Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder

Factual Questions
1

Ok: Several questions, preceeded by a caveat:

I DO NOT want to know how to get the stuff in the USA!.

I’d appreciate it if no-one posts an answer in this thread. It’s illegal in the US and asking/posting where to get it would be like asking where to buy pot, and we all know where that leads.

So anyway:

#1) It’s certainly illegal, but I’ve seen conflicting reports over whether it’s controlled by the FDA (because wormwood is a banned food addititve), the DEA (because of the compound “thujone”), or the ATF (it’s booze, after all). Maybe all three?

#2) Is the stuff legal in the UK or not? I’ve seen conflicting reports on that, too.

#3) Per several sources, including a fairly comprehensive discussion in the Absinthe FAQ, the Thujone=THC=:The unique Absinthe buzz" thing seems to be unsupported. Anyone have further info on this?

#4) I’ve seen a number of conflicting reports about the effects of the stuff ranging from “It’s a 110% proof booze. You get drunk, whaddaya expect?” to “You have visual hallucinations, a warm feeling of ecstasy, your creativity expands, and your mind roams…” I suspect the truth falls somewhere in-between. I’d like reports from Dopers who’ve actually tried the stuff.

#5) While we’re at it, can you compare the flavor to something?

Thanks!

Fenris

2

#2) Yes, it is legal in the UK

3

Oh, regarding the flavour – it tastes just like Pernod (not suprisingly, since Henri Pernod first imported it). Strong aniseed flavour.

That link above’s actually very good on the history of it and the role of thujone.

4

It’s the thujone that is illegal. It’s regulated as a food additive by the FDA, not as a drug by the DEA. Products labelled “absinthe” can be sold legally in the U.S., but only if they are free of thujone. http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/absinthe/absinthe_law.shtml

5

I like to compare the affects/taste of absinthe to Jaggermister. The high alcohol content plus the ingredients give you a different “drunk” than you would get if you just drank beer, you should not drink it straight up, you should diffuse it with water and suger in a small glass. As to the illegal bit, I think it’s illegal to sell it/ship it, not to own it. And that’s as far as I’ll go.

6

My experience has been that the effects of absinthe are not the same as the effects of other strong liquors. There is definitely a mild hallucinogen in there.

7

I’ve had friends bring some back on an airplane with no problem at all. That was a month ago, just after the premier of Moulin Rouge, no doubt.

8

The first time that I tried Absinthe, I didn’t really notice anything except the 140 proof buzz. I had some more the next day, on an empty stomach, and I noticed a mild hallucinatory effect. Most people seem to think that Thujon is, in fact, the active ingredient. One thing is that there is no real way to measure Thujon, and when you see the strenghts listed, they are estimates.

Absinthe can be drunk straight. The method the Briminator described is the traditional method of drinking Absinthe. It developed to counter the bitter taste, presumably from the Thujon. Also, the water causes the neat louching effect. Webtender has several Absinthe based recipes.