“Green Fairy“ Finest Absinthe 70% ABV 80ml Box Set

Product Information

The color of the distillate is clear and is often bottled this way in a style known as Blanche or la Bleue or as a bright green. The coloring is added, either through the chlorophyll from steeping herbs like hyssop, melissa and petite wormwood in the liquor or adding artificial coloring. It is commonly referred to in historical literature as “ la fée verte” (the green fairy). Absinthe enthusiasts know that it originated from Switzerland and the drink was extremely popular among French writers and artists around the 19th century. This is also when Absinthe was given the moniker of "the Green Fairy". Absinthe was supplied to French troops as a malaria preventative in the 1840s, which made them develop a taste for it when they returned home. As a result, it became widely popular among young urbanites. In addition, because of mass production procedures, absinthe's price fell, and it became one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in France. A lot has changed since absinthe was banned in the beginning of the 20th century. In Europe, the Green Fairy flies freely again following recent re-legalization, and there are some excellent absinthes to be had. It must also be remembered that in the many French cafes and restaurants which have recently sprung up in London, Absinthe is always to be obtained at its customary low price -- French habits, French fashions, French books, French pictures, are particularly favoured by the English, and who can predict that French drug-taking shall not also become a la mode in Britain?"

Originally, the absinthe drink was intended as an aperitif. The bars and cafes of fin de siecle Paris celebrated the “ Green Hour“, a late-afternoon period when Parisians downed their pre-dinner glass (or three) of the green liquor.

But what is absinthe?

Absinthe was once popular among artists and writers and was drunk by Van Gogh, Baudelaire, and Verlaine, to name a few. It appears to have been believed to stimulate creativity. However, in the 1850's, there began to be concern about the results of chronic use. Chronic use of absinthe was believed to produce a syndrome, called absinthism, which was characterized by addiction, hyperexcitability, and hallucinations.

In addition to these ingredients, manufacturers sometimes added other ingredients to produce the drink's emerald green color. Normally, this color was due to the presence of chlorophyll from the plants. However, in the event that the product was not properly colored, absinthe makers were known to add things like copper sulfate, indigo, turmeric, and aniline green. Antimony chloride was also used to help the drink become cloudy when added to water. Presumably modern makers of Pernod and absinthe use safer ingredients for their concoctions!

The Green Revival

If you think all the hallucinogenic effects are just rumors, then you should know that Absinthe DOES consist of psychoactive ingredients. Thujone is a psychoactive byproduct of a herb called wormwood; if you’re having Absinthe with wormwood, then you better get ready for some surreal visuals. Simon and Schulter's "Guide to Herbs and Spices" tells us that Henri-Louis Pernod used aniseed, fennel, hyssop, and lemonbalm along with lesser amounts of angelica, star anise, dittany, juniper, nutmeg, and veronica. These ingredients were macerated together with wormwood plants. After leaving the mixture to sit, water was added and the mixture was distilled. Dried herbs, including more wormwood, were added to the distillate, which was then diluted with alcohol to give a concentration of about 75% alcohol by volume. Different absinthe manufacturers used slightly different ingredients, sometimes using calamus, which has been purported to have psychoactive effects. A few variations on the traditional drinking ritual have popped up since. One recent method how to drink absinthe involves pouring absinthe itself — rather than water — over the cube of sugar, then setting fire to the absinthe-soaked cube. Purists and absinthe snobs condemn this method and resolutely declare that one should never drink absinthe like that. But that hasn’t stopped some drinkers taking the “fire ritual” further still: the sugar cube goes out of the metaphorical window, and the emerald liquor itself is set on fire.

What a slut," declared George Moore, a British art critic, when, in 1893, he first set his eyes on Edgar Degas's painting L'Absinthe. The "slut" in the picture was not the Green Fairy, but a French actress portrayed drinking absinthe in a Parisian cafe. She was one Ellen Andree, the painter's friend, shown in a reflective moment in a cafe called La Nouvelle-Athenes.Herb Sainte and Pernod are names of modern wormwood-free absinthes. Typically, additional star anise is added to balance the flavor. Herb Sainte is manufactured in New Orleans. Pernod is named after Henri-Louis Pernod, who founded the most important absinthe distillery in France in the early 1800s. ml Absinthe, Seedless Green Grapes, 1 dash Angostura Bitters, 37 1/2 ml Gin, 20 ml Ginger Syrup,Juice of 1/2 Lime, Soda Water, Candied Ginger 2) Death in the Afternoon The abrupt end came in the second decade of the twentieth century when the Belgians, then the Swiss and the French banned absinthe. By that time, the Green Fairy had prompted a generation of artists to produce countless works dedicated to, or inspired by, the curious creature with green wings.

Inspiring and liberating, the Green Fairy was a powerful symbol of the avant-garde elite that gathered in Parisian cafes at the turn of the last two centuries. In this sense, the Fairy was what pot later became to the hippie subculture of the 1960s. In her company -- or under her influence -- Belle Epoque writers and artists became lucid commentators on an emerging new world. With the stroke of a brush or a pen, they experimented, they rebelled, they provoked, and so they successfully subverted the stuffy conventions of the time. L'Absinthe: One case in point All the curiosity around Absinthe liquor is because of its history while some people are truly fascinated in its pour. Some of the more adventurous people that are pulled into this world are attracted because of the enigmatic effects it has on the drinker. You’ll know what we’re talking about once you indulge in this mysterious liquor. You have been brought here because you have an interest in seeking the decadent and intoxicating journey that is Absinthe. You’ve arrived at the right place because we are hoping to guide you while you explore this exciting world.

The Green Curse: Effects of Absinthe

Meanwhile in Paris, the Green Fairy had long been a welcomed guest in the Nouvelle-Athenes cafe, the place Degas depicted in L'Absinthe. Sarah Bernhard drunk there, as did Van Gogh, Lautrec, Gauguin, Manet, Monet and other famous and not-so-famous bohemians. Over a glass of absinthe, they painted and wrote, discussed and shared ideas, or just gossipped, sang or read poetry. Here, all we have to say is that Absinthe is as unique as they come. This drink doesn’t necessarily bring you the same effects of all those illegal drugs but Absinthe hallucination includes awakening your senses in a way that other alcoholic beverages cannot. As you sip on through your drink, we recommend that you listen to your favorite melodies or even sift through your photo-books of beautiful memories. With the increased levels of sensory awareness, true pleasure and feelings are the most common and true effect we have found in our experience. This effect is what made Absinthe very popular among some of the legendary names out there such as Rimbaud, Hemingway, and Van Gogh – among so many more. Still, we don’t want you to believe that Van Gogh chose to cut his ear off because of his Absinthe binge! Speak the Green Language There have been a number of famous absinthe drinkers throughout time, most notably among artists and other creatives in the 19th century. You may know a lot about Absinthe but experiencing this liquor might still be a mystery to you. Indulge yourself in the experience of preparing, pouring, and sipping Absinthe. Once you’ve done this, you will be able to speak in the extravagant Green language and you may just have The Green Fairy Absinthe to talk to. Share Your Experiences