Buying Absinthe online.

[WRman]

they have good absinth...try it www.piergabriel.ca

From my weak French, I surmise that it is a restaurant in Montreal. They can't sell the real absinthe (with the wormwood); it's illegal to do so in Canada. As the previous post said, the ersatz absinth has very little to do with the real thing. (I think it's easier to mistake Tennessee whiskey for Scotch than Hills Absinth for the real thing.) Then, if you have never tasted the real thing, you might not know the difference. Even very poor absinthe has an unmistakable flavor.

Among other things, the wormwood adds a decided bitter taste that tickles the tongue in places that you can't do any other way. As one lovely date said, "It makes love to your tongue."

 

[WRman]

A good rule of thumb to use when buying/looking for Absynthe is if the brand you are looking at promotes/directs or in any way encourages you to burn it It's not the real thing.

Real Absynthe should NEVER be burnt.

You and I would differ on that.

 

[spin]

You and I would differ on that.

That is definintly allowed my friend - to each their own

 

[Techman]

they have good absinth...try it www.piergabriel.ca

You are posting this link in every thread that has even a slight connection with food or drink lately. You handle is proving to be quite accurate as you are exposing yourself to be a naked shill.

spin, if you look up Absinthe on just about any web site they all describe the proper way to consume it and it does involve flame. Not in the same way as Sambuca for instance, but the green fairy does need to get her wings singed.

 

[spin]

You are posting this link in every thread that has even a slight connection with food or drink lately. You handle is proving to be quite accurate as you are exposing yourself to be a naked shill.

spin, if you look up Absinthe on just about any web site they all describe the proper way to consume it and it does involve flame. Not in the same way as Sambuca for instance, but the green fairy does need to get her wings singed.

Techman old chum, burning with a flame is the fairly "new" Bohemain method used in shots in bars (just 1 example) and often associated with the Czech (Hill brand & others) type of Absinth.

The true French Method is to place a few sugar cubes on a perforated spoon held over a shot of Absynthe while slowly pouring (drop by drop is preferable) ice cold water over the cubes untill they are dilluted into the glass - stir and serve my friend

Here is a link that should answer most questions.

http://www.feeverte.net/faq-absinthe.html#B19

 

[Techman]

spin, I stand corrected. After doing a bit of research I find that you are totally correct. I had always seen absinthe prepared with a slotted spoon and sugar cube dipped in the absinthe and then set aflame with cold water used to pour over the cube after it has been melted. As you mention this seems to be a very recent thing, late '90s, created mainly to camouflage poor quality product by helping to provide the milkiness that water alone should create. But it seems to have an adverse effect on the flavor. My apologies for watching too many historicaly inaccurate films.

But you gotta admit that the flame does look impressive.

PS: When it comes to green liqueurs, I prefer Chartreuse.

From Wikipedia: In the short story "Reginald on Christmas Presents" (contained in the 1904 collection Reginald by Edwardian English author Saki), the title character declares that "people may say what they like about the decay of Christianity; the religious system that produced green Chartreuse can never really die."

 

[WRman]

But you gotta admit that the flame does look impressive.

The laides seem to like it too.

The burning cube was a recipe I found a few years ago when investigating sources for the green fairy. There are several recipes that are interesting, including a 1:1 mix of cognac and absinthe. Interesting where the cognac is the mixer, "watering down" the absinthe. Most of the absinthes in my collection are 60 to 70% (120 to 140 proof). The lower proof absinthes, 45% (90 proof), don't burn well, and also don't extract as much from the herbs.

 

[chef]

Does "absinthe" make the heart grow fonder?

Smartass !!!

 

[chef]

..........................PS: When it comes to green liqueurs, I prefer Chartreuse.

Me too, especially when I have a cold - it really opens up the sinuses.

When discussing Chartreuse with a friend she said, "It's amazing what those repressed men come up with!".

 

[WRman]

Does "absinthe" make the heart grow fonder?

It seems to ...at least for that evening. Why do you think I have it?

 

[Techman]

Actually, absinthe makes the heart go wander. Come to think of it, so does absence.

 

[spin]

But you gotta admit that the flame does look impressive.

Hey Techman the flames are impressive as hell, one of the coolest looking drinks out there - By the way when it comes to drinking I'm of the firm belief that you should drink what you like how you like it!

If you like the taste (or look) of it when it is burnt, then by all means go ahead and light it on fire. It should be all about enjoyment, what ever floats your boat

 

[Techman]

Hi spin, if I ever get my hands on a bottle I'll try it both ways and let you know which I prefer. I've considered ordering from one of the many websites but not knowing if I'd get what I pay for, or even if it would arrive at all, I've resisted the urge. If I ended up with an inferior bottle I wouldn't have any way to know as I've never tried it. But I may go out and pick up a bottle of Green Chartreuse. It's been years since I've had any! Now if I can only find the old Swamp Water recipe...

 

[spin]

Techman,

I would be interested in knowing what you think of when you do try it, I have to admit that I am honestly not a big fan of it served either way

My ex wife's familly were big Absinthe drinkers so I've come into to contact with it quite a bit, one of her uncles who is Swiss is a fanatic and I was schooled on the drinks history when we stayed with him and his familly over there on different occassions.

I find the history of the drink quite interesting as well as the process used to drink it but as for the taste, well not really my cup of tea (a little like my ex wife come to think of it).

 

[WRman]

This is what a bottle of real Pernod Absinthe looks like:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1056973/06-22-06_1438.jpg

(That's my hand. )

 

[incognito_NYC]

Duh ... what?

Actually, absinthe makes the heart go wander. Come to think of it, so does absence.

I forgot what I was going to say ... I must be getting "absinthe-minded".

 

[incognito_NYC]

OK - Here's the real deal ...

...I've actually gotten this stuff online a few times. It's a new brand from the Czech Republic that replicates the original recipe. Strong stuff. Strange stuff.

Here's the link to buy it :

http://www.originalabsinthe.com/absinthe-king-gold-p-56.html?azx=1016

You want the "Gold" which has the full strength of 100 mg of thujone which is the chemical found in wormwood which has the hallucinogenic effects.

When you order they'll send you a booklet of drink mixes to try. Avoid the ones that tell you to mix it with Tequila or Bourbon ... the only thing that could possibly accomplish is setting off World War 3 and the end of civilization as we know it. Go for the mellow mix with lemon juice.

Seriously, the sh*t's 140 proof so you need to water it down. Half & half mix with water ( 1:1 ratio ) is plenty strong on the alcohol end as well as the funky herbals with medicinal qualities. Stir in some sugar & lemon juice (it actually goes good with a citrus flavor) and you're set to go.

You can do the traditional thing with the burning sugar cube too but that works best the first time around to impress other people who've never tried it before. It fuels the legend and is a great visual effect when sittting in a room lit only by candlelight.

Don't try burning anything after you've had a glass or two yourself - LOL - believe me, watching the placemats on your coffee table burn will be so fascinating you might forget to put them out (Don't ask me how I know that)

 

[incognito_NYC]

More fun with Absinthe ...

So here's some interesting literature on the subject :

1) An account of the authors attempt to finish an entire bottle of absinthe single-handedly, written along a timeline from 9:30 in the evening until 7:30 the next morning. The best synopsis is his description of the feeling : "Like a monkey riding a tiger, bouncing around and hanging on for dear life, because you know what happens to monkeys that fall off tigers." Don't let go.

http://www.moderndrunkardmagazine.com/issues/08-04/08-04-van-gogh.htm

2) If you're not familiar with Tucker Max, you're in for a treat. The guy is absolutely hysterical, dangerously irresponsible, yet has wisdom beyond his years. And his ability to weave a story is right up there with the likes of Twain & Hemingway. If they were sh*tfaced.

This particular story is an episode called "Absinthe Donuts". You don't make donuts with absinthe or even dunk them in the stuff. The man's stories of his true-life escapades are sometimes summarized by the title of the story, hence "Absinthe Donuts". You start in one place and end in another. (Also check out from the same website the now classic "Sushi-Pants" story.) You'll see what I mean.

http://www.tuckermax.com/archives/entries/the_absinthe_donuts_story.phtml#280

 

[incognito_NYC]

My review of Absinthe ...

As I've said, I have sampled this bizarre beverage several times now. So everyone wants to know, "What's it like?!?"

So here's the story ...

The stuff shows up at your house looking like something that's been smuggled out of the former Soviet Union ... there are more overlapped postage markings in strange foreign languages than you can imagine. Yet still, the FedEx guy has no problem non-chalantly leaving it on your doorstep. Go figure. "Oh look, Honey. It's that plutomium we ordered over the internet."

The bottle is appropriately adorned with a self-portrait of the artist Van Gogh with his head turned to one side. That's probably because it is after the small incident where he cut off the ear that you don't see in the picture and mailed it to his girlfriend. It's comforting to know that the 20th Century didn't invent psychos.

So anyway ...

..the bottle has a bunch of what looks like twigs & lawn clippings floating at the bottom. Mmm ... yummy.

My first sampling was done the traditional way with burning & melting a sugar cube which was dipped in the absinthe. This carmelizes the sugar and is supposed to sweeten the drink. Yeah, right.

The first taste makes me wonder why I just spent a whole lot of money on this crap. It tastes like tree bark with moss growing on it. But it's supposed to be good so I have to finish it ... and it does taste better than Chartreuse (that's an inside joke - I have a friend who once described chartreuse as tasting like 'LifeSaver' candies. "Which flavor?" I asked him. "Benzene")

So on to the next glass. I skip the matches this time and just sweeten the drink more with lemon juice. Hey, not bad. It goes down pretty smooth the second time around.

Wow ... did I finish it already? That really ain't too bad after all. Time for #3.

Here's where the fun starts. Suddenly I have the funny feeling that I'm sitting on the opposite end of the couch. My view of the room is now from a completley different angle. But I'm sitting in the same spot. The only way I can describe it is going sideways. Stimulants makes you go up, depressants make you go down. Absinthe makes you go sideways.

And now I begin to undestand why all those Impressionist paintings look so f*cked up. And why cutting off your own ear might seem like a good idea.

Absinthe gives you an incredible sense of detail about every sensation. Yet you're somehow so memerized by the sensation itself that you can't actually get up and do anything about it. Kind of like what people call "polio pot".

After a while you start to crave more of the stuff. I guess it can become addictive after awhile. The Bohemians of the Gay Nineties in Old Paris were chugging down 10 to 20 glasses of this stuff a day. No wonder it was outlawed.

Is it worth it? Depends on what you like. I drink but don't smoke so this was different. More along the lines of a 'shroom buzz. It is all-natural.

The price'll probably scare most people away from trying it, though. Once in awhile the website has advertised specials. I got a "3 for 2" special that brought the price down to under $150 a bottle. But normally, depending on the exchange rate ( the company that sells it to the US from the web link that I listed above is from the UK ), the price is about $200 per bottle. For most people that's beyond the typical Jaegermeister budget for funky European liquor.

P.S. - The nickname for Absinthe is "The Green Fairy" ... but it's definitely not for the faint-of-heart.

 

[StripperLover]

I believe that anyone residing in Quebec may not be allowed to purchase any alcoholic beverages on line from any seller other than the SAQ. All liquor must be sold &/or approved by the SAQ to be sold here.