by Sarah Ganly
Absinthe is the most wonderful shade of green. This substance, also known as the green fairy, usually consists of 50% to 70% of alcohol. This means that absinthe is 100 to 140 proof. This is an extremely large amount of alcohol. It should not be consumed alone. This alcohol is so strong that it is actually illegal in the United States.
Absinthe's delicious flavor and aroma is attributed to the use of anise and fennel in the creation of the substance. Wormwood also plays a key role in the production of this incredible drink. Wormwood contains a chemical that is similar to the chemical in marijuana. This chemical creates a pleasant feeling when consumed. The chemical is called thujone; it adds the bitter taste found in absinthe.
This exceptional green potion was created by a doctor named Pierre Ordinaire, but this drink is not the least bit ordinary. When it was originally created it was used to cure many different ailments. It was considered by numerous people to be a wonder drug. Absinthe, containing an unusually strong amount of alcohol, would definitely ease one's pain. One can assume that the wormwood also produces a wonderful feeling. Such delightful feelings would make anyone's suffering or sickness seem to be healed. Absinthe was even given to French troops to prevent sicknesses.
Absinthe was very popular in France in the late 1800's. Absinthe was known for its ability to creatively stimulate. Many famous artist's and writers partook of this controversial drink. Ernest Hemingway was known to take pleasure in this glorious emerald treat. Pablo Picasso even dedicated his artistic talent to painting glasses of absinthe on more than one occasion. Vincent Van Gogh, Oscar Wilde, and Arthur Rimbaud are some of the other known admitted absinthe fans. Scores of writers and artists were known to enjoy absinthe as their drink of choice.
This distinctive cocktail has also been blamed for the murder of a man's wife. In 1905 a man named Jean Lanfray became extremely inebriated from drinking absinthe. In his drunken frenzy he proceeded to murder his wife. At this point in time prohibition was on the rise. The murder of Lanfray's wife became attributed to absinthe, thus giving the drink a bad name. Lanfray claimed to only have consumed two absinthe mixtures. It is hard to truly hold absinthe responsible for a man's decision to take someone's life. This decision relies more on the heart and soul of a man than his liquor of choice.
Absinthe is also known as an aphrodisiac. This brew was very popular in the wealthy club scene in France. It was revered by countless elite male and female socialites. Absinthe was especially popular at the Moulin Rouge. Drinking absinthe concoctions at the Moulin Rouge was all the rage during the 1800's. It was a typical to see multiple men and women sipping lime green colored cocktails and dancing lewdly any night at the Moulin Rouge. Absinthe and the club scene went hand-in-hand due to the drinks euphoric effects.
Absinthe has had a long and interesting history. This mesmerizing drink is legal to possess and buy in the United States. It is not legal to sell in the U.S. This celebrated jade potion is also legal in Canada, Spain, and the Czech Republic. Absinthe is known for its ethereal effects, its ability to inspire, and its inevitable talent for getting the user intoxicated. Although absinthe is not as easy to come by as any other alcohol; it is world renowned for several reasons.
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