The legalization of Absinthe in the USA and other countries has made it famous once again in the world. A number of young people are trying it for the first time and knocking it back without bothering about it’s alcohol content. Detail study of Absinthe proof?
Along with blend of herbs wormwood (artemisia absinthium), aniseed and fennel is used in the making of Absinthe. The Green Fairy, La Fee Verte is another name for Absinthe due to emerald green coloring of classic verte styles of Absinthe.
According to the Ritual one has to dilute Absinthe with iced water before consuming it. The Absinthe louches when water is poured over a sugar lump on a slotted spoon and into the Absinthe.
As Absinthe contained wormwood so it was restricted in the early 1900s. Dr Valentin Magnan tested worwmood on guinea pigs in 1845 and found that a guinea pig given wormwood oilhad convulsions, whereas, a guinea pig given alcohol just got drunk. According to the tests done by Magnan during 1872 thujone was declared to be far more dangerous than ethanol (alcohol). Everyone believed that thujone was psychoactive and caused psychedelic effects. Absinthe was therefore banned.
In 1975, a nature magazine claimed that thujone molecule and THC have the same structure so they acted in a similar manner.
There is no truths in all these claims. Thujone is not like THC, although it does act on the GABA receptors of the brain, when taken in large amounts. Research prove that Absinthe contains very small amounts of thujone which is not harmful. Before being affected by thujone one will die due to alcohol poisoning when taking Absinthe in large amount!
Being a highly alcoholic drink Absinthe will get an individual drunk quite quickly so should be taken in moderation.
Details of Absinthe proof?
Let’s see what the proof of well-known brands of absinthe is:-
Jade Nouvelle Orleans 68% abv (136 proof)
There is 65% abv in Jade Verte Suisse
Jade Edouard is available with 72% abv (144 proof)
Jade PF 1901 68% abv (136 proof)
Roquette 1797 is available with 75% abv (150 proof)
Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or 65% abv (130 proof)
Kubler 53 53% abv (106 proof)
The abv in La Fee Parisian is 68% abv (136 proof)
There is 70% abv (140 proof) in La Fee Bohemian
One can find 68% abv (136 proof) in La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise
There is 53% abv (106 proof) in La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse
Mari Mayans Collectors 70 is available with 70% abv (140 proof)
The abv in Pernod Absinthe is 68% (136 proof)
Pere Kermanns 60% abv (120 proof)
Sebor is available with 55% abv (110 proof)
The abv in La Clandestine Absinthe is 53%
Lucid Absinthe 62% abv (124 proof)
If we compare that to other alcoholic beverages we can see that Absinthe is very strong:-
Everclear 95% abv (190 proof)
Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch Whisky 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof)
There is 9-12% alcohol by volume (18-24 proof) in Table Wine
One can find 4 or 5% alcohol by volume (8-10 proof) in Beer
One will get 38% abv (76 proof) in Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila
Absolut Blue Vodka 40% abv (80 proof)
If you make homemade Absinthe using essences from AbsintheKit.com then your homemade Absinthe’s proof will depend on what neutral alcohol you use.
What is Absinthe proof? One cannot give the answer!