It would be hard to imagine a more notorious liquor than absinthe. Although almost everyone has heard of absinthe, a much smaller number know much about it, and even fewer people have tried it. The purpose of this article, therefore, is to reveal what absinthe really is, along with some of its history and current status.
It is generally accepted that absinthe was first created as a medicinal tonic in the late 18th century in the town of Couvet, Switzerland, but there is a difference of opinion as to who exactly was the creator. It was claimed that the anise-flavoured tonic was invented by a French doctor named Pierre Ordinaire, but the people of Couvet said that, long before the appearance of Dr. Ordinaire, the Henriod sisters were doling out absinthe for medicinal purposes.
Regardless of who the author of the recipe was, it is a fact that the Dubied-Pernod family purchased the recipe from Dr. Ordinaire and established the first commercial absinthe distillery in Couvet.
With the passage of time and the growing popularity of absinthe, the drink became acclaimed not only for its health benefits, but also for its effect on the mind, evoking the legend of the Green Fairy with her visions, dreams and artistic inspiration. . .
Several factors led to further boost the fame of absinthe. French soldiers were given the drink as a tonic which, in fact, improved both their health and morale. Then, in the third quarter of the 19th century, the vineyards of France were almost destroyed by a plant disease. As the price of wine skyrocketed, the absinthe recipe was changed to make it an even cheaper alternative.
During the years leading up to World War I, some of the most famous artists and writers of the day were not only drinking absinthe, but immortalizing it. For example, Mary Shelley is known to have written most of “Frankenstein” under the inspirational influence of absinthe.
And it was not only in Europe that the Green Fairy was celebrated, but it was imported to the USA where, especially in New Orleans, the ritual of drinking absinthe became one of the rituals of high society. But, in the words of the old proverb, what goes up eventually comes down. Various powerful forces worked against absinthe, and it was made illegal in the United States and several other European countries in 1912, and in France in 1915. However, it remains legal in Spain, the United Kingdom, Mexico, the Czech Republic. and Portugal Today in the US, drinking and possessing absinthe is allowed, but making and selling it is illegal. Therefore, Americans who wish to enjoy the Green Fairy can legally purchase absinthe, for example, from legitimate online sources.
