My favorite book on Absinthe is Absinthe-Sip of Seduction. This is a guidebook to Absinthes that are currently available in the world at large. Now that the ban has been lifted on Absinthe sales in America, I expect the new addition of this book to have a lot more local Absinthes listed. But really, I think making it legal again will draw away some of the allure that Absinthe has enjoyed over the past decades.
I have always been fond of those black jelly beans you find around Easter, and some of the Absinthes-Mari Mayans is said to have the strongest liquorice taste. The writer of Absinthe-Sip of Seduction talks a good deal about how much certain Absinthes louche in water. Some turn a milky white, and some do not change at all. This is a matter of personal taste, as you can get drunk easily enough without any louching at all. The Louche Effect is explained on many websites and is the reason for the traditional pouring of water over a sugar cube to release the essential oils of Absinthe.
You have to be over 21 to buy Absinthe, as with any liqueur, but you might want to be a bit rich as well. I have bottles online for $150.00. Sixty dollars seems to be a normal price for a bottle at many of the online shops. $15 will get you an Absinthe Martini at a bar in New York, and $13 will get you a shot. Just remember that Absinthe is about 136 proof.
Lucid is one of a handful of approved Absinthes now legally allowed for sale in America. It seems to be in the 60 dollar a bottle range, though I have not stopped at a liquor store to take a look.
The Green Fairy has a lot of famous fans, from Van Gogh to Johnny Depp. There is just something about drinking absinthe that makes people feel cool and with it. So is the stuff dangerous? Maybe, depends on how good a job the distiller does of cooking out the thujone from the wormwood. There are still a lot of kits available, if you would like to make your own. eBay have a few listings running for absinthe.
Is this good or bad news? People were drinking it anyway, so why not make some tax money off it? Hmm, that argument sounds familiar. I have always liked the idea of Absinthe, but I am not so sure about the reality. Anyway, it is always good to have more choices.
