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). 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.

Absinthe was supplied to French troops as a malaria preventative in the 1840s, which made them develop a taste for it when they returned home. As a result, it became widely popular among young urbanites. In addition, because of mass production procedures, absinthe's price fell, and it became one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in France. 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? 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. 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. Herb Sainte and Pernod are names of modern wormwood-free absinthes. Typically, additional star anise is added to balance the flavor. Herb Sainte is manufactured in New Orleans. Pernod is named after Henri-Louis Pernod, who founded the most important absinthe distillery in France in the early 1800s.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. 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.

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. ml Absinthe, Seedless Green Grapes, 1 dash Angostura Bitters, 37 1/2 ml Gin, 20 ml Ginger Syrup,Juice of 1/2 Lime, Soda Water, Candied Ginger 2) Death in the AfternoonThe abrupt end came in the second decade of the twentieth century when the Belgians, then the Swiss and the French banned absinthe. By that time, the Green Fairy had prompted a generation of artists to produce countless works dedicated to, or inspired by, the curious creature with green wings. 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'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. 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. Absinthe, also known as The Green Goddess, The Green Fairy, or The Green Lady, has long been a popular drink for artists and creative types. Absinthe influenced bohemian artists and writers such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Édouard Manet, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and Oscar Wilde. This divisive beverage was once a favorite of painters and writers due to its purported capacity to aid their creative flow.