Absinthe
Absinthe is a high-alcohol distilled spirit flavoured with botanicals including wormwood, anise, and fennel.
Absinthe is a high-alcohol distilled spirit flavoured with wormwood, anise, and fennel. It is best known for its green colour and historical nickname “the green fairy.”
What it is
Absinthe is a strong, aromatic spirit made by distilling or infusing a high-proof base with botanicals. It is typically green, though colourless versions exist, and has a dry, bitter, anise-like taste. Alcohol by volume is often around 68%.
Key details
Originating in 19th-century Switzerland and France, absinthe developed a reputation for artistic association and supposed hallucinogenic effects. Modern evidence does not support those claims; its effects are primarily alcoholic. The drink is legal in many countries, including Canada, subject to regulations on thujone content and alcohol strength.
Why it matters
Absinthe remains a niche but regulated spirit in Canada, available through specialty retailers and hospitality venues. Its cultural lore and distinctive preparation (often served with water to create a cloudy louche) make it a unique category in the spirits market.
In short
- Absinthe is a high-proof spirit flavoured with wormwood, anise, and fennel.
- It is usually green and known as the “green fairy.”
- Hallucinogenic claims are not supported by modern evidence.
- Legal in Canada under federal and provincial alcohol rules.
Absinthe is available in Canada subject to federal and provincial alcohol regulations, and Canadian readers may encounter it in specialty spirits retail and hospitality settings.
Quick questions
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Sources
- Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/absintheSupports: Definition of absinthe as a green or colourless distilled liquor flavoured with wormwood, anise, and other herbs.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/absintheSupports: Taste, colour change when mixed with water, typical alcohol strength, and historical claims about effects.
- Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/browse/absintheSupports: Green aromatic liqueur, wormwood and herbal flavouring, and bitterness/licorice notes.
- Oxford Learner's Dictionaries — https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/absintheSupports: Strong green alcoholic drink with aniseed taste.
- Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails — https://www.spiritsanddistilling.com/dictionary/acref-9780199311132-e-1014Supports: Production method, herbal finishing, and note that absinthe is not supported as a hallucinogenic drug.
- Food Network — https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/what-is-absintheSupports: General production, colour from herbs, legality in modern jurisdictions, and rejection of hallucination claims.