National Absinthe Day

Each year, on March 5th, Absinthe is celebrated for those 21 and older (responsibly, of course).

Absinthe is made using wormwood, anise and fennel. They are infused and then distilled to create the strong licorice tasting beverage. Absinthe has a very high alcohol content. To disguise the taste, and make the beverage sweeter, absinthe is often served with a sugar cube. The sugar cube is placed on a slotted spoon over the glass and water poured over the sugar.

Pierre Ordinaire has been credited to it’s invention. Ordinaire, a doctor in France in the early parts of the 19th century gave his patients absinthe for many of their illnesses.

For years, absinthe has been known as The Green Fairy. The beverage was popular during the later part of the 19th century with artists. Absinthe is said to have hallucinogenic effects. It is rumored that Vincent Van Gogh was a regular drinker of Absinthe. Regular drinkers developed “absinthism”, a condition coined at the time.

Green Fairy Causes Madness?

The Green Fairy, which also took on the name The Green Goddess or The Green Lady, took much blame for causing madness, low morality, and seizures in people who drank on a regular basis. It’s reputation took some severe blows. The scandal of 1905, involving a French worker who killed his wife and child was one of the final blows for Absinthe. He had been drinking the “Green Fairy” all day.

Soon after the incident, Absinthe was banned in France. Other countries soon followed. The ban has been lifted in many countries, including the United States.

Studies over the years have proven that Absinthe does not cause hallucinogenic responses in people. It does, however, have a higher alcohol content than other spirits, so keeping that in mind is important to drink responsibly.