Absinthe

[QUOTE=LAWDOG;402763]Anybody here drink Antifreez ? i picked up a bottle the other day very :blush:interesting.



What's wrong with USA absinthe?
Essentially, it's not the real deal. The difference between USA-style absinthe and the genuine European stuff is like the difference between an instant decaf and a cup of freshly ground Jamaican Blue Mountain: the first is merely a hopeful approximation of the second.

I don't wish to single out Lucid as there are now other brands of "absinthe" available in America. But Lucid was the first, and it is a very fitting example of just about everything that's wrong with absinthe in the USA.

As per outdated TTB/FDA regulations, all USA-approved absinthe must test thujone-free. For those of you who don't know, thujone to absinthe is what caffeine is to coffee: it's what gives it its "buzz". It's the substance that pretty much defines absinthe as a drink, the substance that sets it apart from any other alcoholic beverage ever made.

The nonsensical FDA regulations present a serious obstacle for any absinthe distiller wishing to enter the American market. The choice: either rape the very soul of the Green Fairy and deliver an absinthe-like abomination, or keep out of the USA.

As a result, the American consumer is left with watered-down off-brands made solely for the USA. Lucid isn't sold in Europe at all (nobody would buy it over there), and the USA version of Kubler is not the same Kubler that's available in Switzerland, to give two examples.

As a result, many European distillers that have been making the real stuff for generations will not make it to America's bars and stores anytime soon.

As a result, [U]don't expect to dance with the Green Fairy[/U].

Absinthe without thujone the buzz
The problem with making thujone-free "absinthe" is that thujone is the natural essential oil of Artemisia absinthium, a wild plant better known as grande wormwood. Of course, wormwood is the primary ingredient in absinthe: absinthe without wormwood is like turkey stuffing without sage. Interestingly, sage contains thujone as well, but is not banned by the FDA.

So why does wormwood get singled out? Because the FDA is a slow-moving bureaucracy and their outdated regulations go back to the absinthe witchhunts of 1912. To put it plainly, it's not about food safety at all, it's about bone-idleness and unwillingness to move with the times. It is highly hypocritical, too, because the word is that—in order to meet the FDA requirements—USA absinthe brands have had to resort to using genetically modified version of Artemisia. Yes, you heard right: genetically modified. Am I to really believe that's safer than a little Mother Nature's buzz? I don't think so.[/QUOTE]

DANG! Just getting ready to go to the parade and now Gil says it's raining!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!

You guys crack me up.....as I have told Scott before, I had some of the real stuff when I was in Slovakia a few years back. I knew the owner of a bar (a hole in the wall in a small town), and he pulled out a brown bottle with no label. Shot #1, I went against their advice and did it without the sugar....yup, tasted putrid as far as I remember. I remember taking the second shot....and after that I was gone. Tried to fight a few local dressed in military attire, and bragged how the USA could kick their asses. Luckily I had a buddy same my as and got me out the back door of the establishment. I then proceeded to go door to door crossing back and forth across the street banging on every door. He said it took us a good hour to make it 1/2 mile back to the hotel. I was still wrecked the next day at 5 in the evening.....I had my fun, not going there again! Keep in mind I was drinking other beverages as well, but I have never done anything like that before or since. And yes, it was legal....there!lol I highly doubt anything that would or could be imported would be like that, but you never know...

sounds like a train wreck waiting to happen.

[QUOTE=thejmasterslim;402812]You guys crack me up.....as I have told Scott before, I had some of the real stuff when I was in Slovakia a few years back. I knew the owner of a bar (a hole in the wall in a small town), and he pulled out a brown bottle with no label. Shot #1, I went against their advice and did it without the sugar....yup, tasted putrid as far as I remember. I remember taking the second shot....and after that I was gone. Tried to fight a few local dressed in military attire, and bragged how the USA could kick their asses. Luckily I had a buddy same my as and got me out the back door of the establishment. I then proceeded to go door to door crossing back and forth across the street banging on every door. He said it took us a good hour to make it 1/2 mile back to the hotel. I was still wrecked the next day at 5 in the evening.....I had my fun, not going there again! Keep in mind I was drinking other beverages as well, but I have never done anything like that before or since. And yes, it was legal....there!lol I highly doubt anything that would or could be imported would be like that, but you never know...[/QUOTE]

Sounds like such a wonderful time...

Yea, right....

[QUOTE=toysalot;402892]Sounds like such a wonderful time...[/QUOTE]

[B][I]Shot #1, I went against their advice and did it without the sugar....yup, tasted putrid as far as I remember. I remember taking the second shot


Tasted putrid and you took another shot? Wowza...
[/I][/B]

FYI...

Did you know that Marilyn Manson manufactures authentic absinthe?

check it out...

[url]http://www.mansinthe.com/[/url]

I did a shot and a half, deluded 3 to 1...I'm kind of surprised at some websites raving about the flavor...it was borderline horrid taste wise...doubt I'll drink the rest...icky...

I didn't even feel the alcohol in it. Waited for a couple hours and was disappointed, I guess I should have had more? I had a couple Ale's beforehand, then after the waiting game had a couple more. I'm pretty happy that it didn't do anything because I'd hate to try to drink that crap again!!!!!
I will admit to having a very nice nights sleep though, a rare 8 hours...Very rare...but certainly not worth the taste paid for the sleep!!!

Add sugar and lemon,it helps a lot. 2 shots at 140 proof and you can't feel it:confused: what are you made of ??

Dont know if this is new or old, just found this pic out there.
[IMG]http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z307/stumanfu55/d0513037.png[/IMG]