Thread: Lucid Absinthe

I have been watching this thread with passing interest for a while now. My first thought was why would anyone want to drink the same stuff that Van Gogh was supposed to be drinking the night he thought it was a good idea to lop off his ear and send it as a token of his love?

As I have read more about absinthe, I have become more open to to trying it and low and behold one of my poker buddies has a few bottles from Europe. We will be trying it at this Thursdays poker game. I will report back after the experience.

I didn't try that brand, but i did try it a few weeks ago with a buddy. We also didnt mix it that fancy since were lazy, over eager, and most of all -- no sugar cubes. Poured in about 2 shots worth put a metal strainer kinda thing over the cup (i assume its normally used for tea leaves normally?) put regular sugar into the strainer and poured a bit of water into the strainer. Then chugged it. Didnt mind the taste, just kinda takes your breath away initially-- causing me to make a wheezy cough after the first one.

I was somewhat let down by the effects after doing this twice in addition to some beer and vodka drinks. Mostly because I was expecting something more extreme i guess. Another friend explained the drunk/high as being "clear-headed". Made me kinda light headed, but not dizzy, similar to vodka kinda. "airey" was a word i saw earlier in the thread thats pretty acurate. I got the drunk feeling, but i felt a bit more composed then a standard drunkeness and without the occasional drowsyness regular alcohol can cause.

Best to try it yourself if you're at all interested. Explaining it does it no justice. I do recomend it to anyone thats open to the idea. I, myself would like to try a better/more expensive kind and have it by itself with no other alcohol involved.

I've tried it and I really like it. I plan to start making my own and I found a company that sells absinthe kits. I like this idea because then I can kind of customize the brew a bit to suit my tastes. Yes, the European bottles are the best but I think I can probably produce something that's comparable with a little effort.

Also, about Van Gogh - he didn't cut off his whole ear after drinking the stuff he only cut off his ear lobe and it likely wasn't about absinthe anyway. If I remember my history correctly, it had something to do with a girlfriend...

Originally Posted by joeleitz

I've tried it and I really like it. I plan to start making my own and I found a company that sells absinthe kits. I like this idea because then I can kind of customize the brew a bit to suit my tastes. Yes, the European bottles are the best but I think I can probably produce something that's comparable with a little effort.

Also, about Van Gogh - he didn't cut off his whole ear after drinking the stuff he only cut off his ear lobe and it likely wasn't about absinthe anyway. If I remember my history correctly, it had something to do with a girlfriend...

Be careful with that, from what I have read those kits are pretty much selling the abilty to poison yourself with the wormwood or whatever. Do yourself a favor and just buy an overpriced foreign bottle.

Had some in Europe years ago when i was travelling, didn't really care for it and the fact that I didn't see a hawt green fairy with big bewbs hovering over my shoulder was disappointing.

But I just recently discovered that the ban has been lifted in the US, and they're actually selling legit absinthe. Been drinking it for about two weeks now and I really like it, the taste has grown on me and there's a lot of good mix recipies out there to dress it up a bit. One of my favorites is the Hemingway where you mix it with champagne.

I find it to be more of a 'body/calm drunk' than say the drunk you feel on whiskey or beer and such. I feel a more pleasant buzz but like my wits are still about me , I've actually been able to get writing done and stuff like that whereas beer and whiskey usually prevent me from doing so at a certain point if I get overzealous.

Its definatley not a drink for people who just wanna get ****ed up cause if you drink too much too fast, its gonna be bad news (the LaFee is 70% alc.) But if you sit there and sip it and enjoy it, its a very nice drink.

Anyone else enjoy it and have any good suggestions (brand, recipies etc), I've only tried the LaFee brand (endorsed by the absinthe museum in Paris and comes with a decent spoon), any others that are good?

http://www.letsgokings.com/bbs/showt...light=absinthe

I want to try Absinthe!

Not a fan. I prefer Czech Becherovka which is similar in taste, but a bit creamier.

And what's up with people lighting absinthe on fire and sugaring it to "neutralize" some of its alcohol? Gross.

Originally Posted by Vrankol

Not a fan. I prefer Czech Becherovka which is similar in taste, but a bit creamier.

And what's up with people lighting absinthe on fire and sugaring it to "neutralize" some of its alcohol? Gross.

Ya, never got that either...I just chalk it up to the fact that they fail. If you don't want something strong, drink a Coors light lol.

But the sugaring, placing cubes on the spoon and pouring cold water over them into the absinthe is traditional I believe. I love watching when you pour the cold water into it and its turns all cloudy.