A lot has changed since absinthe was banned in the beginning of the 20th century. In Europe, the Green Fairy flies freely again following recent re-legalization, and there are some excellent absinthes to be had. Absinthe is an alcoholic drink made with an extract from wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). It is an emerald green drink which is very bitter (due to the presence of absinthin) and is therefore traditionally poured over a perforated spoonful of sugar into a glass of water. The drink then turns into an opaque white as the essential oils precipitate out of the alcoholic solution (louche). Originally, the absinthe drink was intended as an aperitif. The bars and cafes of fin de siecle Paris celebrated the “ Green Hour“, a late-afternoon period when Parisians downed their pre-dinner glass (or three) of the green liquor. The rage that Degas's L'Absinthe caused in England was an expression of a pre-existing nervous fear that the decadent ways of the Continent might reach the shores of the British Isles, too. Two years previously, Marie Corelli, the English author of "Wormwood: A Drama of Paris", wrote:

Here, all we have to say is that Absinthe is as unique as they come. This drink doesn’t necessarily bring you the same effects of all those illegal drugs but Absinthe hallucination includes awakening your senses in a way that other alcoholic beverages cannot. As you sip on through your drink, we recommend that you listen to your favorite melodies or even sift through your photo-books of beautiful memories. With the increased levels of sensory awareness, true pleasure and feelings are the most common and true effect we have found in our experience. This effect is what made Absinthe very popular among some of the legendary names out there such as Rimbaud, Hemingway, and Van Gogh – among so many more. Still, we don’t want you to believe that Van Gogh chose to cut his ear off because of his Absinthe binge! Speak the Green Language Even though we are past this revival, there is still a lot of interest in this drink due to the legends surrounding it. This alcoholic beverage is among the most debated over; this is why we are attempting to educate anyone who wishes to enter the wonderful world of mysterious Absinthe. What a slut," declared George Moore, a British art critic, when, in 1893, he first set his eyes on Edgar Degas's painting L'Absinthe. The "slut" in the picture was not the Green Fairy, but a French actress portrayed drinking absinthe in a Parisian cafe. She was one Ellen Andree, the painter's friend, shown in a reflective moment in a cafe called La Nouvelle-Athenes.

In the past decade, the alcohol industry saw a revival of sorts all across the world. The laws around Absinthe were somewhat loosened which made it easy for producers to manufacture and distribute it. Now the industry consists of about 200 brands that are producing Absinthe and most of these are situated across Europe. However, the exceptionally high alcohol level of this drink was one of the reasons it was eventually outlawed in several countries by the early 1900s. The Green Fairy (la fee verte) as it became commonly known, was most popular in France. Most days started with a drink and ended with the "green hour" (l'heure verte) as one or two or more were taken for its aperitif properties. It is interesting to note that it also has aphrodisiac and narcotic properties. Authors and artists were proponents for using it to induce creativity.

Absinthe was once popular among artists and writers and was drunk by Van Gogh, Baudelaire, and Verlaine, to name a few. It appears to have been believed to stimulate creativity. However, in the 1850's, there began to be concern about the results of chronic use. Chronic use of absinthe was believed to produce a syndrome, called absinthism, which was characterized by addiction, hyperexcitability, and hallucinations. The Tequila Sazerac has a nice strong citrus smell, with a rounded mouth feel. The tequila really plays well with the citrus, and for us is a modern classic. You may know a lot about Absinthe but experiencing this liquor might still be a mystery to you. Indulge yourself in the experience of preparing, pouring, and sipping Absinthe. Once you’ve done this, you will be able to speak in the extravagant Green language and you may just have The Green Fairy Absinthe to talk to. Share Your Experiences The color of the distillate is clear and is often bottled this way in a style known as Blanche or la Bleue or as a bright green. The coloring is added, either through the chlorophyll from steeping herbs like hyssop, melissa and petite wormwood in the liquor or adding artificial coloring. It is commonly referred to in historical literature as “ la fée verte” (the green fairy). If you are exploring Absinthe for pure enjoyment, then as the French pour goes, you are in for some jolly mental and physical effects. The experience can be described as a revelatory and calming one. The way you pour it is just the beginning of this enjoyable experience.All the curiosity around Absinthe liquor is because of its history while some people are truly fascinated in its pour. Some of the more adventurous people that are pulled into this world are attracted because of the enigmatic effects it has on the drinker. You’ll know what we’re talking about once you indulge in this mysterious liquor. It must also be remembered that in the many French cafes and restaurants which have recently sprung up in London, Absinthe is always to be obtained at its customary low price -- French habits, French fashions, French books, French pictures, are particularly favoured by the English, and who can predict that French drug-taking shall not also become a la mode in Britain?"

The morbidness of the modern French mind is well-known and universally admitted ... the open atheism, heartlessness, flippancy, and flagrant immorality of the whole modern French school of thought is unquestioned." In the age of the original absinthe fever, the drink was always diluted with water and sweetened with sugar before consumption. First, a cube of sugar was placed on a perforated spoon resting on the top of a glass of neat absinthe. Then, chilled water was slowly poured over the sugar until it dissolved and the required level of dilution was achieved. Special absinthe fountains — decorated containers that dispensed iced water — had their firm place in most drinking establishments of that time. Absinthe's popularity soared from 1880 on. Advertisements touted it as being healthful. It was exported to New Orleans and reached the same acclaim in the United States. It was one of the few drinks considered lady-like 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. A few variations on the traditional drinking ritual have popped up since. One recent method how to drink absinthe involves pouring absinthe itself — rather than water — over the cube of sugar, then setting fire to the absinthe-soaked cube. Purists and absinthe snobs condemn this method and resolutely declare that one should never drink absinthe like that. But that hasn’t stopped some drinkers taking the “fire ritual” further still: the sugar cube goes out of the metaphorical window, and the emerald liquor itself is set on fire. There have been a number of famous absinthe drinkers throughout time, most notably among artists and other creatives in the 19th century.If you think all the hallucinogenic effects are just rumors, then you should know that Absinthe DOES consist of psychoactive ingredients. Thujone is a psychoactive byproduct of a herb called wormwood; if you’re having Absinthe with wormwood, then you better get ready for some surreal visuals.

Pastis is a similar liqueur to absinthe and was also originally made with wormwood. However, the dominant flavor in pastis is licorice (rather than the star anise of modern Pernod or HerbSainte). Pastis brands include Ricard, Duval, Jeannot, Casanis, and Henri Bardouin. Vermouth, chartreuse, and benedictine absinthe contain small amounts of thujone. In fact, vermouth, which is made using the flower heads from wormwood, takes its name from the German wermuth ("wormwood"). There are, of course, many other essential oil containing drinks, such as Ouzo and Jagermeister. Wormwood is popular as a flavoring for brannvin (an alcoholic drink made from potatoes) in Sweden. Absinthe originated in Switzerland as an elixir, used in a similar capacity as patent medicine would be used later in the United States. In its heyday, the most popular brand of absinthe worldwide was Pernod Fils. By 1915, it was banned in a number of European countries and the USA. Even though it was vilified, no evidence shows it to be any more dangerous or psychoactive than ordinary alcohol. A modern absinthe revival began in the 1990s, as countries in the European Union began to reauthorize its manufacture and sale.

In 1905, Jean Lanfray who was very intoxicated, murdered his wife. He supposedly only had two glasses of absinthe but none the less, his trial became known as the "Absinthe Murder". Prohibition movements were underway. Absinthe was singled out as the maddening culprit and became synonymous with alcohol. Experiments started to be conducted often by injecting large doses of the oil of wormwood into animals. Absinthism was named as a disease. On July 25th, 1912, the Department of Agriculture issued Food Inspection 147, which banned absinthe in America, and finally France followed in 1915. But is it (real) absinthe?