After 95 years, absinthe is finally legal in the United States. It has to have less than 10 ppm of thujone. Good absinthe never had anymore than that in the first place. The thujone was the original cause for the uproar since it was thought to have psychedelic side effects.

On our way out of Las Vegas we stopped in Mesquite to get some beers. As I got closer to the counter to pay for those beers, I noticed they were selling some Le Tourment Vert and I just had to buy it. It was right around 60 dollars and I got a chance to win a absinthe kit (woot!). I sort of assumed they wouldn’t be selling it out here in Utah (I later found out that they do sell it at the Provo liquor store). This stuff is my pride and joy. I was gonna take a picture of it and frame it. I don’t know why I am so excited about it.

Absinthe’s can range anywhere from 100 to 150 proof and are meant to be watered down.

Finally last night, I went over to Wal-Mart, bought some sugar cubes and took absinthe out for a test drive.

I found that there is a special way you are supposed to drink the stuff. Necessary ingredients: Absinthe, ice cold water, and a huge strainer. You pour the absinthe into about 1/3rd of your glass, throw the sugar cube into the huge strainer and lightly pour the water onto the sugar cube dissolving it in the process.

One site said you should take a couple practice pours, you don’t want to miss the sugar cube or it won’t dissolve. After pouring, you will notice that the water does not mix right away with absinthe causing a sort of green to clear fade in the glass called the louche. Should look something like this.

The absinthe that I bought probably is not the best absinthe out there. My louche was pretty weak compared to this one. I guess you can’t really see the louche in mine because of my flash-o-matic camera. It turned out pretty good and my parents and I really enjoyed it. You can taste the fennel and the mint which gives it a really different sort of taste.