What happens when you drink absinthe?
First of all, we might have to disappoint you. You will not hallucinate if you drink absinthe (sorry). This means that absinthe is not a psychedelic drug, even if many people still believe this. Also, the drink was no stronger in van Gogh's time than it is today. The thujone content of historical varieties has been analyzed, and it has been confirmed that even this old absinthe did not contain more thujone than is legal today (35 mg). Nevertheless, absinthe does have a certain effect. In this context, one speaks of a mental and physical activation that sets in after consuming two to three glasses of absinthe. Your senses are sharpened, and you perceive your surroundings more consciously. We have dedicated an entire page to the effects of absinthe. So if you want to learn more, just click on the link. Below you will see an overview of particularly strong absinthe varieties that, in our experience, have a good effect. So if you are looking for the absinthe effect, you should buy one of these absinthes.
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How else can you drink absinthe?
In addition to the traditional French drinking ritual, there are other forms of absinthe preparation. Meanwhile, for example, the fire ritual has also become established. This is particularly popular in the Czech Republic. Here, the sugar cube is not doused with water, but initially soaked in absinthe and then set on fire. The sugar burns and caramelizes. Since the fire ritual is a special eye-catcher, it is mainly used in bars or at parties. However, this ritual of drinking absinthe is more than frowned upon by connoisseurs. This is because it supports the wrong image of the drink. It communicates a drug-like character of the drink, which once unjustly led to the ban of the Green Fairy. Absinthe, when properly prepared and enjoyed, is not a psychoactive drug. Of course, absinthe contains a lot of alcohol, but it is not to be equated with other hard drugs.
How do you drink absinthe with fire?
Preferably not at all. Because the fire ritual also means that the fine taste of the absinthe is destroyed by the fire and the caramelization of the sugar. Absinthe is a distillate with many aromas; these should be enjoyed and not "burned off." Or would you think of setting a good whiskey on fire...? In the following video, we show you what else can happen if you set absinthe on fire.
Mixing absinthe? With Coke or an energy drink?
Absinthe is sometimes also mixed with other drinks. The mixture with an energy drink, e.g., Red Bull, is particularly popular. The sweet taste of the soda masks the anise flavor of the green spirit. Therefore, this mixed drink is particularly popular with newcomers. Sometimes, an Absinthe-Cola is also mixed in bars as a cocktail or long drink. This mixture is derived from the already known and widespread drink Pernod-Cola. Especially in the 80s, this mixed drink was very popular in Germany and was considered innovative and unusual. In fact, we quite like this recipe, but you shouldn't use a particularly fine spirit for it. Because basically, mixing absinthe with cola is like casting pearls before swine... We clearly prefer the classic, proper preparation with water and sugar.
However, an interesting drinking alternative is cocktails with absinthe. They are characterized by their special aroma and history. The high-proof herbal liqueur with its distinctive anise flavor is often used only in small quantities because it is very intense. In cocktails, absinthe gives drinks a spicy, slightly bitter note and provides complex depth. Classic cocktails like the "Sazerac" often use absinthe only as a coating for the glass. This means that only small doses are used in absinthe cocktails to refine the flavors without dominating. Due to its complexity, absinthe is particularly suitable for experimental mixed drinks with character. We have put together a few recipes for you. On our Absinthe Cocktail page, you will also find our top 3 cocktail recipes.
World of Absinthe Set - Standard
With this Absinthe set you get everything you need to enter the world of Absinthe. The set contains a bottle of our bestseller and silver awarded Absinthe Strong68 (ISW 2025), two traditional stainless steel Absinthe spoons and Reservoir Absinthe glasses as well as a large packet of sugar cubes for the traditional preparation of the drinks. Strong68 is made with grand wormwood (artemisia absinthium) and has a strong alcohol content of 68% by v...
When is the right time to drink absinthe?
Traditionally, absinthe was drunk between 5 and 6 PM. So, after work. This period was also called the "Green Hour" (Heure Verte). In the early 19th century, a lot of life still took place outside one's own four walls. Often, people didn't have the money to heat their own homes, or the apartment was simply in poor condition. So people met much more often in cafés and bistros than today and enjoyed the luxury there. Drinking alcohol was also a popular after-work activity. An exaggerated health consciousness did not yet prevail. Quite the opposite, spirits manufacturers sometimes actively promoted the supposed health-promoting effects of their elixirs. The following advertising poster by the historical absinthe manufacturer "Terminus" advertises, for example, the beneficial effect of Absinthe "bienfaisante". Of course, such advertising is still practiced today, one only needs to think of the various advertisements for bitters. However, advertisers are increasingly focusing on less assailable topics. For example, the fun one can have with a certain spirit. Or the lifestyle one can express by enjoying the drink. Think of beer advertisements that proclaim freedom (Sail away, dream a dream..).
It is particularly important at the moment to communicate the history and origin of the drink. This is also called storytelling. Automobile companies or luxury brands particularly enjoy doing this. Brands strive for authenticity and want to build it through their brand story. This is not reprehensible; on the contrary, if a brand has an interesting story, it should tell it! And precisely at this point, Absinthe has an advantage over many spirits. The Green Fairy looks back on an incomparably long history. Absinthe is a drink that is truly unique and authentic!
If you want to learn more, visit our Blog, where you will find even more information on the topic. For example, how to drink Absinthe and what Absinthe is. If you want to buy a bottle of Absinthe, just browse our Absinthe shop. You will surely be quickly fascinated by the world of Absinthe!