Will I start hallucinating?

[Goodwatch]

They say that Absinthe caused major hallucinations among its users. Vincent van Gogh is said to be a heavy user, hence the strange colour pallet in his paintings.

It is quite the ritual.

The ingredients and utensils, almost like boiling crack :




Here we go:



The pre-soak of the sugar cubes, after that wait a while:





Pouring in the ice water, the mixture is still clear. Cheers!




Will I go insane?



No, nothing is greffgdfrdsgrrrr. Ah, those yellow piano trees, how pretty

[Lisa]

Doesn't that stuff cause permanent drain bamage?

[Jimbits76]

Originally Posted by Lisa

Doesn't that stuff cause permanent drain bamage?

I think it's too late for him Lisa!!!!!!!!!!!!

J

[Jimbits76]

Frans...you ride that green fairy until she squeals and goes pop!!!!

J

[Goodwatch]

Is there a brain doctor in the house?

[Terry Newton]

Yes Frans, there is a doctor in the house; but, it's too late. Just don't start singing about him (VanGoh) and you'll be fine.

Terry Newton

[Goodwatch]

Originally Posted by Terry Newton

Yes Frans, there is a doctor in the house; but, it's too late. Just don't start singing about him (VanGoh) and you'll be fine.

Terry Newton

The way you write VanGoh sounds like you were coughing up a hair ball!

[jasonbellevue]

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

The way you write VanGoh sounds like you were coughing up a hair ball!

Yep, he lost it already.

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

The way you write VanGoh sounds like you were coughing up a hair ball!

Isn't it written as "van Gogh?" Frans got it right the first time.

[Goodwatch]

Originally Posted by Lisa

Isn't it written as "van Gogh?" Frans got it right the first time.

I'm Dutch. If I'm not able to get it right, nobody could Good ol' one ear But I understand the Van Goh bit, because that's how English speakers tend to pronounce it. The Dutch pronunciation is almost impossible and, for same English speakers, DOES sound like coughing up a hair ball

[frostie]

Once i got drunk with the black absinthe which was 90% alcohol

The effect of this alcohol is much more different than any other alcohol i have ever tried

Hopefully i never tried it again since that day

[Goodwatch]

Originally Posted by frostie

Once i got drunk with the black absinthe which was 90% alcohol

The effect of this alcohol is much more different than any other alcohol i have ever tried

Hopefully i never tried it again since that day

This one is a modest 70%

[frostie]

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

This one is a modest 70%

Just like you said modest

[scottschoe]

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

This one is a modest 70%

I have no experience with absinthe, so my question is: is the effect (or lack of) any different from the regular 140-151 proof vodkas?

[meloncap78]

In order to achieve the hallucinogenic effects that Absinthe is known for it has to have been brewed in a wormwood barrel. Absinthe brewed in a wormwood barrel is illegal in the U.S. The stuff you can get at the bar is the "cleaned up version" and is brewed in standard stainless tanks.

[sini1717]

You will be fine FranS, as long as that is ice or sugar
And you still have two ears

[Jimbits76]

I love old V.vG...his waterlilies and statue of David were awsome.

Don't even get me started on how great his Venus de Milo was!

J

[Terry Newton]

I'm proud to be an Ooooooookkkkkiiieeeeie from Miskoooooogeeeeeee.

I think I just coughed up a hairball.

Didn't he die from lack of hoomer!

Uh Oh! Maybe Frans will go psychotic on us after drinking the absinthe. Then there is Lisa pouring gasoline on the fire with the Van Go Fast quip. Now he's really turning red. I mean green. No red.

Terry Newton

[Jimbits76]

I thought it was earache

J

[Leighton]

I guess you could always go to one of those Amsterdam coffee houses and have a smoke to come down if things get too heavy.

[Lisa]

Scott asks the very question I was coming back to ask. And what does it taste like? I'm off to googleland....


hmmm.... it appears the drink has been somewhat maligned in history. I'd be game to try it some day. Does it taste anything like ouzo?

[vh_bu98]

We have a bottle of absinthe, but it doesn't have the real wormwood in it. That's the stuff that makes you see things. I think you can only get the real stuff in Europe.

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by vh_bu98

We have a bottle of absinthe, but it doesn't have the real wormwood in it. That's the stuff that makes you see things. I think you can only get the real stuff in Europe.

The info I found on Wikipedia was kind of vague about what's actually in the bottles - that there isn't standard labeling. I did gather that - it's the wormwood that creates that state of "alert drunkenness."

So what does your bottle of absinthe have in it? Is it basically alcohol with anise flavoring?

[redshirt1957]

Originally Posted by Lisa

The info I found on Wikipedia was kind of vague about what's actually in the bottles - that there isn't standard labeling. I did gather that - it's the wormwood that creates that state of "alert drunkenness."



So what does your bottle of absinthe have in it? Is it basically alcohol with anise flavoring?

Sounds like an upscale version of the redneck party favorite...Hunch Punch.

[1MAC]

Most experts agree that the popular belief of hallucinations as a result of absinthe consumption is false. Here's what I found on Wikipedia:


Today it is known that absinthe does not cause hallucinations, especially ones similar to those described in 19th century studies. Thujone, the supposed active chemical in absinthe, is a GABA antagonist and, while it can produce muscle spasms in large doses, there is no evidence that it causes hallucinations. It has been speculated that reports of hallucinogenic effects of absinthe may have been due to poisonous chemicals being added to cheaper versions of the drink in the 19th century, to give it a more vivid color.[45]

I don't even like the way it tastes.

[Leighton]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

Sounds like an upscale version of the redneck party favorite...Hunch Punch.

Don't forget the Everclear!

[vh_bu98]

Originally Posted by Lisa

The info I found on Wikipedia was kind of vague about what's actually in the bottles - that there isn't standard labeling. I did gather that - it's the wormwood that creates that state of "alert drunkenness."

So what does your bottle of absinthe have in it? Is it basically alcohol with anise flavoring?

http://www.absente.com/absente.html

The one we have uses Southern-Wormwood which is a less bitter cousin and not as dangerous. The thing is still 110 proof.

[Skip Greenwade]

A friend of mine managed to get a bottle. We ordered spoons, got the sugar cubes and ice water and set aside a Friday night to give it a try. My friend, ny wife and I gave it a serious test, but no green fairies, pink elephants, etc.

I had been curious about Absinthe since seeing it regularly in the HBO series Carnivale. I'm glad I had a chance to try it, but it was kind of a letdown. I would definitely give it another try, as I rather like the whole ritual associated with it. I think it is once again available in the States.

If you are looking for something with a real kick, get a bottle of Stroh Rum (160-proof). Mix it with Coke or Cherry Coke and make sure you're settled in for the night before mixing that seond one...

Best,
Skip

[gmh1013]

To much trouble , I would rather take a Norco or two

[DSJ]

Y'all beat me to the Everclear. I still have my sealed bottle I bought in NC back in 1995 while in college visiting my best friend at Duke. A witnessing of another student vomiting down the hall after doing a shot pretty much convinced me to leave it full as a novelty, rather than actually trying to drink it. Makes a good antiseptic too, in case the need should ever arise.