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Researchers analyzed 13 samples of preban absinthe from sealed bottles — “the first time that such a wide ranging analysis of absinthe from the preban era has been attempted”. The analysis included thujone, widely regarded as the “active” ingredient in absinthe.
“It is certainly at the root of absinthe’s reputation as being more drug than drink,” according to Lachenmeier. Thujone was blamed for “absinthe madness” and “absinthism,” a collection of symptoms including hallucinations, facial contractions, numbness, and dementia.
However, the study found relatively small concentrations of thujone, amounts less than previously estimated and not sufficient to explain absinthism…”All things considered, nothing besides ethanol was found in the absinthes that was able to explain the syndrome of absinthism”.
140-proof alcohol is sufficient to reinforce anyone’s belief in myth.
I’ve found it interesting that absinthe has become so trendy again with the wanna-be-cool crowd, considering that most absinthe produced today is barely even the same drink.
People could have a sensitivity to thujone. I do agree that alcohol plus the social phenomenon of the drink would effect peoples perception of an intoxicated state. People on alcohol do some ridiculous shit. If the lay public seen the car crashes, aggravated assaults and random bullshit – alcohol would be illegal on Monday. Absinthe taste like piss and no amount of whorey-metal/gothy music would make it taste better. Nor would a cube of sugar.
Drugs are dangerous.
Thats why I only drink anti-freeze, with a little Scope mixed in (I like the minty taste).
Field medicine question what is the antidote to anti-freeze ingestion?
#4, a couple shots of everclear?
#4 death
#5 Correcto! Well, sorta. There has to be a IV drip. Usually, I’ve heard a quality Vodka was used.
#4 – more anti-freeze.
You have to build up resistance.
Start drinking at an early age.
If your mother was an alcoholic (or a crack-whore) then you have a genetic advantage.
There is a problem with this study..
1 is LEAD..there were MANY person that had lead poisoning in that time. From manufacturing and Paints.
A young man here 20 years ago was sniffing freon then went over to dairy queen and ordered a milkshake -goodbye – drugs are dangerous and expensive, not worth the trouble or high.
It will free you first from burning thirst
That is born of a night of the bowl,
Like a sun ’twill rise through the inky skies
That so heavily hang o’er your souls.
At the first cool sip on your fevered lip
You determine to live through the day,
Life’s again worth while as with a dawning smile
You imbibe your absinthe frappé
I’m willing to buy the social phenomenon–140 proof–lead (or other agent)–explanations put forth by others as all possible, even likely. After all, there’s still folks buying those green markers that are supposed to improve the sound of Compact Discs. But, another thought has crossed my mind.
You don’t suppose that some of the thujone might have lost its effectiveness after being in the bottle (sealed or not) for 100 years, do ya?
Oh, and you notice that they didn’t appear to actually drink any of the stuff. How about a double blind tasting/testing verses 140 proof alcohol without the thujone? That’s where you have to go to prove anything.
With the recent movement towards lifting the ban on Absinthe, I have tried a few brands (it being legal to buy and sell here in Las Vegas).
The big whoopie is the “Grand Wormwood” which produces the thujone, which is only available, at least thusfar, in La Tourment. However, La Tourment isn’t exactly that great tasting. Apparently, and I could be wrong here, but the other brands of Absinthe use a different kind of wormwood, that doesn’t contain the thujone-producing chemical.
Oh, and another thing, anyone that claims to have any idea what preban Absinthe tastes like, or makes references that “this stuff doesn’t taste anything like the ‘real’ stuff” is full of poo. Ask any real Absinthe expert worth their weight and they’ll all say the same thing, “We don’t know. We have the recipe’s, but we’re still just guessing at what it tastes like.”
It’ll take a few years before many of the nuanced and really good Absinthe’s hit the market.
It’s like, you could give the exact recipe of Jack Daniels to someone who’s never tasted the stuff before, and I guarantee you the stuff they make with the recipe may taste like Whiskey, but it won’t be Jack. Same thing here.
Now, as for that 100 proof aspect….
In the past 6 months, I with the help of a few friends have finished 6 bottles of absinthe.
3 Kubler Swiss ($49 1000 mL)<– Best taste & value
2 Lucid ($59 750 mL)
1 Torment ($59 750 mL) <– Worse taste.
(the only 3 brands in the US with wormwood.)
Best way to drink.
Pour 1 1/2 ounces of Absinthe in a 6 oz glass.
Put one cube of sugar on the spoon and pour 4 oz of distilled water over cube slowly.
Stir and then drink the whole 6 oz shot at once.
This drink does not cause you to have hallucinations. But the effect is more of an upper then a downer like most other alcohol. Goes great with smoking da herbs. Four of these well have you walking sideways.
So, Absinthe was the first placebo mind-altering drug ? It worked as effectively as your imagination ? Well, if it is no more dangerous, BRING IT BACK !!!
Actually, #13, you’d be wrong. Pre-ban bottles frequently come to market, and there are people with money to blow who fancy themselves connoisseurs.