Learning Absinthe Proof
Absinthe has become once again a popular alcoholic drink after being legalized in the USA and other countries. Many young people are trying it for the first time and knocking it back without any consideration of its alcohol content. Understanding Absinthe proof?
Along with blend of herbs wormwood (artemisia absinthium), aniseed and fennel is used in the making of Absinthe. The characteristic emerald green coloring of classic verte styles of Absinthe gave it the name of the Green Fairy, La Fee Verte.
According to the Ritual one has to dilute Absinthe with iced water before consuming it. When water is dripped over a sugar lump on a slotted spoon and into the Absinthe then the Absinthe louche.
As Absinthe contained wormwood so it was restricted in the early 1900s. Dr Valentin Magnan tested worwmood on guinea pigs in 1845 and found that a guinea pig given wormwood oilhad convulsions, whereas, a guinea pig given alcohol just got drunk. The chemical thujone was found to be far more dangerous than ethanol (alcohol) from the tests done by Magnan. He and others in the medical profession were convinced that thujone was psychoactive and caused psychedelic effects. This was the cause for which Absinthe was banned.
Even in 1975, a nature magazine claimed that a thujone molecule was similar in structure to THC from the drug cannabis and that they therefore acted in a similar manner.
There is no truths in all these claims. The higher dose of thujone can become active on the GABA receptors of the brain but thujone is different from THC. Experiments show that the amount of thujone content in Absinthes is not enough to harm anyone. To be effected with thujone one has to consume vast amounts of Absinthe!
A person should be careful while consuming Absinthe because it is highly alcoholic drink.
Information about Absinthe proof?
Let’s see what the proof of well-known brands of Absinthe is:-
Jade Nouvelle Orleans 68% abv (136 proof)
One can find 65% abv (130 proof) in Jade Verte Suisse
Jade Edouard contains 72% abv (144 proof)
Jade PF 1901 contains 68% abv (136 proof)
The abv of Roquette 1797 is 75% (150 proof)
One can find 65% abv (130 proof) in Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or
One can find 53% abv in Kubler 53
La Fee Parisian contains 68% abv (136 proof)
La Fee Bohemian 70% abv (140 proof)
One can find 68% abv (136 proof) in La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise
The abv in La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse is 53% (106 proof)
Mari Mayans Collectors 70 contains 70% abv (140 proof)
Pernod Absinthe 68% abv (136 proof)
One can get 60% abv (120 proof) in Pere Kermanns
Sebor has 55% abv (110 proof)
La Clandestine Absinthe is available with 53% abv (106 proof)
Lucid Absinthe 62% abv (124 proof)
If we compare that to other alcoholic beverages we can see that Absinthe is very strong:-
Everclear 95% abv (190 proof)
Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch Whisky 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof)
The alcohol by volume is 9-12% (18-24 proof) in Table Wine
One can find 4 or 5% alcohol by volume (8-10 proof) in Beer
Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila contains 38% abv (76 proof)
Absolut Blue Vodka 40% abv (80 proof)
If you make homemade Absintheusing essences from AbsintheKit.The homemade Absinthe’s proof is according to the type of neutral alcohol that is being used.
Knowledge of Absinthe proof? Very high is the answer!
Tags: Absinthe proof, Popular alcoholic drink, wormwood oil
This entry was posted on Saturday, December 26th, 2009 at 1:49 pm and is filed under food and wine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.