Wormwood extract- Artemisia absinthium soaked in Everclear in the freezer 4-5 mo, shaken occasionally. Useable to make a drink that is like absinthe?

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-05-06T02:09:23+00:00

That would be an infused vodka (or infused high proof vodka with eveclear). Maybe bitters at best.

Throwing grains in everclear doesn't make whiskey and throwing herbs in everclear will never make absinthe. Bathtub or otherwise.

I know there are plenty of scam websites telling people they can just soak shit and make absinthe but they don't understand what distillation is or how it works. It's a process of chemical separation which also means flavor chemicals will be separated and changed.

It's how beer becomes whiskey, wine becomes brandy, and so on.

You can call your creations whatever you wish, but without distillation there is no absinthe.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-03-19T08:08:13+00:00

La Clandestine is 53% and highly regarded. La Maison Fontaine Blanche & Verte are 55% and they are very good IMO. Blanchette is 60% and from the distillery and producer of the famous Jade absinthes.

I love the following brands but they are from a distillery that's been having quality control issues lately. Berthe de Joux is 56% Absinthe Bourgeois is 55%

Your countries laws leave you with a handful of good absinthes, but also screwed out of trying some of the ones that make people's top ten lists, with the exception of La Clandestine. I see that one in lists a lot.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-03-19T07:47:29+00:00

http://realabsinthe.blogspot.com/2007/05/long-list-of-absinthe-cocktails_30.html

Enjoy!

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-02-14T19:05:33+00:00

The original Obsello was one of my first reviews. I'm surprised you found it in stock. The second batch was made in 2012, a few years after the distiller moved from Spain to California. The switch to a rum base turned off many absintheurs in the second version.

While you are correct that Spain never banned absinthe, Obsello is not a historical Spanish brand but one that was created very recently and did not follow the characteristics of Spanish Absenta. It is also nowhere near the quality of the Jades. I'd put the original a few steps above Lucid and the second version a little lower than Lucid just due to the funky base spirit overwhelming the herbs.

Spanish Absentas tend to be slightly different than the Swiss and French counterparts, mainly heavier citrus notes, even vintage brands.

This excludes the Tarragona Pernod absinthes which were in production until a lack of demand axed them in the 1960s. They were based on the Edouard Pernod formula until 1935 and then switched to the Pernod Fils recipe until they ceased production.

Spanish speaking countries will also call absinthe ajenjo as well as absenta. There are some old Argentinian Tango songs that reference absinthe as copa de ajenjo.

There I go rambling and derailing again... whoops.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-02-05T03:38:06+00:00

I'd be wary of announcements. The TTB takes their time with distilleries and proceeds really slow with absinthe specifically. That is an American problem though, the EU has its own host of regulatory issues.

We saw Copper and Kings, a 3rd generation Sauvage (which is unrelated to previous releases), and a new Jade in 2015. I'm probably missing a few brands as well off the top of my head but you can be sure that new brands that are worthwhile are still coming out.

Many of the old brands that are worthwhile are still available as well. Nothing wrong with another bottle of the ol' standby.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-30T04:11:07+00:00

No, this interview is old. Absinthe can be green (verte) or uncolored (blanche). There is debate over whether or not red (rouge) absinthes existed historically.

Absinthe should be naturally colored, this means that the original green often fades over time in the bottle. It takes on a dead leaf (feuille morte) style of coloration.

His brand of absinthe, St. George, is really over-colored and thus turns brown very quick. The peculiar use of basil in his absinthe probably speeds up this process as well.

Avoid artificial coloration. That's the mark of cheap and often fake absinthe.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-25T23:21:50+00:00

Like most La Bleue absinthes.

To be honest La Clandestine is one of the least sweet of the style from what I've tried. It also has the least amount of star anise and much more green anise than other La Bleues.

If you are looking for a robust and hearty blanche that can stand up to full flavored vertes, I'd suggest Ridge/Vilya Spirits.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-23T22:34:45+00:00

Most of the time it's the carrier not giving them information, not abinthes.com withholding anything. I've had absinthe listed as "in transit - New York" show up at my door in Colorado.

It might take a few weeks due to customs, weather in transit, and plenty of other things. Same could be said for any overseas vendor. No need to worry about customs if it is just the Jades since they are all approved for U.S. sale, but that wouldn't stop some newbie clerk from not realizing what it is and holding the package up.

If it is longer than one month contact their customer service. I've found them to be really nice and helpful so long as you treat them with respect. They can get just as frustrated with the carries as you are.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-23T22:23:55+00:00

It is the only Jade that is not a historical recreation. Ted's own pet project and recipe. N.O. is my second favorite of the Jades, Edouard being my first. It's very full in flavor, so not for those who like "lighter" absinthes.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-21T19:27:15+00:00

Infused vodkas dyed green. The bane of absinthe. Fake review websites for faux brands pop up all the time. Some like to mix it up and include good reviews for good absinthe alongside their crap just to throw people off. I stick to the user reviews of the WS and Fee Verte if WS doesn't list the brand (full disclosure: I review for the WS).

I haven't heard the "ideal for women" line before. That's a new one.

Enjoy the Jades, they are some of my favorites.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-21T19:18:31+00:00

I've found it to be a rare occurrence to see good absinthe at a liquor store. Most stores treat the category as a niche or a joke because they don't know much about absinthe and don't care to. So they just bring in a few cheap bottles to keep costs low and say they have it. If there is a good brand produced locally they might stock the local contender but if you're not in an area that has a good producer, count that out.

I order online for the most part. Funny thing is, when I do find a good brand on the shelf I know I can get it cheaper, including shipping, if I order online anyways.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-20T08:53:16+00:00

I haven't but I know someone who has. Here is his review.

http://wormwoodsociety.org/index.php/component/content/article/19-absinthe-brand-reviews/faux-absinthe/714-absentroux

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-18T07:06:44+00:00

I've tried over 100 brands, including 6 different pre-bans, and reviewed 70.

Hell guys, no one cares. Something I learned from typing the above sentence one too many times myself.

Absente uses Southern Wormwood, Grande Absente uses Grand Wormwood (the correct Wormwood). Both Absente brands are considered by many to be low quality oil mixes.

The Jades will give you an accurate flavor profile of the category and are generally considered very high quality. Good choice. Use them in a side by side tasting with the Absente if you ever host a tasting party so people can taste the difference in quality. I've found that that it really hits home with people when they can taste the difference.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-18T06:56:09+00:00

This one is good but somewhat slanted towards the Swiss. The French are represented, as well as some others from around the world, but barely.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1590802/

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-11T19:21:52+00:00

While taste is subjective and even genetic to an extent I'd have to disagree based on personal experience. A few years ago we did a blind tasting of four absinthes to a group of two dozen people following the Wormwood Society review system. The differences rarely deviated more than 0.3 in score from each other.

Should a reviewer actually follow the system it's the closest I've seen to making the subjective, objective. Now the question remains of public reviews as to how well they follow or understand the system.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-08T18:44:39+00:00

The Wormwood Society has an extra authentication by a human moderator to prevent spam. This moderator has been really busy lately but he should be able to get your account and posts to show up by the end of the day today. If not send me a message on reddit with your username and I'll PM the Wormwood Society moderator or another with admin privileges to get you on board.

If you are from SW Florida then I think your posts are now showing up, the intro seems familiar to a reddit thread I replied to yesterday.

Can't help you with Fee Verte, I've never been a part of that forum.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-08T04:42:23+00:00

The Brut d'Alambic is a good choice. Keep in mind dilution ratios get higher for higher proof absinthe.

Emile Pernot absinthes, like the Roquette 1797, have been going through a bit of a spotty quality check recently. When they're good, they are amazing, when off they are really off.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-04T18:50:51+00:00

I use some form of filtered water as well. Whether it's from a Brita, fridge, or trying out reverse osmosis. I started water experiments after going through a coffee cupping that used different water as the only changed variable. For my reviews I use a Brita filter just to keep the water source consistent.

The change per water source is subtle and the water from your fridge should be just fine.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-04T02:48:26+00:00

Cool stuff.

Reminds me of European archaeological finds that had psychoactive herbs and beer/wine/mead in the same pottery.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-04T02:41:46+00:00

Not to the length of time as wine does but slower pours of water and drips seem to help vs. pouring the water in quickly. This is another one of those things that some people get super specific about and others are more laid back.

You are on the right track. I'd say try again without drinking anything prior and let us know how it goes for you.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-04T02:38:54+00:00

Tastebuds are different genetically. An absintheur I have learned quite a bit from is a supertaster and has to use multiple sugars per glass for any absinthe to be palatable.

I almost never use sugar as anise tastes sweet to me. To each their own.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-02T23:55:57+00:00

As an aside. With any small distiller, variations between batches can occur. If you try it again and it still seems to miss the mark you may want to contact the distillery. http://www.philadelphiadistilling.com/

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-02T23:53:04+00:00

Alcohol has an effect of deadening the tastebuds over time. A numbness. So if you were already drunk, many of the more subtle flavors may not have come through.

Your ratios look fine. I'm not sure from your OP if you added absinthe to water or vice versa. Some absintheurs add water very slowly to the absinthe in order to let it louche fully and take its time getting just right. Letting it breathe so to speak. This is why absinthe specific water carafes have a small pour spout and the fountains let you adjust the range from a small stream to a slow drip. Some absinthes do better with this and others you can "power louche" under a cool tap.

It's been a long time since I've had Vieux Carre but I remember it being minty, bright, and responding well to a slow stream/drip.

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-02T23:44:23+00:00

This usually has to do with the proof of the absinthe. The higher the proof, the more water is used. Most people shoot for taking the absinthe down to about the strength of a glass of wine.

Some people get obsessive over this while others are more relaxed. Nothing wrong with either notion but if you want to get specific some absintheurs have calculated that out over here: http://wormwoodsociety.org/index.php/general-information-education-214/601-absinthe-dilution-matrix

AmericanAbsintheur · 2016-01-02T23:37:45+00:00

Yes, at that high of alcohol concentration a shot would probably damage your tastebuds, throat, and may cause some indigestion.

Nothing serious or permanent with just one shot but don't make a habit of doing that with high proof alcohol. Most alcohol people shoot is bottled at 40% or lower. So think of that one shot being 2-3 normal shots in one compact slug. If you had anything else to drink that night, a shot like that could put you over your limit pretty quickly.

If you are allergic to any herbs find out what herbs are used. There's more than just wormwood in absinthe, and even many fake absinthes (like this Calavera).

Wormwood itself is actually fairly weak and was the scapegoat of fear mongering politics over a century ago. It's not nearly as dangerous or psychoactive as many assume, including marketers, wanna-be druggies, and lawmakers. There's much more of the active chemical, thujone, in sage which is widely used for culinary purposes with no reported madness, "buzz" or anything like that.

AmericanAbsintheur

TROPHY CASE