Absinthe in France: Legalising the 'green fairy'

[Maggy J]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13159863

The green, anise-flavoured spirit is associated with many of the country's most famous and esteemed artists and writers - like Edouard Manet, Edgar Degas, Henri de Toulouse Lautrec and Paul Verlaine - but it was banned in France in 1915 for its alleged harmful effect.

Later, the rule was relaxed, allowing the drink to be sold as long as it was not called absinthe, and instead labelled "a spirit made from extracts of the absinthe plant".
Now the ban is expected to be lifted entirely any day now, after the French Senate voted in favour of the move in mid-April.

Why now I wondered?

Absinthe was first made, not in France, but just across the border in the Val-de-Travers region of Switzerland.
And a Swiss judge recently approved a request to give the region exclusive rights to produce it. For the moment, this ruling applies only in Switzerland, which is not a member of the European Union - and so has limited impact.
But because of Switzerland's close ties with the EU, it is possible that the Swiss could seek to extend the ruling across the block.
Producers say that this is what has galvanised the French government to lift the ban now.

Never tried it myself..is it as bad as it's errr painted?

[Stephen]

Yes it is, I've tried a 73% one and it's lethal!

[DaiNasty]

The original Absinthe was made with the 'wormwood' herb. This left the resulting spirit with a slighty hallucinatory effect due to small quantities of a by-product chemical called thujone.

So yes, I guess it was pretty dangerous stuff, being in the region of 100-proof spirit as well.

[Derek]

I always found it pretty dull and foul whenever I tried it.

[Stephen]

Agree with Derek it's pretty fouls taste wise but that's probably due to the really strong aniseed taste from it. I think the traditional way to drink it is to pour it over a spoon with a sugar cube or something,

[DaiNasty]

Originally Posted by Stephen

Agree with Derek it's pretty fouls taste wise but that's probably due to the really strong aniseed taste from it. I think the traditional way to drink it is to pour it over a spoon with a sugar cube or something,

Like Anisette and Pernod it's normally taken diluted with water.

[Taf]

Taken properly using sugar on an absinthe spoon it loses a lot of it's alcoholic content... but I prefer Ricard.

The Parisienne form is quite nice, but stay well clear of the Bohemian (Czech) version if you don't like projectile vomitting immediately after drinking... it's foul!!!!!.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Taf

Taken properly using sugar on an absinthe spoon it loses a lot of it's alcoholic content... but I prefer Ricard.

The Parisienne form is quite nice, but stay well clear of the Bohemian (Czech) version if you don't like projectile vomitting immediately after drinking... it's foul!!!!!.

20 years ago I tried the Czech stuff, I didn't vomit but I swear for weeks after I could hear colours

Interestingly Pernod was initially exactly the same as absinthe but without the 'additives'.

[Lord Nikon]

just remember, Absinthe makes the farts grow stronger.

[joglynne]

Had a few drops too many of home brewed Absenta in Spain in the early 60s and have had an absolute loathing of anything that smells or tastes of aniseed ever since. I can't remember having any hallucinations but I do remember asking someone to put me out of my misery the next day.

Ah the joys of a misspent youth.

[Maggy J]

I used to have a wormwood bush.Interesting scent..not at all like aniseed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia_absinthium

[cookie_365]

I've had a single shot mixed pastis style with room temperature water, and it was OK if pretty strong, but just like Taf I'd rather have a Ricard.

Imagine having several cheap Sambuccas followed by a punch in the head

[Hom3r]

Originally Posted by DaiNasty

The original Absinthe was made with the 'wormwood' herb. This left the resulting spirit with a slighty hallucinatory effect due to small quantities of a by-product chemical called thujone.

So yes, I guess it was pretty dangerous stuff, being in the region of 100-proof spirit as well.

Its well stronger than than

200 proof is pure alcohol, I have a bottle of 100 proof vodka which is 50% alcohol.

I would guess Absinithe is around 140-150% proof

[Wayfair]

Maggy J I used to have a wormwood bush.Interesting scent..not at all like aniseed.

Errrmmm... nice

[Maggy J]

Originally Posted by Wayfair

Errrmmm... nice

Actually it's a very attractive plant with silvery leaves.