Brew Your Own Absinthe

By Author: Matt Peterson
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In 1920, when temperance advocates successfully outlawed alcoholic beverages in America, absinthe had already been declared illegal in the states for nearly a decade. And although beer, wine, and assorted spirits made a legal comeback just a few years later with the repeal of prohibition, absinthe stayed on the blacklist. The notoriously legendary green drink, first created in late 1700s in France, remained illegal in America for just under a century with the ban finally lifted in 2007.

After decades of taboo status in the States, to only occasionally be enjoyed by those Americans lucky enough to chance across a smuggled bottle of the contraband at a party or maybe a handful of especially secretive bars, absinthe is enjoying a long overdue comeback. This resurgence in popularity has lead to a home-brewing trend, with many Americans making their own batches of absinthe.

But why was the beloved drink illegal for so long anyway, and how did it acquire such a mystique and develop such notoriety? The answer lies somewhere in a mix of fact, fiction, and legend.

Since shortly after it was commercialized in 1805 ...
... in France, absinthe has been a popular target of rumors and wild exaggerations. Contrary to legend, absinthe is not a powerfully addictive substance and it doesn't it trigger wild, narcotic-like hallucinations in those who drink it. It is not created by black magic, although it has certainly cultivated an ethereal, otherworldly image through the years. It's never driven anybody insane, despite the longstanding belief that Van Gogh sliced off his own ear in an absinthe-fueled state.

What absinthe is, on the other hand, is a very good alcoholic beverage with a slightly licorice taste mixed with anise, fennel, and wormwood. While it's unfortunately not a hallucinogenic, absinthe drinkers note that its intoxicating effects are very different than those of any other alcohol. Absinthe also boasts an appealing, almost ritualistic mystique due to its elaborate presentation as well as its own unique glasses and the slotted spoons used in its preparation.

Perhaps some of the centuries-long buzz surrounding absinthe comes from the drink's history of being closely associated with the coolest celebrities each age has to offer. This extends spans from the defining artists of the 1800s like Toulouse Latrec, to the laid-back idols of today like eccentric heartthrob Johnny Depp. And now that it's once again legal to down absinthe on American shores, more and more drinking fans are able to create their own absinthe concoctions.

Brewing Your Own Absinthe
If you're ready to attempt brewing your own personal batch of absinthe, first you'll need just the right mix of the various herbs that provide absinthe with its unique flavor. Fortunately, now that absinthe is legal, you can streamline this most complicated part of the process by purchasing correct mix of herbs from a supplier. The absinthe herbs will most likely be contained in a pouch similar to a teabag, and that's where they should stay. Find the largest bag of herbs. Place the entire, sealed bag of herbs inside a glass pitcher, and fill the pitcher with one liter of Everclear and one liter of vodka.

Allow the herbs to steep in the Everclear andvodka mix, placing the pitcher in an non-refrigerated, dark location for a period of five days. During this five-day period, you should occasionally shake the pitcher.

After the mixture has steeped for five days, take the bag of herbs from the pitcher. Holding the bag over the pitcher, squeeze it until you've squeezed out all the absorbed liquid. Once you've squeezed the herbs dry, soak the bag once again with vodka and squeeze it out a second time.

Next, pour the contents of the pitcher through a coffee filter. This will help remove any traces of herbs that may have wound up in the drink.

Now you're ready to the color your absinthe. If you purchased your herbs from a supplier, you should still have a second, smaller bag of herbs. Add this to the pitcher, then leave the mixture to soak for an additional three days.

Finally, you're ready for micron filtration. Again, if you purchased your herbs from a supplier, a micron filter was probably included with your kit. Soak this filter in water for about 10 minutes in order to activate it. To filter the mixture, roll the micron filter into a funnel and pour the liquid through it. Repeat this process several more times for maximum filtration.

At this stage, you're ready to bottle the liquid. However, if you're not a fan of absinthe's semi-bitter taste, you might want to add a touch of honey or corn syrup to sweeten things up. After that, you're good to go, with your very own bottle of history's most legendary beverage. Just keep in mind that absinthe is an unusually powerful drink, so remember to drink it in moderation.

Other than that, enjoy-and try not to cut your own ear off.
About Author:
Green Devil provides information, tips and kits on the making and history of absinthe throughout the ages. Learn more about the allure this beverage has held over the centuries or make your own absinthe alcohol and find out for yourself. Visit online for more information.