Absinthe FAQ .. and infrequently AQ too

Any absinthe questions you want answered? Just add them as a comment to this post, and I'll reply, again in the comments, usually within 24 hours.

In the meantime, this article looks at some of the questions people have asked Google (or the other search engines) to find this site.

Using Google Analytics, I can see what search terms are used to find this blog. Hopefully most of the questions have answers somewhere on the blog, but, knowing that some of them don't, I thought I'd attempt to answer as many of them as possible on this page.

How to make absinthe: don't. Taking short-cuts will be illegal and could be fatal. Doing it the right way will take a lot of money and time: are you prepared for that? Now absinthe is legal and some of the best absinthes previously available only on the internet are heading your way, what's the point of making your own?

Absinthe cocktails: 106 listed in one article in this blog with a few others scattered around elsewhere.

Absinthe Singapore: absinthe is finally getting to Singapore, although at the time of writing the selection was very small. Singaporeans might get a better selection over the bridge in Malaysia where La Clandestine and Angélique will shortly be available.

Is Lucid real absinthe: yes.

Is Logan Fils genuine absinthe: maybe one of the products is. However their so-called Swiss absinthe does not come from Switzerland. Maybe their labels or bottles are Swiss-made? Read comments on Logan Fils here.

Clandestine absinthe thujone: yes.

Where can I buy absinthe: it's almost getting easier to see where "can't" I buy absinthe? Absinthe is now legal in almost every country where liquor is legal (except some South American countries apparently).

In USA, it's available in every State, in Bevmo through to DrinkUp New York.

In Canada, the range of absinthes widely available is slowly improving, with Taboo, a new locally-distilled absinthe, hitting some headlines and Spirits Corner still chosen by many.

In UK, it's in most supermarkets, but for a larger selection, go to Soho Wine, Vintage House, Drink Shop, DrinkOn, Gerry's etc.

In Australia, the range available is improving, thanks to Absinthe Salon. More news soon.

Most expensive absinthe: interesting question. Spend $60 on an absinthe that isn't a real absinthe, and that's really expensive! Spend $ 80 or more dollars on absinthes that are shining examples of a distiller's art, and that's cheap!

Best real absinthe: modesty forbids ... Seriously I have drunk - or at least sampled - more than 40 absinthes. Most of the distilled, uncoloured or naturally coloured - absinthes are well worth trying. Read the Wormwood Society or Fée Verte for more!

Best Czech absinthe: at the time my blog mentioned this, it might have been Oliva. Now it seems more likely to be St. Antoine.

Mike Marvin absinthe: was this someone searching for himself? Confidentiality issues prohibit me from commenting!

What is real absinthe: do I have to answer again?

Is Ted Breaux real: a bit like asking if the tooth fairy is real ... What do you think?

Highest thujone absinthe: who cares?

How to make absinthe spoon: ask him ...



Absinthe side effects memory: Sorry, say that again ...

Absinthe rental: what an interesting idea. With some lower quality products, I suppose ownership may only be temporary, but I won't go into further detail.

Buying Absinthe blog: My blog is not for sale.

Czech Republic women: Very nice.

Czech Panty: No comment.

do you have to make absinthe avoid your tongue: why?

gwydion stone trinity: is this the so-called holy trinity of absinthe ingredients or Gwydion's wife?



I suppose I should tell Gwydion who is trying to find his wife .... unless of course it was Gwydion himself who was searching .....

how long absinth lasts: hah!

how much absinthe do you need for two people: two bottles.

invest in absinthe company: tell me more ...

japan absinthe and rape: Crosby?

my sex story while drinking absinthe: while? I hope not? Afterwards, maybe.

number 1 absinthe in the world: .....

original swiss absinthe recipe: no, I doubt if anyone I know would want to divulge their recipe.

where can i buy moss: so that's why it's called the Green fairy!

ted breaux girlfriend: asked by someone in ... well, I know the town and State of that request, but it wouldn't be fair of me to say, would it?!

More interesting questions used by my readers to find my blog will follow!

The Most Visited Absinthe Websites?

The above analysis from compete.com shows the approximate number of visits made from the USA to some of the top absinthe sites found by searching Google.

It shows absinthebuyersguide.com and eabsinthe.com having 52% and 36% fewer visits in June 2008 compared with June 2007; with absinth.com and originalabsinthe.com up 66% and 17% respectively.



The biggest changes are the big drop in visits to absinthe.bz (down more than 60% on last year; advertising featured in my previous blog story) and the appearance of drinklucid.com in the top three (nearly 9,000 visits in June 2008, and catching up fast on the two leaders). At the same time, while FeeVerte.net has been stable over the last year, the other main forum, the Wormwood Society, is catching it up fast and is now receiving almost four times as many US visits as last year.

Knowing that the graphs are difficult to read, here is a summary of visits made from the USA to each of these sites: June 2007 > June 2008. And remember that these are approximate numbers only.

Absinth.com 6,634 > 11,027 (+ 66%)
OriginalAbsinthe.com 8,345 > 9,743 (+ 17%)
DrinkLucid.com 2,844 > 8,886 (+ 212%)
FeeVerte.net 6,524 > 6,547 (+ 0%)
AbsintheBuyersGuide.com 12,419 > 5,929 (- 52%)
Wormwood Society 1,485 > 5,909 (+ 298%)
Absinthe.bz 15,668 > 5,758 (- 63%)
eAbsinthe.com 4,832 > 3,105 (- 36%)

So what do these trends reveal?

1. While Google position is important, drinklucid.com fares well with a relatively low position: consumers are increasingly likely to be searching for specific absinthe brand names nowadays.

2. Interest in real absinthe seems to be increasing rapidly, with Lucid and the Wormwood Society the fastest growing sites. It is fascinating to witness the changes in consumption mirrored by - or maybe even led by - a change in sites visited.

3. In the next few months, it seems possible that drinklucid.com will become the most highly visited absinthe site in the USA.

4. Of course there is still one absinthe page that probably gets even more visits but I cannot reveal its figures. No, it's not this blog and it's not false modesty or confidentiality that is hiding my reader numbers! It's the Wikipedia page on absinthe: visit numbers unknown.

Any comments on all these numbers from my IT-minded readers? Any other interesting (and free!) site statistics?!

Absinth Advertising - Sans Mots

I offer this selection of advertising used by absinthe.bz/ without commentary.





There are many more ads from this company to look at elsewhere on my blog.

If any of my readers have any comments, please feel free to make them!

Swiss Absinthe Exports Boom!

Absinthe sales are hitting the international news, with Bloomberg reporting that almost 90% of Swiss absinthe production is now exported and of this more than two-thirds goes to the USA. Maybe a lot more than "more than two-thirds" too.

With more than 144,000 litre bottles exported in total in the first half of 2008, a conservative estimate would put Swiss absinthe exports to the USA in this period at around 100,000 bottles.

The graph shows the impact of just the first Swiss absinthe, Kübler, hitting the USA. With La Clandestine following soon and others probably on their way (at least two other Swiss brands have filed USA trademark applications), it looks like many Americans will be enjoying a White Christmas in 2008!

Any inside forecasts for total US absinthe sales in 2008? One million bottles? More? Or, if the Swiss cannot keep up with demand, will we see more signs like this?

List of Absinthes Approved for US launch (or in process)

This image was used to illustrate Swiss absinthe moving "from the shade to the light" when they were legalized in 2005.

UPDATED JULY 22, 2015

111 now approved (including significantly re-formulated brands), at least 122 either approved or in process!

PLEASE NOTE THAT MANY EXPERTS WOULD SAY THAT NOT ALL THESE PRODUCTS ARE IN FACT REAL ABSINTHE. BUT THAT'S ANOTHER ARTICLE!

............................................................................................

Following an earlier posting, some readers said that it would be useful to have a full list of absinthes approved for US launch or thought to have pending applications, combined with references to public commentary or reviews. I will update this page whenever new absinthes are listed on the TTB website or are announced and/or discussed publicly.

Bookmark this page to check back for new updates.

Listed on the TTB website or found in the US market


1. Lucid: reviews. New label approval: March 2012. Even newer label approval: March 2015.

2. Kübler: reviews.
3. St. George: reviews.
4. Grande Absente: some experts do not consider this to be a real absinthe, since the label states it is a liqueur and thus it contains sugar. Absinthes do not contain sugar. Commentary.
5. Le Tourment Vert: same sugar comment as Grande Absente. reviews. Brand now withdrawn but bottles may still be found in some States.
6. La Fée Parisienne: reviews. See No. 93 which is a replacement for this.
7. Mythe Absinthe Traditional: reviews.
8. Libertine. Believed to have been withdrawn.
9. Mata Hari Absinthe Bohemian: commentary.
10. La Crème Kübler: not an absinthe, but a liqueur with an absinthe base. Nothing known about this product apart from the labels. Not yet launched in the USA.
11. Vincent van Gogh Klasiek Absinthe from Luctor (of Vincent van Gogh Vodka): nothing known about this product apart from its label. Not yet launched in the USA.
12. Artemisia (Fat Dog Spirits, Florida): apart from its label, nothing is known about this product.
13. La Muse Verte: discussion.
14/15. Two Sirène brands from Chicago's North Shore Distillery: blanche approved, but still no launch date.
16. Denver's Leopold: reviews.
17. Trillium: discussion. Now withdrawn.
18. La Clandestine Absinthe: reviews.
19. Versinthe Versinthe "real" absinthe has been rumoured for some while, but it is strange to see this latest TTB approval, with a "Versinthe" brand classified within "OTHER FRUIT & PEELS LIQUEURS." The label has now been added on the TTB website, showing that this a 45% abv (or 90 proof) absinthe.
20. Marteau De La Belle Epoque: Gwydion Stone's Marteau has not changed its name. It seems that the TTB spell-checker has broken down. Replaced by Master's Reserve (89 below).
21. Obsello: the first Spanish absinthe, although on its initial label, it was claimed to be suisse grade. Later re-launched as a California absinthe and now withdrawn.
22. Duplais Verte: the first of the Tempus Fugit Spirits to be approved.
23. Mansinthe: the second Tempus Fugit Spirit brand.
24. Vieux Pontarlier: the third Tempus Fugit brand.
25. The first Czech absinthe, St. Antoine Reserve. Discussed in some detail at Fée Verte. Not yet launched in the USA.
26. Taboo Genuine from Canada? Label details not yet visible on the TTB site, but if it's Taboo from Canada, it seems likely to be this Taboo.  (Edit: yes, it is). Not yet launched in the USA.
27. Pernod Aux Extraits de l'Absinthe: announced here for July 2008 launch. Reviews. Now withdrawn and replaced by 87 below.
28. Djabel: the second Czech "absinth." Believed to have been discontinued in the USA.
29. Green Fairy: the third Czech "absinth." Still available in a few States.
30. Jade Nouvelle-Orléans: at last. As pre-announced in June. Label not yet visible on the TTB site.
31. Vieux Carré: from Philadelphia Distilling. Interesting to see TWO New Orleans related absinthes in one week. Embyronic website only at 31 October 2008. Vieux Carré seems likely to be available in Pennsylvania soon (or now?) according to this.
32. Pere Francois, the first of four absinthes that seem to be handled by Unique Imports (see also below). Difficult to find in the USA.
33. Koruna, the 4th Czech brand and the 3rd from the same company. Difficult to find in the USA.
34. La Valote, another Swiss brand from the Val-du-Travers. Difficult to find in the USA.
35. La Charlotte from the same company that makes La Libertine. Difficult to find in the USA and appears to be heavily discounted.
36. Pacifique from Marc Bernhard. Read about it at the Wormwood Society and on their blog.
37. Manguin Premium Number One. Another absinthe from Unique. Only seen in Las Vegas.
38. Upsynth, the authentic genuine Austrian absinthe spirit. From a company that market an absinthe and soda premix in Australia. Discussed (note spelling) here. Not yet launched in the USA.
39. Corsair Red, apparently the first red-coloured absinthe to be launched in the USA from Corsair Artisan in Kentucky.
40/41. The two new absinthes from Delaware Phoenix (a little distillery in upstate New York): Walton Waters and Meadow of Love. Congratulations, Cheryl!
42. Francois Guy, at last! Not yet launched in the USA.
43. Lemercier, the fourth absinthe from Unique. Difficult to find in the USA.
44. Lamesinthe La Verte. Another French product which is described on the label as a liqueur. Difficult to find in the USA.Presumably this means it contains sugar: some experts would say that this is therefore not real abinthe.
45. Absente looks likely to be re-launched with an artemisia absinthium base. Will they be selling the new Absente at the same price as the old Absente, e.g. $31 and upwards? Does this indicate that Grande Absente has not been very successful (this also has a new label approval, but it is not visible on the TTB site). Both labels are approved with the qualification "THE FINISHED PRODUCT MUST BE "THOUGHTFUL" PURSUANT THE 21 CFR 172.510," whatever that means!
46/47. Abyss Authentic and Abyss Raspberry (!): labels not yet visible on the TTB site, although the mispelt advice on the TTB approval that these must be "MUST BE THYNE FREE PURSUANT TO 21 CFR 172.510" coupled with the Abyss trademark registration makes it clear these are to be marketed as absinthe.
48. Fleurs du Mal: which has no actual reference to absinthe but the glass, strength and brand name clearly suggest it is aimed at the absinthe market. Difficult to find in the USA.
49. Herbsaint: now approved. see this blog for more information. The latest label approval shows that the "absinthe" descriptor has now been removed from the label, but I'll leave this in this list for sentimental reasons!
50. Absinthe Ordinaire from the makers of Absente and Grande Absente. Again declared as a liqueur because of its sugar content. Apparently I have to go back to Absinthe College because this label states: "Legend has it that the first true Absinthe recipe was created by Dr. Pierre Ordinaire in 1792 in rural France." Seems that Wikipedia, the Virtual Absinthe Museum , and all the other experts disagree.
51. La Fée NV. 38%. I expect this one will arouse some interest on the Forums! Fée Verte discussion here.
52. Edward 111: Discovered in late night Tweets on Twitter. One of us may have been drinking (it helps!). Formula and label now approved. A traditional bleue style absinthe that will be produced in upstate New York and launch by mid to end of summer 2009 in NYC. Now appears to have been withdrawn.
53. Duplais Blanche: reviews. The 4th absinthe from Tempus Fugit with rumours of at least one more to come.
54. Crispin's Supérieure launch announced in the San Francisco Chronicle on August 15th, 2008. This now seems likely to emerge as Germain-Robin Aromatic Brandy, according to the COLA issued in March 2009.
55. Mephisto from the distillers of Mata-Hari. Difficult to find in the USA.
56/57. Two absinthes from the Great Lakes Distillery, Milwaukee under the Amerique 1912 name and both in 375 ml bottles: Absinthe Verte and Absinthe Rouge.
58. Fenom Modern Absinthe. 40% abv. Hand-crafted by "one of France's few remaining absinthe experts." Website coming soon.
59/60. La Sorciere. Made by Master Distiller, Davorin Kuchan, from his family recipe. Old World Spirits, 50% abv, with a brandy base. A verte and a blanche.
61/62. Bairnfather Extra Anise Absinth and Bairnsfather Natural Absinth: discussion here. Not yet launched in the USA.
63. Tabu Classic Strong from Germany. I wonder if we will ever see Taboo from Canada which was approved for launch some time ago. Not yet launched in the USA.
64. C.F. Berger Esprit Originale: apparently the US version of the old Verte Suisse. Not yet launched in the USA.
65. Esprit Edouard Supérieure: the third of the Jade range. Not yet launched in the USA.
66. 1901. The last of the Jade range.
67. Obstinée, another Swiss absinthe.
68. Trinity Absinthe Supérieure from Overland Distillery, Colorado.
69. Michel P. Roux Supreme Absinthe, at 75.5% a.b.v. (151 proof), this was the highest strength absinthe approved for US launch at the time (now overaken by number 76 on the list). The label states it is a 375 ml bottle and that every bottle is individually numbered. Unfortunately it also contains artificial colours.
70. Tenneyson Royale, another absinthe produced at the Emile Pernot distillery in Pontarlier. Brand website.

71/72. Ridge Absinthes from Joe Legate formerly known as T73, of the Wormwood Society. Both a blanche and a verte are now approved, according to their blog. Now re-launched as Vilya Absinthes.
73. Parnasse Absinth Superiore, the first Italian absinth(e) to be approved for US launch. At 50% and with a label that declares artificial colourings. Difficult to find in the USA.
74. Heritage from France via Alandia (the trademark owner), a verte to be sold by Tempus Fugit Spirits.
75. Brevans H.R. Giger, another from Tempus Fugit.
76. Gruner Fee from Fischer, Austria.
77. Knarr Absinthe Verte from Oregon. At 160 proof (or 80% abv), I believe this is the strongest alcohol content absinthe so far approved for US launch. Not that it is necessarily a good thing ...
78. Absente La Creme. Absinthe Cream Liqueur from the makers of Absente. 18% a.b.v. With artifical colours, and to be consumed within 6 months of opening. Interesting to note that Kübler have a similar approval (see 10 above), but have not yet launched this product in the USA, or indeed anywhere.
79. Blues Cat: another interesting absinthe from Delaware Phoenix. More details here. Produced as a one-off and now difficult to find in the USA.
80. Wild Card Pacific North West Absinthe.
81. Emperor Norton Absinthe Dieu, from San Francisco.
82. Letherbee Charred Oak Absinthe Brun, from Chicago.
83. Brimstone Liqueur Absinthe, from New Mexico.
84. At last, Toulouse Red from New Orleans.
85. Greenvillian Absinthe Nouveau from Dark Corner Distillery in South Carolina.
86. La Fée Blanche. Difficult to find in the USA.
87. Pernod (The Original Recipe): See longer write-up. This is listed separately here, since it is clearly a different product from 27 above.
88. Butterfly Classic Absinthe. Originally produced in Boston over 100 years ago, and now made in Switzerland.
89. Marteau Extrait D'Absinthe.
90. Redux from Colorado.
91. Toulouse Green from New Orleans.
92. Toad Chateau Espanole Tropical: from Wisconsin.
93. Replacement for No. 6 La Fée Parisienne: all-natural.
94. Fassett's Sixty Five. From Washington.
95. Tree Spirits (based on Apple Spirit): from Maine.
96. Doc's, at last. Made in Brooklyn.
97. Copper and King's Blanche Absinthe, from Kentucky. Not seen on the TTB site.
98. Haint Absinthe from Oregon. Again not seen on the TTB site.
99. Crown Valley Missouri Absinthe: an ultimate rarity! Not seen on the TTB site and not on the distiller's website. We have found a few retailers with limited stocks!
100. Eckert and Guthrie Absinthe Blanche from Livermore, California. Apparently a joint venture involving Winston Guthrie, author of one of the best books of absinthe cocktails.
101. Artisan Spirits Légende Blanche: quite possibly the same as no. 100 above. Same address, same strength (68% abv).
102. Artisan Spirits Légende  Verte: from the same company as 101 above.
103. Toulouse Green: at last the Verte from Atelier Vie, New Orleans (see 84 above).
104 - 106. Three vapor distilled blanches from Copper and Kings (again not seen on the TTB site).
107. Glenrose Spirits Absinthe Verte, made in North Rose. NY.
108. Kubler Verte: on the TTB site, confirmed on Facebook. "6,000 bottles for the US - just arrived. 375 mls only."
109. Mount Defiance absinthe made in Virginia. On TTB, and sold in Washington DC.
110. Les Poetes Recette 1903, from Racine, Val-de-Travers.
111. Green Siren Alaskan absinthe: 375 ml (two COLA's: no discernible difference). These do not state absinthe, but the herb bill and the method of consumption make it clear that it is an absinthe.

Publicly announced but not yet listed on TTB

112. Obsello Special Edition Distiller's Reserve: discussed on the Wormwood Society.
113. Arcane Absinthe?
114. Absinthe Minded from Oregon Spirit Distillers.
115. Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries have announced their intention to launch absinthe.
116.  Esprit Vert, from Southern Alchemy. As discussed on Fée Verte.
117. Wormwood Star Absinthe from Florida.
118. Lovelle Absinthe: In progress for several years. Now promising that "The first product line of Lovelle Absinthes will debut across the world in the fourth quarter of 2013." Not convinced!
119. Void Absinthe: "We are currently working building our new distillation facility" but, for some reason we cannot tell you where that is. Sounds suspicious!
120. Synthe Absinthe: from Disobedient Spirits, Pennsylvania.
121. Mariposa Absinthe: yes, that's Spanish for Butterfly.
122. Hapsburg Absinthe: confirmed in their Facebook feed.

Unsubstantiated Rumours and Gossip

123. Artemisia Collection: added here following comment left by Anonymous. To be transferred "up" the list as and when something more substantial appears or someone translates their website for me! Their latest press release suggests that they are looking for a US importer ...

As a quick side-note, some readers might be interested in this article about the TTB process.

And to read this from a letter in The UK Independent:

"Wine bureaucrats lose their bottle

Roger Hewell's letter (19 August) reminded me of a visit to a Californian winery. The labels on all the bottles, in addition to the usual health warnings, bore at the bottom the words "Open other end".

The proprietor told us that all wine labels had to be submitted for approval to the US government. When he sent in his first label with "Open other end" on it, it was returned with an instruction to remove these words. The proprietor replied that if the government would guarantee to pay all damages claimed by anyone who had tried to open the wrong end, then he would do as instructed. He never had a reply.

John Evans, Marlow, Buckinghamshire"

Back to the subject, do any of my readers have any other imminent absinthes to add to this list?