Odd bit of news (booze related)

[Monsi]

went to a liqueur store on maui today(don't have one on kauai ) to pick up some single malt scotch for one of my current *cough* endeavors (I settled on Glenlivet 18 but thats a story for another time) but right above the scotch they had ABSINTH and "the real stuff" the name of which escapes me but its supposed to be the potent version of absinth

so apparently its legal in the US now... if you are interested in blacking out for a few days and waking up in strange places

[Ian]

I drank a fair amount of absinth in the Czech Republic. Never really noticed anything out of the ordinary.

I think even the "real stuff" has been watered down quite a bit since it's hayday.

[Kaliuzhkin]

Originally Posted by Ian

I drank a fair amount of absinth in the Czech Republic. Never really noticed anything out of the ordinary.

I think even the "real stuff" has been watered down quite a bit since it's hayday.

"To avoid the worst absinthes now being made, do not buy anything advertising itself as a "make your own absinthe" kit, and do not buy anything called "absinth" (without the final "e") that originates in the Czech Republic (unless you like drinking mouthwash or window cleaner)."
About absinthe in New Orleans

[RacyTracy]

What does it taste like (chicken? )? Similar to anything else or does it have its own distinct flavor?

[Cardinal]

It tastes like overpowering anisette. The wormwood is what gives absinthe it's thujone content, and the thujone is what can do odd things to you, although I think it's the huge alcohol content which is the culprit. It's what also makes it illegal to sell in this country.

Any absinthe sold here is deemed wormwood-free by the FDA. The laws haven't changed. Unless the distiller is using artemisia absinthium, the thujone content will be virtually nil, and therefore legal. "Grand Wormwood" doesn't count as real wormwood. Even the stuff you can buy on the internet and import from Europe are in general wormwood-free versions, even though they don't tell you that.

The only way to make sure you get "real" stuff with thujone in it is to make it yourself, or go to a rogue distiller. Lots of underground distillers make it, especially in the New Orleans area.

[WildCJ5]

Originally Posted by RacyTracy

What does it taste like (chicken? )? Similar to anything else or does it have its own distinct flavor?

Think black licorice and fennel. You either love it or hate it.

[dasmoofler]

That stuff sounds like a puke just waiting to happen!

[MadMan Markiss]

Originally Posted by Cardinal

It tastes like overpowering anisette. The wormwood is what gives absinthe it's thujone content, and the thujone is what can do odd things to you, although I think it's the huge alcohol content which is the culprit. It's what also makes it illegal to sell in this country.

Any absinthe sold here is deemed wormwood-free by the FDA. The laws haven't changed. Unless the distiller is using artemisia absinthium, the thujone content will be virtually nil, and therefore legal. "Grand Wormwood" doesn't count as real wormwood. Even the stuff you can buy on the internet and import from Europe are in general wormwood-free versions, even though they don't tell you that.

The only way to make sure you get "real" stuff with thujone in it is to make it yourself, or go to a rogue distiller. Lots of underground distillers make it, especially in the New Orleans area.

Wowsers. Now there's a man who knows his absinthe.

[biscoradio]

I've had a few different absinthes from France - the little bottle I have now is that nouvelle orleans, which supposedly follows a really old recipe that was scientifically determined (there was a wired article about it awhile ago). I haven't experienced any hallucinatory effects from absinthe, but it usually gives a very happy, energetic, feeling but that could be because of the sugar cube I'm pouring the water over.

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by biscoradio

I've had a few different absinthes from France - the little bottle I have now is that nouvelle orleans, which supposedly follows a really old recipe that was scientifically determined (there was a wired article about it awhile ago). I haven't experienced any hallucinatory effects from absinthe, but it usually gives a very happy, energetic, feeling but that could be because of the sugar cube I'm pouring the water over.

Jade Nouvelle-Orléans is a really good absinthe, better than most.

[MickOpalak]

Originally Posted by RacyTracy

What does it taste like (chicken? )? Similar to anything else or does it have its own distinct flavor?

I thought it tasted a lot like mint toothpaste mixed with licorice.

[doug_porsche]

Wait, there is no liqueur store Kauai?

[Me!]

It tastes like ouzo, but stronger!

[biscoradio]

I just placed an order for some more nouvelle orleans, will have it in 2 weeks. Since I've only ever gotten it as gifts from my brother, I just told my folks (who are visiting my bro) to get me a couple hundred dollars worth - it'll probably be two little bottles. Gonna have a little absinthe party in a few weeks! thank you, good people of elisetalk, for gently nudging me to spend more money on stuff I don't need. At least this time it's just some liquor, not a car ;-)

[Monsi]

Originally Posted by doug_porsche

Wait, there is no liqueur store Kauai?

not a real one no... the grocery stores carry all the mainstream stuff but if you want some 18 year old single malt scotch its a bit tough to find...

ouzo might have been the strong stuff they had...

and I bet it tastes like snauzberries!