Absente & Absinthe

To a veteran drinker friend who asked me about absinthe:

To B.,

I'm somewhat of a novice in the actual practicum of absinthe drinking, but I've done much research over the last years.

I think the straight outta the bottle was the problem. After a few, I started chugging straight from the bottle too, and ended up very fucked up.

See, the herbs it's made from contain oils that are only released and mixed when SLOWLY added with very cold water.

The high alcohol content very easily overrides any of the effects of its herbs. So ideally it's best done a little slowly, like 2-3 drinks an hour, for a couple of hours. After that, any of it's unique effects will be blinded by the alcohol strength.

Some say that pace can be maintained throughout an evening with a bottle, others say the best effects of its drunken clarity are experienced best over only the first few hours.

Czech absinthe is notorious in its impurities, best to stick with Western European vintages. Swiss and French are considered the best, but Germany has also won awards for some of its absinthes. There's also a Canadian absinthe made in B.C. which is supposed to be good.

The laws regarding the thujone levels (from the wormwood) have loosened in parts it's been previously banned. And while the North American levels are about a tenth of what's allowed in most European countries, recent research has found that "pre-ban" absinthe had no higher levels of thujone than what is now allowed in the US and Canada.

So what the effects come down to is the proper ratio of herbal ingredients and cleanliness of distillation, and not thujone levels like a lot of aforementioned Czech absinthes claim.

Absente, imported from France, and available in our own town's liquor store, is quite a nice absinthe, but already sweetened, so the French ritual of dissolving a sugar cube into it will render it very sweet, like a Gran Marnier or Goldschlager. But it still needs to be mixed with COLD water, slowly.

The colour of Absente is quite exquisite, and it louches beautifully into a soft, rich opaqueness. At 120 proof its alcohol content is manageable, with care.

Don't believe some of the hoity-toities who diss Absente, they're like self-proclaimed wine or beer connoisseurs who'll put down our good Canadian beer in favour of some thick, black chocolate, caramel British Stout.

Absinthes with a higher level of thujone, while technically still illegal here, can safely be purchased from various websites which send it discreetly via Canada Post, and 99% of the time will be successfully delivered to one's local postal address.

My recommendation is Absente for immediate access. With a couple of months planning, a 120 to 140 proof Swiss, French, or German absinthe imported via the methods just described.

Ideally it's not to get too liquored from, but to indulge a fuller, cleaner alcohol experience. It's strength will fuck that shit up if indulged like a typical 80 proof spirit.

After 4-8 drinks of absinthe, and the enjoyment thereof, if getting fucked up is still required, I'd recommend switching back to one's usual stand-by, whether that be spirits or beer.

All right B., hope I wasn't too long-winded, but that maybe it shed a little light on the subject.

I look forward to having a drink or two together sometime, it's been awhile man.

Cheers and blessings to you.

TDC