Absinthe...

zabsinth · Post by **zabsinth** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:17 pm

This will be my first burn, and I'm not quite sure what to expect...

Anyway, does "one bucket" of grade-A Cascadian absinthe sound like "enough"?

If not, how much would be enough?

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:22 pm

sign me up, I"ll take a bucket..........

Marscrumbs · Post by **Marscrumbs** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:27 pm

Hasn't been an absinthe bar on playa last few years. I brought a bottle and my campmates tried mixing it with mango juice. Yuck! I just finished pouring my bottles for this year if you wish to do a taste test swap. How about at the Librarian cocktail party..see Wedsnesday afternoon WWWW.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:35 pm

Mars:
do you make your own Absynth?
If so, would you consider sharing a recipe? I do love it, got the "bug" in Prague years ago...........

thanks,
Ygmir

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:23 am

bringing a bottle or two..found a cool absynth spoon. Will have it at the Black Rock Roller Disco bar...have to ask for it..

Funky Monkey Mech · Post by **Funky Monkey Mech** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:26 am

is it one of the ones that has the holes in it so you can dilute the sugar into the absynth?

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:30 am

Funky Monkey Mech wrote:is it one of the ones that has the holes in it so you can dilute the sugar into the absynth?

yeah..is apparently swiss, looking at the swiss cross in the center. came in a jewelry box.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:37 am

AND!! Ive posted this question before..but.. I have a Class A License. And can pretty much guarantee, I'm getting a "random" test when I get back. Does wormwood show up as a positive, days later?

Funky Monkey Mech · Post by **Funky Monkey Mech** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:46 am

humm that is a tough one...

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 1:00 am

been checking online..and found it doesn't but also found it did. The din't seemed more credible..guess I'll just warn my boss before I go

Funky Monkey Mech · Post by **Funky Monkey Mech** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 1:05 am

always a good idea....

Marscrumbs · Post by **Marscrumbs** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 11:40 am

TomServo wrote:AND!! Ive posted this question before..but.. I have a Class A License. And can pretty much guarantee, I'm getting a "random" test when I get back. Does wormwood show up as a positive, days later?

I doubt thujone should show up as any of the restricted drugs but I've made a separate anise rich wormwood free batch just for those who don't wish to tickle their livers. Then I don't know in practice. Those test are supose to be very specific using antibodies tags.

Here's the best absinthe making site I've seen and from an old Burner too! http://www.deadflesh.org/fear/absinthe.html

I'm contantly trying variations, but a basic recipe is 1oz wormwood leaf, 1.5 oz mint, 1oz anise seed, 0.5 oz fennel; 0.5 star anise, pinch of cardomon, coriander, clove, nutmeg in a liter of puro ethanol (191'proof) soak five days and strain through coffee filter. I save the dregs for my still after covering in 80' vodka a few more days. This is more mint than most people use but I really like the mint. Often I use lemon balm too. Also one can use half the wormwood if your not really that much into it, It's quite bitter but it becomes an aqcuired taste.

Much has been made about doing maceration (just soaking herbs into a tincture) over real redistillation. I've done both, if you use good wormwood (cheap compared to the alchohal) and don't over soak it I found I like my maceration better than the stink coming out of Europe.

Oh I get my absinthe wormwood and many of my other herbs from the San Franciscon Herb and Natural Food Co. http://www.herbspicetea.com and my 196' alchohal I pick up a litter at a time in Mexico across the Tiajuna border for about $6/l when I can. Else Everclear or 151' rum can be used. If you have a copper spirit still then vodka works for the redistillation.

Also if you bring a friend across the border you can carry back an extra liter.

zabsinth · Post by **zabsinth** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 2:18 pm

Sounds good, Mars, but if it's not distilled, it's not absinthe. There's just no way around it... When used in proper quantity, Wormwood (no matter the quality) is much much too bitter for a palatable beverage. When you share your wormwood tincture with people, please don't tell them that it's absinthe - they'll get just as incorrect an idea about what the drink is supposed to be as they will if they drink the aforementioned Czech swill...

Wormwood-free "absinthe" is called 'pastis' in France, 'anis' in Spain, and is very much akin to Greek ouzo and many variants of middle eastern arrak/raki. It's also not absinthe.

Also: absinthe/wormwood/thujone is not a controlled substance, and is not tested for by anybody as far as I know...

There's a ton of accurate information at http://www.feeverte.net/

On the other hand, the lore and legend surrounding it is usually much more interesting than the truth... :)

Marscrumbs · Post by **Marscrumbs** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 3:21 pm

I care to disagree with the absinthe purist snobs. Absinthe name come with the plant artemesia absinthium related to our native artemesia tridentifolia. Bitterness depends on how long one lets the herb maccerate. The most bitter element does not follow the essential oils when steam distilled. However by practice I've learned this also can be accomplished by using more herb and shortening the extraction time. Herb is relatively cheap.

The green in traditional absinthe comes from added more herb after distillation as is chlorphyll.

But let's share drinks out there for the sake of arguement. I'll save some of the distilled stuff for you if it make you happy. Heck maybe I bring out the alembic.. naught got too many other projects going.

As to the later on anise drinks you are correct.

And Feeverte sucks as a drink though I see you've read their sales propaganda. There is a maceration tradition at Burning Man for the new absinthe drinker.

zabsinth wrote:Sounds good, Mars, but if it's not distilled, it's not absinthe. There's just no way around it... When used in proper quantity, Wormwood (no matter the quality) is much much too bitter for a palatable beverage. When you share your wormwood tincture with people, please don't tell them that it's absinthe - they'll get just as incorrect an idea about what the drink is supposed to be as they will if they drink the aforementioned Czech swill...

Wormwood-free "absinthe" is called 'pastis' in France, 'anis' in Spain, and is very much akin to Greek ouzo and many variants of middle eastern arrak/raki. It's also not absinthe.

Also: absinthe/wormwood/thujone is not a controlled substance, and is not tested for by anybody as far as I know...

There's a ton of accurate information at http://www.feeverte.net/

On the other hand, the lore and legend surrounding it is usually much more interesting than the truth... :)

[/i]

Addendum: also as I use pure alchohal I get less of the bitter compounds with are water soluable. I think will distillation is superior and traditional much is made of it as a market selling point for the new yuppie elite willing to spend big buck for something exotic. The whole point of absinthe originally was to prevent malaria much like quinine water. I seek to be original and don't hold these modern market spirits to standerd, though I'm alway willing to experience new bottles off the shelf.

Forgot to add licorise to my basic formula. I'm working on a spikenard cordial at the moment and got some Brazilian cinchona (quinine) and a recipe from Imbibe to try homemade tonic water.

zabsinth · Post by **zabsinth** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:17 pm

[quote="Marscrumbs"]I care to disagree with the absinthe purist snobs. Absinthe name come with the plant [i]artemesia absinthium[/i] related to our native [i]artemesia tridentifolia[/i]. Bitterness depends on how long one lets the herb maccerate. The most bitter element does not follow the essential oils when steam distilled. However by practice I've learned this also can be accomplished by using more herb and shortening the extraction time. Herb is relatively cheap.

The green in traditional absinthe comes from added more herb after distillation as is chlorphyll.

But let's share drinks out there for the sake of arguement. I'll save some of the distilled stuff for you if it make you happy. Heck maybe I bring out the alembic.. naught got too many other projects going.

As to the later on anise drinks you are correct.

And Feeverte sucks as a drink though I see you've read their sales propaganda. There is a maceration tradition at Burning Man for the new absinthe drinker.

[quote="zabsinth"]Sounds good, Mars, but if it's not distilled, it's not absinthe. There's just no way around it... When used in proper quantity, Wormwood (no matter the quality) is much much too bitter for a palatable beverage. When you share your wormwood tincture with people, please don't tell them that it's absinthe - they'll get just as incorrect an idea about what the drink is supposed to be as they will if they drink the aforementioned Czech swill...

Wormwood-free "absinthe" is called 'pastis' in France, 'anis' in Spain, and is very much akin to Greek ouzo and many variants of middle eastern arrak/raki. It's also not absinthe.

Also: absinthe/wormwood/thujone is not a controlled substance, and is not tested for by anybody as far as I know...

There's a ton of accurate information at http://www.feeverte.net/

On the other hand, the lore and legend surrounding it is usually much more interesting than the truth... :)[/quote][/i]

Addendum: also as I use pure alchohal I get less of the bitter compounds with are water soluable. I think will distillation is superior and traditional much is made of it as a market selling point for the new yuppie elite willing to spend big buck for something exotic. The whole point of absinthe originally was to prevent malaria much like quinine water. I seek to be original and don't hold these modern market spirits to standerd, though I'm alway willing to experience new bottles off the shelf.

Forgot to add licorise to my basic formula. I'm working on a spikenard cordial at the moment and got some Brazilian cinchona (quinine) and a recipe from Imbibe to try homemade tonic water.[/quote]

Yes, I'd highly recommend that you keep your alembic from getting dusty.... They like a good workout every now and again. I'd love to exchange brews with you... no idea where I'm gonna be yet, but I'm sure we'll work it out.

I doubt there were many (any?) traditional absinthes colored only with chlorophyl, just because it's so incredibly unstable.... I definitely cheat a little bit in this regard myself...

Marscrumbs · Post by **Marscrumbs** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:39 pm

[quote] Yes, I'd highly recommend that you keep your alembic from getting dusty.... They like a good workout every now and again. I'd love to exchange brews with you... no idea where I'm gonna be yet, but I'm sure we'll work it out.

I doubt there were many (any?) traditional absinthes colored only with chlorophyl, just because it's so incredibly unstable.... I definitely cheat a little bit in this regard myself...[/quote]

One reason absinthe got a bad rap in old Paree was that some cheap producers added copper or other artifical i.e. poisonous, coloring. My bottle leftovers from last year now is rather brownish yellow.

You would have loved the old absinthe bars on the playa before absinthe importation was legal in the US. It was my introduction to the stuff. "Steve's back yard" was an interesting but very bitter drink as you would believe. Sign another themecamp bit the dust.

I may be at the Librarian cocktail party Weds afternoon. Check the Who What Wear WhY?

zabsinth · Post by **zabsinth** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 9:01 pm

[quote="Marscrumbs"]

One reason absinthe got a bad rap in old Paree was that some cheap producers added copper or other artifical i.e. poisonous, coloring. My bottle leftovers from last year now is rather brownish yellow.

You would have loved the old absinthe bars on the playa before absinthe importation was legal in the US. It was my introduction to the stuff. "Steve's back yard" was an interesting but very bitter drink as you would believe. Sign another themecamp bit the dust.

I may be at the Librarian cocktail party Weds afternoon. Check the Who What Wear WhY?[/quote]

I'll be there if I remember :D

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:21 pm

zabsinth wrote:Sounds good, Mars, but if it's not distilled, it's not absinthe.

You know, because it wasn't brewed for all those years, I think all absinthe has a "guesstamate" quality. It's very hard, if not impossible, to recreate something that is gone. And there's no telling what twists and turns it would have taken if it had been manufactured throughout the 20th century.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:27 pm

I was always under the impression Absinthe was an infusion using grain alcohol, not a distillate.........

steveboy · Post by **steveboy** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:28 pm

[quote="theCryptofishist"][You know, because it wasn't brewed for all those years, I think all absinthe has a "guesstamate" quality. It's very hard, if not impossible, to recreate something that is gone. And there's no telling what twists and turns it would have taken if it had been manufactured throughout the 20th century.[/quote]
In fact, one of the best and most award-winning modern absinthes, Nouvelle Orleans, was created by a chemist who bought a 100-year-old bottle on auction, extracted a syringe full through the cork, and analyzed it (incidentally decimating the myths about higher thujone levels of older absinthes). He bought a period absinthe still and started making the stuff as it had originally been made. Turns out the better absinthes (Mayans, La Fee, Pernod) aren't very far off, though Nouvelle Orleans is supposed to be much better (I've had the others, but not N.O.)

Absolut Jeenyus · Post by **Absolut Jeenyus** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:10 am

Its wouldnt matter if it showed up in your urine or not... Its legal anyways so what does it matter...?

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:29 am

Absolut Jeenyus wrote:Its wouldnt matter if it showed up in your urine or not... Its legal anyways so what does it matter...?

tell that to my company. I get tested after every burn..."randomly" of course..

steveboy · Post by **steveboy** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:42 am

If they don't care about alcohol you're fine. Thujone levels in absinthe are very minor, in the parts per million (I'm too lazy to go look it up in one of my books on absinthe, and if I were in your position I'd find out for myself anyway,instead of taking the word of some guy on a discussion board.)

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:55 am

steveboy wrote:If they don't care about alcohol you're fine. Thujone levels in absinthe are very minor, in the parts per million (I'm too lazy to go look it up in one of my books on absinthe, and if I were in your position I'd find out for myself anyway,instead of taking the word of some guy on a discussion board.)

I haul alcohol..they dont care if I drink. Any drug traces are a problem...gonna drink it. Thanx Steveboy!

steveboy · Post by **steveboy** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:00 am

FWIW, I can't imagine there's a company in the world that tests for thujone. Just stay away from poppyseed muffins, okay? :)

Absolut Jeenyus · Post by **Absolut Jeenyus** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 2:20 am

Haha sure Ill tell it to them... There is no point in testing for something that is completely legal. Sooooo.... I dunno what your stressing on. It is not illegal to drink Absinthe. Period... You cant get fired for consuming something that isnt illegal. Thats rediculous...

It was banned about 95 to 96 years ago. But again it is legal. It became legal near the end of 2007. So maybe in the past years you should have been worried about it but for this year and the years to come at BM, I wouldnt worry about it in a drug test...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinthe

Read the part under Modern Revival... The whole article is actually really good... Also the part on The Effects of Absinthe...

I will for sure be bringing out multiple bottles of Absinthe this year...

Enjoy...

transgirl · Post by **transgirl** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 2:01 pm

Mmmmmm Gawd, one bucket?! Awesome. I'm not sure you could ever have enough of that lovely drink, but one bucket sounds like a great start!

Marscrumbs · Post by **Marscrumbs** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 3:06 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:
zabsinth wrote:Sounds good, Mars, but if it's not distilled, it's not absinthe.
You know, because it wasn't brewed for all those years, I think all absinthe has a "guesstamate" quality. It's very hard, if not impossible, to recreate something that is gone. And there's no telling what twists and turns it would have taken if it had been manufactured throughout the 20th century.

Most definitely the case. What is authentic issue of absinthe is very important as the stuff taste like shit to begin with before you like it. I sorry that the Burning absinthe bars are gone because they made interested wicked cocktails and could be a culture of it's own.

I like my homemade, but alway seek out sips of commerial absinthe for comparison. So if anybody's bringing bottles from Europe please look me up.

zabsinth · Post by **zabsinth** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 3:36 pm

Marscrumbs wrote:[

Most definitely the case. What is authentic issue of absinthe is very important as the stuff taste like shit to begin with before you like it. I sorry that the Burning absinthe bars are gone because they made interested wicked cocktails and could be a culture of it's own.

I like my homemade, but alway seek out sips of commerial absinthe for comparison. So if anybody's bringing bottles from Europe please look me up.

Homebrew doesn't have to taste like shit ;)... I've put mine up side by side with the best Europe has to offer, and even illicit importers have given it the thumbs up.

Anyway, I'm planning a bar for next year... keep your eyes peeled. It depends on how easily/cheaply I can source the ludicrous quantities I'll need of a key raw material (C2H5OH), but I have a couple of contacts that may prove useful...

Marscrumbs · Post by **Marscrumbs** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 3:41 pm

No way around the tax, but you can get ethanol cheaply shipped to you assuming your 12y, but there is a 5gal minimum.

Viva la Mexico!

Absinthe...

Absinthe...

Why not

Making Absinthe for the playa.

(Is coke the Real Thing without cocaine??)

Re: (Is coke the Real Thing without cocaine??)

Re: (Is coke the Real Thing without cocaine??)

Re: (Is coke the Real Thing without cocaine??)

Absinthe 19th vs 21st century.

Re: Absinthe 19th vs 21st century.

Bars