Absinthe Blog

There was a time a little less than a century ago when the making and selling of absinthe was legal in the United States as well in all other western countries including most of Europe. However; it was during a time when the temperance movement took hold that absinthe was the first liquor to fall victim to it.

Back then, absinthe was a very misunderstood drink and much was written about it and the exploits of those who drank it, all of it for the most part was sensational. Due to the lack of modern chemical testing methods that are available today, in those earlier times it was assumed that it was the thujone, not the alcohol in the 126 proof drink that was to blame for the bazaar behavior and the misdeeds of those who drank it.

Recently however; it has been determined that the amount of thujone that makes it through the manufacturing and distilling process of absinthe is in fact negligible and also people are now more fully aware that if you sit down and drink any bottle of 126 proof liquor you are going to be stuck running around with a lamp shade on your head for the day if you drink to excess, thujone or no thujone.

Tools of the Absinthe Drinker

Absinthe Spoons

Of course, if you choose to you can pour your absinthe straight from the bottle into a glass and sip it slowly as you would a fine scotch. On the other hand, over the the course of years a few tools and customs have found their way to the counter and tables where those who drink absinthe relax with the drink that they have grown to love.

The most basic and commonly used tool of the absinthe drinker is a special slotted spoon accompanied by a dish of sugar cubes and a decanter of chilled spring water. According to tradition, the spoon is positioned over a glass of absinthe and a sugar cube is then placed in it.

Subsequently, the chilled water is slowly poured over the sugar cube and allowed to drip into the absinthe through the slots or holes in the spoon to a ratio of approximately five parts absinthe to one part chilled water. A collectors market has now developed for absinthe spoons and they can be found ranging in price from $20 - $3000 depending on the rarity and demand for any particular absinthe spoon.

Absinthe Glassware

It took only approximately fifty years to pass from the time that absinthe was developed as a tonic in Switzerland to the time of its being banned in most European and all western countries but it was during those fifty years that glassware making was at its zenith and was a highly developed craft in most European countries.

The popularity of absinthe and the ready availability of expert glass craftsmen led to the development and production of some very unique glassware specifically for the drinking of absinthe. As a general rule, these glasses tended to be approximately six to seven inches tall, rather wide and were designed sturdy to withstand heavy use.

Cordon, Pontarlier and Reservoir were the names given some of the glasses that were made for the drinking of absinthe with the cordon having a glass ring around its base that marked the level of absinthe that was to be poured into it, which also by the way, now makes it highly collectible. However; the most coveted of absinthe glasses by collectors is the pontarlier glasses which have a separate reservoir in them for containing the absinthe.