Absinthe
08-05-2003, 03:31 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 278
Anyone ever tried it? I have a friend who was recently in Europe and said it's great stuff. I have heard of it before, seen it in movies, paintings, etc. but haven't tried it yet. I recently found an importer who can ship bottles from France, Spain, and Switzerland (the best) w/o a problem. THe only thing is, the stuff is pretty expensive, ranging from $110 to $225 a bottle, including shipping, insurance, and customs charges. I'm thinkin about trying it...anyone else wanna go in on a bottle?
Leo
Leo
08-05-2003, 03:42 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,550
08-05-2003, 03:46 PM
#3
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 15
Absinthe, in its traditional/original state is a hallucinogen and illegal in most countries. It is what drove Edgar Allen Poe mad.
The stuff you see for sale is a commercial version that is not nearly as potent. I would liken it to the difference between the Mezcal they sell in the states versus the Mezcal, with the hand written lables, you can get in the grey market in Mexico. Just not the real deal, but a hell of a lot safer.
Mike
The stuff you see for sale is a commercial version that is not nearly as potent. I would liken it to the difference between the Mezcal they sell in the states versus the Mezcal, with the hand written lables, you can get in the grey market in Mexico. Just not the real deal, but a hell of a lot safer.
Mike
08-05-2003, 03:55 PM
#4
Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 35
From what I understand, the best absinthes come from the Eastern Bloc. Hungary and Lithuania, specifically. The absinthes that come from Western Europe apparently have questionable quality and a high incidence of additives which are meant to enhance the color and clarity if the beverage, but are also toxic. I know absinthe exists, but it's sort of an underground thing, no longer generally accepted. It says in that very link (quite informative...thanks) that absinthe and any beverage with Wormwood in it is banned in the U.S. because of it's effects. How can this importer get it into the country?
08-05-2003, 05:30 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Kunsan AB, Korea (used to be vegas!)
Posts: 263
08-05-2003, 05:43 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Frederick MD
Posts: 6,331
Well, if it's good **** I'M IN.
I remember seeing it in Amsterdam... Can't remember if its a contributing factor to the fact that I can't remember anything from there though.... LOL... That sounded funny..
I remember seeing it in Amsterdam... Can't remember if its a contributing factor to the fact that I can't remember anything from there though.... LOL... That sounded funny..
08-05-2003, 07:42 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: California
Posts: 22,465
Originally Posted by 9BASE3' date='Aug 5 2003, 02:43 PM
Well, if it's good **** I'M IN.
I remember seeing it in Amsterdam... Can't remember if its a contributing factor to the fact that I can't remember anything from there though.... LOL... That sounded funny..
I remember seeing it in Amsterdam... Can't remember if its a contributing factor to the fact that I can't remember anything from there though.... LOL... That sounded funny..
mike
08-05-2003, 07:51 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 278
What is for sal here in the US, is, of course, a shitty commercial version, with no wormwood (thujone). However, the best brand is Swiss, and isn't really a brand at all, it's pretty much bootlegged (to get around the old laws) and very potent. The stuff that costs $65 is most likely not any good, same goes for the eastern bloc brands, which are diluted with oils and additives. I've done my research. The Swiss Absinthe is additive-free and therefore, clear (as it's supposed to be). It's about 130 proof, with about twice the thujone (active psychoactive ingredient) of all the other European Absinthes. 9BASE3, I'll let you know when I score a bottle. It only takes 4-7 days for shipping, but I prefer not to divulge the importer. The bottles I am looking at are Spanish, French, and Swiss. They cost (respectively) $110, $135, and $225 a bottle, shipped, including customs fees. They are also money-back guaranteed, in case a bottle gets broken during shipping. I'm specifically looking at the Swiss Absinthe (Le Bleue) as it's supposedly the best in the world...