Absinthe Blog

Absinthe can be hard to find in the United States and some people attempt to make the substance themselves. There are various different recipes that can be found, unfortunately a lot of them do not result in anything that is similar to real absinthe. Here is a homemade absinthe recipe that has its roots in the traditional recipes that the Swiss used to make. This homemade absinthe recipe should result in a high quality drink that is almost equivalent to absinthe sold in stores worldwide, but it’s important to note that this is not real absinthe as it is not distilled.

Absinthe Marcel No. 74
By Michelle Mangrum

It is necessary to first make the “absinthe extract” that is to be mixed into the total absinthe mixture. This is an easier recipe than some because it does not require distillation.

“Absinthe extract” Ingredients:
4 C fresh absinthe (wormwood) leaves (these can be grown or purchased)
1 C Everclear
1 C brandy

Here is how to prepare this mixture:
“Bruise leaves and cover with liquor in a glass bowl or large Pyrex flask. Cover to prevent evaporation and let steep for a week, agitating occasionally and mashing leaves down into the liquid. Strain through several layers of cheesecloth before using.”

Now this mixture is to be added with additional ingredients to form the absinthe.
Absinthe Ingredients:
1 C fresh absinthe extract (from above)
¾ C brandy
¼ C Everclear
15 drops wormwood oil
5 drops hyssop oil
1 drop mellisa oil
18 drops anise oil
3 drops fennel oil
2 drops coriander oil
1 C distilled oil
2 drops yellow food coloring
1 drop green food coloring

Here is how to prepare this mixture to complete the process and end up with absinthe: “In a large glass pitcher, mix absinthe extract, brandy and Everclear. Add oils drop by drop from a glass eyedropper while stirring constantly with a long glass swizzle (this is best accomplished by a team of two: a stirrer and a dropper). Take particular care with the hyssop oil, as it’s the most likely to cloud the mixture if added too quickly. Clean the eyedropper thoroughly in Everclear between oils. Add the water last, in a slow steady trickle, stirring constantly, once again taking care not to cloud the mixture. Adjust color with food coloring. Yield: about 750 ml.” Congratulations, you’ve just created your own homemade absinthe. *This material is for educational purposes only.