinthe come sweetened it may not be necessary. Usually due to its high alcohol percentage it is mixed 1 part absinthe and 3-5 parts water for a less harsh swallow.

High-quality bottles of absinthe can be bought on line and can price as expensive as £60 for a 77cl bottle of Jade PF 1901 (popular brand) but if you're looking to sample its unusual flavour then there are lower scale (cheap) bottles available such as the famous Le Fee. La Fee can be purchased from Tesco for about £18.

Myself I find the aroma and taste to be quite refreshing and I would recommend it for an exclusive experience.

Summary: Distinct and full of flavours