Scientists swear there is no difference between the "buzz" from different alcohol types, stating a jigger of whiskey vs a glass of wine vs a pint of beer have the same effect. As a professional alcoholic I can tell you they are mistaken.
@@JeffTiberend It is more of an honorary degree which was presented to me by the bums in the back alley straining Sterno through a sock for libations. I may never achieve what they have but I am doing my best.
yeah scientists say a lot of things, absinthe 100% makes you see stuff but in your head when youre passed out i hallucinated an entire night out when i never left the house falling down drunk on absinthe, wish i could find that dream bar it was great
To help prolong the color, you could bottle it in brown bottles and keep it out of the light. The yellowish brown occurs when green herbs lose their chlorophyll.
My experience with absinthe was that my body was very relaxed, but I was able to have very lucid, rapid, profound conversations that just flowed so easily. After several drinks, my motor skills diminished and my speech began to slur, but my mind was still completely sharp. Afterward, I remembered every bit of our conversations with clarity and precision, which does not happen with other spirits.
@@itoibo4208 Remember, Absinthe has a different set of herbs which changes how it effects you unless it is the original recipe like Pernod, which kind / brand did you have?
I don't own a still, so I start out with Everclear (or vodka in a pinch.) I despise anything licorice flavored, so I left out that flavor and put in cinnamon and cloves instead. The herbs blend really well with the wormwood. I also didn't cook the mixture, I cold brewed it in the back of my fridge for a month. It helps preserve the delicate aromatics. It comes out amazing, and has very hypnotic effects.
My Dad and I found a bottle of French Absinthe at an estate-sale about a decade ago. The folks running the sale didn't have a clue what it was but we discovered it to be labeled from 1867 (still corked and waxed). We cracked it open and had a few glasses each and we found it to be almost a 'high' as-opposed to a standard alcohol intoxication. I remember it was around 2am, we got the munchies so bad that I began searing a couple steaks and some scrambled eggs in a cast iron skillet for us to satiate our cravings 😂.
You did not get high. The *myth* around Absinthe is from ONE BATCH made with ergot infected rye. You just lied. There are *ZERO* psychoactive compounds in absinthe. It has *NO ABILITY* to produce the effects you stated.
@@StillIt that has to factor in why this channel is loved by many and growing every day. You have obvious skill in the entire process, and yet you dont gatekeep recipe or tools even while you imbibe. Very wholesome, educational, and interesting content.
Great video! This combination of distilling content, b-roll, story-telling, rough-sawn wood and lighting, and the side-eye as you slopped the drink out of your glass…. Chef’s kiss!
The classical absinthe buzz. Now you've reminded me of it so vividly, I would love to experience it again. It's been more than 10 years easily since I last had a few glasses. Banned in many countries, as you mentioned, it was banned in Holland as well. It's only a couple of years ago that a private liquor vendor brought the ban to court, and won. Being a creative, while not comparing myself to my famous compatriot Vincent van Gogh, it's clear to me what he must have run on. The starry nights, the celestial contact, the reports to his brother of having discovered a completely new understanding of painting, total self-confidence alternated with total depression from knowing no one could follow what he felt and ventured for. It makes total sense. Obviously, art historians believe that absinthe, and booze in general, probably formed an important doorway to van Gogh's inspiration, but more specifically, after a couple of units of it, I think he very simply dared to leave home without a trace of fear, go out with an easel, canvas, brushes, paint, turpentine, and the whole shabam, just to paint and be a worthy transmitter of visual experience, not minding about what anyone thought about it, and instead have that uncannily clear connection with life. Thanks for the vid. Loved it.
Found some on internet. The ingredient that mess you up is thujone which is in sage and listed on the bottle I found in high amounts. It’s legal because the took that ingredient out of the wormwood
yes, van gogh drank some absinthe, but the things you're talking about, his discoveries, urge to paint, comes from a very different place - hard hard, backbreaking work ethic, obsession with painting and wanting to completly sacrifice yourself and your life to art. He painted usually from 1 to 3 paintings a day, and he drank gallons of cheap coffee, and ate bread, cause he was always broke. Also smoked like a chimney, but it would be impossible to drink daily and work like him. He was a monumental worker, which in the end became his doom - he worked himself to mental illness, and later death. I dont remember exactly, his painting years were like last 7/8/9 years of his life. I really think that 90% of people wouldnt last a year of his routine, without some serious mental and health problems. Cheers, just wanted to chat about van Gogh xd
Van gogh suffered from frontal lobe epilepsy which very likely was triggered by drinking Absinthe. All of their life's memorable historical moments can be attributed to this. As a side note in research scenarios for veterinarian medicine Absinthe is used to trigger epileptic episodes in dog's with the condition.
I have kept up with the scientific and Medical research on this drink and the wormwood products over the years and I agree there does not seem to be any significant long lasting ill effects from this drink (excepting in those rare side effects experienced by individuals already having a predilection for bizarre responses to ANY potentially mind altering substances (the marginally mentally ill at baseline)). I was a Physician who retired recently and felt I should not imbibe potentially mind altering substances during my career since I was virtually forever On-call for almost 40 years. Having retired now I would consider a personal evaluation of this drink just for the hell of it. Thanks for a very interesting video. I subscribed to your channel years ago and UA-cam unsubed me apparently and I lost track, With my Chase the Craft T-shirt I am back as a subscriber. Keep up the good work!
@@bohabaz You are a liar. There is zero trip in this drink. It is urban legend originating from a single batch that was made with ergot inflected rye grains. YOUR batch did not contain ergot. YOU were not poisoned. YOU saw nothing.
@@PresidentofAntifa Don't be so ignorant. First of all, MANY people experience alterations in perception by placebo effect alone - so calling anyone who says so a liar, just because YOU suspect dishonesty around you, is quite immature. Second of all, how in the flying f*** do you not see that you are projecting?
I saw a documentary about how absinthe got unbanned. Turns out there was lead contamination due to impurities in the brewing process. The brewing process was updated to fix the problem and it got unbanned. So that's where the legend of the hallucinations came from, why it was considered dangerous, and why it's safe and doesn't cause the high today.
can't wait till the absinthium wormwood is ready in the garden this year. last year i tried you older video recipe with wormwood from the garden, i turned out great!
My father was stationed in Egypt in WW2 and he told us of a liqueur called Zibib which may have been an Ouzo type alcohol. He called it paint stripper and it may have contributed to his time in the stockade. He was wounded in the Battle of Sidi Rezegh in 1841 and stayed in the hospital for the next two years, so he had a lot of time to get into trouble. lol
Only found your channel in my search for Limoncello recipes. I will probably never go beyond infusing Gins but watching videos like this is giving me the urge to try new things. An entertaining and very informative video. I look forward to watching more.
Interesting you should mention the artist side of things. My theory is that the Impressionist style of art, the idea of 'hanging light on canvas' was greatly influenced by artists who consumed Absinthe. My conclusion, Absinthe doesn't result in mass murder, it leads to art and perhaps new scientific concepts that deal with time and space.
As a long time absinthe connoisseur, it's wonderful to see you doing the distallation the right way. I'd do a 68 or 72 and maybe do melissa instead of mint, but it looks fantastic. There are so many garbage absinthe videos out there, an absolute breath of fresh air to watch this one. Big cheers.
I found this too! On my first drinking of absinthe, I made the all too common mistake of buying that godawful Hill's 'absinth' which isn't real absinthe at all, and it was about the same as vodka or gin to me. Then I imported a bottle of real Spanish absinthe and could tell the difference immediately in taste, louche (it actually DID louche) and above all, effect! After 4 drinks I felt absolutely wasted yet coherent, able to game at full facility, my thoughts crystal clear instead of hazy. Never anything else like it. You certainly don't trip balls, but it's very VERY different! Love your recipe!
Arsenic was also used as a green pigment. And that shit will most definitely mess you up. Would totally not surprise me if that too was used to colour absinthe.
To be fair, people were also brewing with less knowledge of the dangers of distillation and methyl alcohol. They also may have used more / extra potent wormwood. Tripping from poison or just higher doses seems most likely.
That is what I would expect, but more wormwood just makes your stomach hurt. I tested this by drinking wormwood extract. The thujone chemical does nothing but make your stomach hurt
As an recovering alcoholic i spent a bit of time drinking absinthe (never watered down, and about 1/4- half a bottle at a time cause i was stupid ), you are very right about the buzz its different compared to other booze (very clear) the interesting thing i found was if you have for example if you have a shot of vodka after a few good drinks the scales tipped very quick to being not having that clear buzz and your motor functions shot (wasted i would call it) - Also reminded me a lot of moonshine or high alcohol content vodka (talking about real stuff not some of the crap some companies make - had friend who were polish and made it from scratch) Great video and very well done, i think if you learn how things are made and the process and have it for enjoyment not to get wasted or block out shit it can be a really cool journey
Yes….exactly how I felt after some drinks of Taboo Absinthe….. No other alcoholic drink has ever had an effect on me like that. Drunk and sober at the same time. It’s the strangest drink I’ve ever experienced.
@@andersjjensen Remember he used to work for Disney. I think they drug test their employees daily. I still can't believe that he and Jose are that averse to a party.
There are at least 2 other videos in the absinthe series coming. But I would be keen to do more like this. Open to suggestions Arak should be on the list I think.
@@StillIt Cool! If you wanna trippin' you could use the og recipe which uses mugwort instead of the wormwood. It will blow you away but it's dangerous especially if you consuming bigger quantity.
I get that lucid intoxication from a few different types of spirits that are produced in my area. It felt like I was young again when I could drink a fair amount and my brain wouldn’t be dragged down. Also, the “hangover” was basically me knowing that I was hungover but not feeling hungover. If any of that makes sense. It is very hard to explain and very surprising when it happens.
Single Malt Scotch and some pot stilled whiskys (Red Breast) and some pure moonshine can do that. I get a moment of clarity when I drink certain spirits. Absinthe was one of those.
You're saying when you drink a nostalgic drink in a different environment you feel different? Must be a magical property of alcohol and not cognitive bias
Loved the “new text later” 😅 Great video! I also have my suspicions about the modern commercial versions just being coloured and flavoured washes rather than anything actually brewed beforehand.
Old Absinthe House in New Orleans where Toulouse Lautrec used to vist they put some ice in a glass put a suger cube on top the glass and poured the Absinthe over the suger cube melting the sugar cube into the glass. I drank one drink but it wasn't my cup of tea. I washed it down with a shot Crown Royal.
I used to make DIY Absinthe with a home made, pressure cooker pot still with a snake I made my self and a big coffee can for a cooling jacket. Back in the early 90's I was the only game in town. I put a LOT of wormwood in my recipe and yeah......
@@StillIt White sage actually makes a decent substitute for wormwood. The thujone content is similar and sage seems more available than wormwood in much of the world. Sage also gives a similar relaxing effect when smoked.
Absinthe wormwood is what made absinthe toxic I have 10 absinthe wormwood growing in my yard. I won't be consuming them. But some bugs don't like them so I let them grow. Without absinthe wormwood your not making absinthe.
@EddieTheH Wouldnt smoke sage if i were you. Many different types of sage with many different phytochemicals. Wouldnt smoke anything really. Id rather stick it in a vape
Really enjoyed the video, think I'll the recipe out... One question; when you're running your maceration/botanical run in your air still, can you go into detail of what temp you run it at? And if you're running it at full wattage or do you step it down like is commonly done with a voltage regulator.... Cheers!
The still is going to run at the temp its going to run at. You really cant control it. This video goes into way more detail: ua-cam.com/video/cTvYaA53P74/v-deo.html Instead its way better to think about off take speed. In saying that this still has no temp/power control its just on or off. Thankfully Still Spirits have tuned it pretty well for these kinds of runs.
Hey mate Wouldnt recommend keeping spirit in those containers for anthing more than a year as the cork top is really just a version of chipboard and glue! I have a few jars that are undrinkable even though they have been aging for 3 or 4 years on decent wood! Unmistakeable glue flavour :( ! Maybe a 2nd or 3rd use badmo barrel aged absinthe could be cool?
Yeah good point. I should have mentioned that. Its just my holding container for stuff like this that needs a home untill its used quickly. But yes, a barrel aged absinthe would be dope!
I’m having to distill vicariously through you. UK law is still in the pocket of business and the taxman when it comes to this. Looks like good stuff, keeps it up.
NEWBIE HERE ... Your buzz giggle is absolutely hysterical like a drunk Santa's elf ... I was laughing so hard the few times you giggled that giggle .thanks for the recipe... Anything that has that black liquorish flavor but I was drawn in by your face so I had to stop... I'm a fan thanks again
Had a couple of absinthe shots once. With the first one I lost the power of speech for a few seconds, and the second one (someone' missed the photo) everyone's voice took on a texture for a few seconds. I've never done it as shots since, but well louched, I find it quite relaxing in ways that a normal beer isn't. I also approve of the historical notes throughout.
I remember my first shot of the stuff. Of course, had heard all the tales it makes you rip your own ear off and the likes, but it had to be tried. Was offered a shot when I went to a relative's house, aged probably 19 or so at the time. Skulled the shot, hit me like a sailors fist, almost passed out. What they didnt say it was some imported stuff distilled at almost 90%......
Awesome video! Back in the 90s, it was still illegal in the US. Everclear was legal in some states but not mine. It is also illegal to distill in my state. So, I would make country wine, make "jack" (freeze off the alcohol), and then macerate the herbs (in a fashion similar to limonchello) to make an absinthe-like drink. It is absolutely critical in New Orleans dishes and drinks. You can't have Oysters Absinthe Dome, NOLA-styled caramelized onions, or a Sazerac without absinthe. Never did I get the effects you're talking about. Then again, I have always had a high tolerance for substances and my body metabolizes compounds crazy fast...my dad was the same way. Even prescription drugs work weird in me and it is very difficult to put me under, and keep me under, for surgery. Thankfully, absinthe is now legal in the US. It is crazy expensive and hard to find. Outside NOLA, expect to pay nearly $100 US for enough absinthe to make 4-6 drinks at home. Sadly, distilling is still illegal in my state.
@@maskedman1337 American alcohol laws are messed up! I only know because, after I graduated from business grad school, I was offered a $350k loan to build a boutique meadery. By the time the feds got gone with my plan, the compliance costs inflated my startup costs by 10x and I had to wait a minimum of 4 years before I could sell the first drop. I recently paid $40 for 110 ml of absinthe for cooking. In the US, every distillery must have a distributor. The distributor must charge the distillery state alcohol taxes to transport the alcohol in each state operating in. So, if the distillery is in Louisiana, and the end destination is Florida, then taxes must be paid for LA, MS, AL, and FL. Moreover, an alcoholic beverage cannot be transported in a state if it doesn't meet those state laws. So, each state has a right to ban ingredients, set acceptable percentages of chemicals, etc. above and beyond what the feds establish. Thus, Alabama might allow less of a chemical or ingredient than Mississippi. To get to Florida, the distillery has a choice to (1) make a formula that complies with all state laws on that route or (2) plan a new distribution route that eliminates problematic states. Everytime the formula or label is changed, the feds must approve both the formula and label. States sometimes also have this requirement. A fast track label and recipe review takes four years and loads of money. To avoid one state, the distillery might have to pay taxes for four or more additional states due to the route alteration. So, long and short, yes some areas of the US might allow perfect absinthe at an affordable price. BUT...their are some areas where absinthe (true absinthe) still isn't legal. In many areas, if you can get true absinthe,it just isn't affordable.
I had a couple thoughts: Could be interesting to grow all your own botanicals for this or for Gin. However, some sources say Artemisia absinthium (common wormwood) is invasive, and it wouldn't want to put that in my garden. Might be interesting to see how close you could get using only plants native to America, or if you'd be better off just taking what we have here and doing your own thing.
I seem to remember Alan Bishop did something like that. There was absinthe being produced in Indiana in the 1830's and they wrote that there was already worm wood growing there when they got there. So Alan tried to replicate it.
I grew both this wormwood and sweet wormwood. It makes good tea too mixed with mint. Not that invasive, just reseeds itself, which is handy. Won't spread if you mow around the area.
This channel reminds me of Harbaz's Very Old Banana Whiskey (amongst other delights) I used to drink when working at Tell Nebi Mende, near Homs, Syria, in the early 1980's. That particular distillation smelt of pear drops (you'll know what that may imply) and did indeed make you trip balls. Unmercifully. The hangover was something special too.
I have to say that i did try that recipe. And it's one of the tastiest absinthe i have had. Good job and thank you for making this video. And now i also want to develop my own recipe.
For most of my life Absinth was illegal in the US and my state. Then all of a sudden it was made legal and me and a friend had to try it. Both totally bummed we didnt trip balls. My friend later on got a bottle from the UK and we thought that would be "real" absinth and would make us trip but nope. Crazy how a little smear campagna can change history, but same thing happened from the sugar industry.
The US finally discovered after almost 100 years that "thujone" the supposed psychoactive component derived from wormwood was not in the levels needed to actually be effective.
@F1083 In the 1500s in germany they had to specifically ban beer being brewed with magic mushrooms as an ingredient. Its a great combo, a beer and afew psilocybes
@@DG-iw3yw you're thinking of black henbane, not magic mushrooms. Europeans didn't learn about magic mushrooms until the mid 1900s. They're from South America. I did look up the 1500s ban you mentioned and learned about brewers adding henbane (which is a poisonous nightshade) to beer.
I get it about the historical aspect of this effort ("adventure"?). To my mind it adds a bit of "connectedness" with the process that adds another dimension to the experience. Now I'm not a fan of wartime history or anything that recent, but back in my diving days - away on trips to Truk or other war-torn places - I'd listen to the DM giving a talk about the history of the wreck we were about to dive on. I remember thinking this will go out the other ear, but it made a connected difference to the dive, and became part of the story that I could tell when describing the experience, which I never thought I would be capable of. Great effort on the distilling there! And tho I'm not (and probably never will) be a distiller, I am most definitely a consumer and will seek a reasonable Absinthe to try out, now I know what I'm looking for! Cheers mate!
Not a drinker but this was very much a pleasure to watch. You were clearly enjoying yourself. I especially like the way the English pronounce "tripping balls." It just sounds so classy. Cheers.
Wanna stamp another one? Check out the birth of absinthe as we know it in the 1700's Swiss style absinthe video: ua-cam.com/video/CueOEfqgIEo/v-deo.htmlsi=uLh2iitqtz1Oby77
This was interesting and also rather funny to me, as I wrote a book specifically set in 1860 London and absinthe makes a brief appearance in one of the earlier chapters.
you have petite (or roman) wormwood in the recipe list. Have you used grand wormwood in a batch? if so, was there a reason for the choice difference or was it just what was handy? We have grown our own Grand Wormwood for almost 2 decades and I make mine with it but was curious if there is a taste difference. thanks for the vid. Cheers!
The only way to trip balls on absinthe is using 2 drops of lordinum on a sugar cube in a tea strainer above the glass of absinthe and then set the sugar cube on fire and letting it drip into the absinthe
A number of years ago I travelled to Poland for a wedding with a large group of friends, all seasoned drinkers hailing from the UK. Our journey led us to the beautiful city of Gdańsk, where we stumbled upon Café Absinthe, a quirky little bar that caught our eye. The name alone promised an interesting evening, and we were not disappointed. As we stepped into Café Absinthe, the air buzzed with an intoxicating blend of mystery and anticipation. The bar’s centrepiece is their elaborate absinthe setup, hinting at a ritualistic drinking experience. We were intrigued, and the friendly bartender eagerly explained their unique preparation method. It all began with a brown sugar cube, which was soaked in absinthe and carefully balanced on an ornate absinthe spoon over a glass of the potent spirit. The bartender lit the sugar cube on fire, the blue flame dancing hypnotically as it caramelized. Once the sugar was sufficiently caramelized, he extinguished the flame by slowly dripping ice-cold water over the cube, allowing it to dissolve into the absinthe, creating a cloudy, louche effect. After a thorough stirring, we were informed the green fairy had been activated and the drink was ready to consume. Our group eagerly participated, each taking turns with the ritual. The first sips were a revelation - the absinthe was nothing like our usual drinks. It was herbaceous, intense, and somewhat otherworldly. Before long, the effects of the "fairy" became apparent. The atmosphere grew lively, almost frenzied, and the dance floor beckoned. One by one, those of us who had consumed just a single glass began to falter. We toppled over in fits of laughter, unable to maintain our balance. One friend mysteriously disappeared, only to be found a full day later in a compromising situation - he had mistaken a private home for his hotel and had been arrested and locked up for his rampaging confusion. Amidst the chaos, I stepped outside for some fresh air and met an 18-year old American. It was his first trip to Europe, and he was eager to soak in every experience. In the spirit of camaraderie, I offered him a glass of absinthe. An hour later, I saw him again, though this time he was being carried out of the bar by security, having decided that he no longer needed clothing. Reflecting on the evening, it was clear that drinking absinthe is an experience unlike any other. It's not merely about getting drunk; it's more akin to a psychedelic adventure. The intense, almost hallucinogenic effects of the green fairy were both fascinating and formidable. I ended up having two glasses myself and, unlike some of my companions, managed to keep my clothes on and avoid any run-ins with the law. Despite the chaos, or perhaps because of it, I had an immensely enjoyable evening. The night at Café Absinthe became a legendary tale among our group, a testament to the wild and unpredictable nature of travel adventures. So, if you ever find yourself in Gdańsk, seeking a night of unforgettable experiences, look no further than Café Absinthe. Just remember to respect the green fairy - she’s potent and unpredictable, and you never know where she might lead you!
Sorry to burst your bubble but if it was in Poland it wasn't real absinthe, it's only legal in the czech republic (yes, worldwide one single country is allowed to sell the real thing).
@@14percentviking sure, but basically every bottle of "absinthe" ever seen outside of czech republic is not the actual thing. It's only if you or someone you know go to that specific country and grab a bottle you can actually say you have tasted absinthe. Otherwise the closest thing you can say is that you have tasted a absinthe branded drink.
@@tobiaswedin In the European Union, regulations dictate that the thujone content in absinthe must not exceed 35 mg/kg. and yet Spain is in the EU but has no restrictions. In the nanny state of the United States, the limit on thujone content is set to be below an embarrassing 10 ppm (parts per million). During my visit to a bar boasting around 50 different bottles of absinthe, a member of our group, hailing from the Czech Republic, cautioned us against indulging. A few days later, I bought a bottle from a nearby off-license that was indeed labelled "Made in the Czech Republic." I think it's therefore safe to conclude that some countries are less uptight, more relaxed and value freedom more so than the USA.
that was a great video, I made some spiced rum at the dead mans fingers distillery recently and I'd love to do something like this. One time I drank tonnes of Absinthe (in B52's) and then on a complete Absinthe hangover did a lighthouse tour, where they span glass prisms around the light (think dark side of the moon cover). There was definitely an element of tripping on that occasion I can tell you... one that'll never be forgotten!
hahaha, I saw it in a youtube video or something. Decided it looked like fun, decided to buy a terrible big box store board. Played for a few weeks and decided to make my own (the one in the video). I go through cycles of playing lots . . . . then nothing for months.
I scrolled down here to see what that game was called. I thought he was saying "crocodile," but a Google search was coming up with nothing similar. Now that I know it's "Crokinole" I can order or make a game! Sweet!
Hey jesse i turned today 21 and my made me one of your irish whiskeys and i gotta say man its good im glad he found you and thank you for the amazing time
@nowonmetube me too, but others don't, and instead of laughing at others about petty things as if they're a metric of worthiness, I try to help. Now go make yourself useful to someone if you can.
So I have always been told that the very high alcohol volume kills off the wormwood. Back in the day when this was being made from a wine base the ABV was a whole lot lower and supposedly the lower ABV allows the wormwood to work better.
I don't drink alcohol, and I don't have any sort of distillery. Was curious about the results of all this anyway. ...Curiosity is going to be the death of me someday...
I think it may be. I saw it in a youtube video. Wanted to play, bought a crappy board from a big box store. When I wanted to upgrade it was either import from Canada or make my own. So I made the one in the vid. Awesome game!
I got recommended your video by the algorithm from a TechLinked video for some reason. I am now subbed. I suppose you might know this from the information UA-cam gives you, but I thought I'd make a record of it.
West Campus of Grayson County College has the Munson Memorial Vinyard and once had a Viticulture Course based on the work of the late Resident; Thomas Volney Munson. I've been there many times when I was living in the proximity.
So interesting! I’d heard both the nasty rumors and some debunking. Spiritous liquors just aren’t my thing, but it looks like fun to make, and you certainly make it sound enticing. Thanks!
My husband and I order absinthe from Germany once every few months. We have one drink on friday and Saturday nights. We use a heaping teaspoon of powdered sugar in it instead of the sugar cube, it taste SO much better that way, we love it!❤
Well some of these ingredients would be easy for me. I have seed fennel in my herb garden, and there's lemon balm growing along the path behind my house. Neither gets any pesticides or herbicides. Now I gotta find something to make with all the rosemary I have 😂
Last I had a bottle of absinthe was a clear one from a small specialist alcohol shop, recommended by the owners. I hadn’t been told what I should feel, but defiantly I would have described it as a lucid drunk. Something like the opposite of what you said, my mind was clear and lucid, hearing and sight were perfect, with an amazing sense of calm and comfort, but to the point where I had a disconnect from concentration it was really hard to summon the energy to talk, walking was purely on muscle memory alone. I managed to tell my friends “if didn’t know how to walk, I wouldn’t be doing it”, which took a lot of effort. It was like being in a really comfortable place, feeling good, calm and happy., content. One day I ran out and switched to a cider or beer, the contrast was instant and horrible, and the lucid and calm gone, just a head full of basic drunk.
Sounds delicious and the buzz sounds enjoyable. Any recommendations for commercially available alternatives? I don't have the equipment or money to distill my own. I'm excited for the next video in the series!
Awesome video, would love to see you take a crack at Kykeon. It would be hard but ideal to make it with Ergot infected grains. That’s most likely why it was psychedelic, after all.
Also to improve your Louche shake your water in a shaker and get it as cold as possible and then add dropwise or as slow as humanly possible while keeping it cold. Even great absinthe will show a lackluster louche dumping in not quite so cold water quickly. The mouthfeel will improve too.
I admit the title of the video brought me here to see if you would "trip balls". I know nothing about distilling anything, but this was entertaining. For a while it seemed like a mad chemist lab, then morphed into cooking, then back to mad chemist lab . Too bad I can't sample your efforts! Great video.
Hi . Loved this video ; I will sub and watch some more , thanks . On holiday in Majorca a few years back , I was being dragged around a souvenir shop when I noticed some bottles of absinthe . I mentioned this to my partner and was over heard by the shop manager , who then started chatting about the drink . I said that I thought absinthe was usually of a higher ABV than those on sale . He asked me if I was willing to come back the next day and I put in an order . I got two bottles at 160% and two at 180% ( really 80 and 90 % ABV I believe ) and they came in green , blue and black colours . The black version was stronger on the liquorice flavour , otherwise they were all gorgeous and very pleasant ....in taste and effect . One night a friend insisted that the way to drink absinthe was to level fill a teaspoon with sugar and then soak the sugar with absinthe . Then you set fire to the absinthe before tipping the flaming spoon into your glass of absinthe and then stifle the flames with your hand and then drink the whole thing in one gulp ! Ok . After four of these in the kitchen , I managed to spill my glass over the kitchen work top . It was a laptop sized , lovely light blue flame on the surface ... oh very pretty ain't it ... oh poo what to do now !! Beware , very very odd stuff , but I love it every now and then !
Glad to find your channel again mate! I've had the real deal. All it did was get me drunk. But it did seem like a different kinda buzz. May just be all the hype and placebo affect. Effect? You know what I mean.
Scientists swear there is no difference between the "buzz" from different alcohol types, stating a jigger of whiskey vs a glass of wine vs a pint of beer have the same effect. As a professional alcoholic I can tell you they are mistaken.
Interesting. Where do you get your certification for being a professional alcoholic from? Is the certification from a school or a trade organization?
@@JeffTiberend It is more of an honorary degree which was presented to me by the bums in the back alley straining Sterno through a sock for libations. I may never achieve what they have but I am doing my best.
can confirm wine doesnt do shit
yeah scientists say a lot of things, absinthe 100% makes you see stuff but in your head when youre passed out i hallucinated an entire night out when i never left the house falling down drunk on absinthe, wish i could find that dream bar it was great
@@JeffTiberend i comes in the post as soon as you test over 1500 on your GGT
To help prolong the color, you could bottle it in brown bottles and keep it out of the light. The yellowish brown occurs when green herbs lose their chlorophyll.
Very good point!
A mild antioxidant would probably help too.
Or add a pinch of BHT 😂
Mmy
or a.pinch of dmt 😅@@browpetj
My experience with absinthe was that my body was very relaxed, but I was able to have very lucid, rapid, profound conversations that just flowed so easily. After several drinks, my motor skills diminished and my speech began to slur, but my mind was still completely sharp. Afterward, I remembered every bit of our conversations with clarity and precision, which does not happen with other spirits.
Just smoke wormwood if you want that but don't want to be drunk.
I found the same. Drunk but clear headed. Body was drunk, head was inebriated but clear. It's a wonderful drink.
So you were drunk?
I had a bottle and it was pretty much the same high as other liquors I had tried.
@@itoibo4208 Remember, Absinthe has a different set of herbs which changes how it effects you unless it is the original recipe like Pernod, which kind / brand did you have?
You can tell he’s a True Master by the careful and respectful way he handles his ingredients and process, all the while calling it shit.
yeah and that thing he said about what yeast he is having :D he have probable tested 2 much shit
I don't own a still, so I start out with Everclear (or vodka in a pinch.) I despise anything licorice flavored, so I left out that flavor and put in cinnamon and cloves instead. The herbs blend really well with the wormwood. I also didn't cook the mixture, I cold brewed it in the back of my fridge for a month. It helps preserve the delicate aromatics. It comes out amazing, and has very hypnotic effects.
My Dad and I found a bottle of French Absinthe at an estate-sale about a decade ago. The folks running the sale didn't have a clue what it was but we discovered it to be labeled from 1867 (still corked and waxed). We cracked it open and had a few glasses each and we found it to be almost a 'high' as-opposed to a standard alcohol intoxication. I remember it was around 2am, we got the munchies so bad that I began searing a couple steaks and some scrambled eggs in a cast iron skillet for us to satiate our cravings 😂.
You did not get high. The *myth* around Absinthe is from ONE BATCH made with ergot infected rye. You just lied.
There are *ZERO* psychoactive compounds in absinthe. It has *NO ABILITY* to produce the effects you stated.
yea, its closer to an opium stupor than a drunk.
Yup, sounds like the dread French spirit!
I believe you, there could feasibly be some sort of ingredient that wasn't in the recipe that caused it, perhaps a fungi.
Expensive night, you could have sold it for over $50,000
'Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder'
Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder... Absinthe makes the brain go yonder!
😂
Booo
🙈
Darn! you beat me to it!
I used to trip balls, until I bought a thesaurus. Now I stumble testicles.
underrated comment!
BRAVO! 👏👏 BRAVO! 👏👏👏
🤣
Ha, that's dumb. I love it.
There is now bow emoji that I can find. So, o7
Thanks for doing a practical debunking of this old myth! That level of experimentation is out of reach for most, so it's appreciated.
an extremely enjoyable way to learn all about stuff i don't really care about.
..your raising my trivia game.
06:20 "NEW TEXT LAYER" ^^
Love the video buddy, looks awesome!
*Adjusted for temp
BOTTOM TEXT
There may have been some very late night absinthe fueled editing . . .. .
@@StillIt that has to factor in why this channel is loved by many and growing every day. You have obvious skill in the entire process, and yet you dont gatekeep recipe or tools even while you imbibe. Very wholesome, educational, and interesting content.
@@StillIthaha that's what's up
@@StillIt Curios did you use Artemisia vulgaris or Artemisia absintum cuz last one was uses for the dink whif is sayd to have the halucenic qualetys😅
Great video! This combination of distilling content, b-roll, story-telling, rough-sawn wood and lighting, and the side-eye as you slopped the drink out of your glass…. Chef’s kiss!
HAHA Some of that was planned. Some of it was a happy accident.
😂😂
@@StillIt Having trouble holding your liquor? 😂
I trip balls all the time....because I'm like 80 and they're on the floor. That's where I find them most of the time. 🤣🤣
I don’t think an 80 year old would use emojis and use the word “like” in the fashion you have. I call your bluff
🤣🤣
My Dad learned to text in his 70’s. He’d have an entire conversation in emojis. If there were words shit was real serious!
@@Gunnerdaddy naa the oldies love to jump on the trends bruv
ha!
The classical absinthe buzz. Now you've reminded me of it so vividly, I would love to experience it again. It's been more than 10 years easily since I last had a few glasses. Banned in many countries, as you mentioned, it was banned in Holland as well. It's only a couple of years ago that a private liquor vendor brought the ban to court, and won.
Being a creative, while not comparing myself to my famous compatriot Vincent van Gogh, it's clear to me what he must have run on. The starry nights, the celestial contact, the reports to his brother of having discovered a completely new understanding of painting, total self-confidence alternated with total depression from knowing no one could follow what he felt and ventured for. It makes total sense.
Obviously, art historians believe that absinthe, and booze in general, probably formed an important doorway to van Gogh's inspiration, but more specifically, after a couple of units of it, I think he very simply dared to leave home without a trace of fear, go out with an easel, canvas, brushes, paint, turpentine, and the whole shabam, just to paint and be a worthy transmitter of visual experience, not minding about what anyone thought about it, and instead have that uncannily clear connection with life.
Thanks for the vid. Loved it.
Found some on internet. The ingredient that mess you up is thujone which is in sage and listed on the bottle I found in high amounts. It’s legal because the took that ingredient out of the wormwood
yes, van gogh drank some absinthe, but the things you're talking about, his discoveries, urge to paint, comes from a very different place - hard hard, backbreaking work ethic, obsession with painting and wanting to completly sacrifice yourself and your life to art. He painted usually from 1 to 3 paintings a day, and he drank gallons of cheap coffee, and ate bread, cause he was always broke. Also smoked like a chimney, but it would be impossible to drink daily and work like him. He was a monumental worker, which in the end became his doom - he worked himself to mental illness, and later death. I dont remember exactly, his painting years were like last 7/8/9 years of his life. I really think that 90% of people wouldnt last a year of his routine, without some serious mental and health problems. Cheers, just wanted to chat about van Gogh xd
Van gogh suffered from frontal lobe epilepsy which very likely was triggered by drinking Absinthe. All of their life's memorable historical moments can be attributed to this. As a side note in research scenarios for veterinarian medicine Absinthe is used to trigger epileptic episodes in dog's with the condition.
@@riotbearrrI would argue that his work ethic was a symptom of his mental illness, probably manic episodes.
I have kept up with the scientific and Medical research on this drink and the wormwood products over the years and I agree there does not seem to be any significant long lasting ill effects from this drink (excepting in those rare side effects experienced by individuals already having a predilection for bizarre responses to ANY potentially mind altering substances (the marginally mentally ill at baseline)). I was a Physician who retired recently and felt I should not imbibe potentially mind altering substances during my career since I was virtually forever On-call for almost 40 years. Having retired now I would consider a personal evaluation of this drink just for the hell of it. Thanks for a very interesting video. I subscribed to your channel years ago and UA-cam unsubed me apparently and I lost track, With my Chase the Craft T-shirt I am back as a subscriber. Keep up the good work!
There IS no mind altering substance. The word you were looking for is lying; people who are lying.
itrs a very lucid intoxication hes spot on there ... i also noticed after 5-6 drinks colors popped more
@@bohabaz You are a liar. There is zero trip in this drink. It is urban legend originating from a single batch that was made with ergot inflected rye grains.
YOUR batch did not contain ergot.
YOU were not poisoned.
YOU saw nothing.
@@PresidentofAntifa Don't be so ignorant. First of all, MANY people experience alterations in perception by placebo effect alone - so calling anyone who says so a liar, just because YOU suspect dishonesty around you, is quite immature.
Second of all, how in the flying f*** do you not see that you are projecting?
I saw a documentary about how absinthe got unbanned. Turns out there was lead contamination due to impurities in the brewing process. The brewing process was updated to fix the problem and it got unbanned. So that's where the legend of the hallucinations came from, why it was considered dangerous, and why it's safe and doesn't cause the high today.
can't wait till the absinthium wormwood is ready in the garden this year. last year i tried you older video recipe with wormwood from the garden, i turned out great!
Weaving the historical parts in amongst the distilling shots, rather than multiple chunks works well!
Seemed like a nice way to make the video flow.
My father was stationed in Egypt in WW2 and he told us of a liqueur called Zibib which may have been an Ouzo type alcohol. He called it paint stripper and it may have contributed to his time in the stockade. He was wounded in the Battle of Sidi Rezegh in 1841 and stayed in the hospital for the next two years, so he had a lot of time to get into trouble. lol
I think you mean 1941.
lmao i did a double take at 1841 before i realised the typo
Hey, my dad served in Egypt, too! He was regular Army in IX Corps. What unit was your pop fighting in? American or British?
fascinating story
Not sure if true, but I've heard Ouzo, was originally, an opium based liqueur.
@@dgymnast6473 It was a VERY long war.
Only found your channel in my search for Limoncello recipes. I will probably never go beyond infusing Gins but watching videos like this is giving me the urge to try new things. An entertaining and very informative video. I look forward to watching more.
Interesting you should mention the artist side of things. My theory is that the Impressionist style of art, the idea of 'hanging light on canvas' was greatly influenced by artists who consumed Absinthe. My conclusion, Absinthe doesn't result in mass murder, it leads to art and perhaps new scientific concepts that deal with time and space.
Have you ever had the Van Gogh brand absinthe called Absente ? It's quite good
Absinthe makes the art grow stronger.
Love this video reminds me of Max Miller tasting history. I'd love to see more videos like this in the future for sure!
As a long time absinthe connoisseur, it's wonderful to see you doing the distallation the right way. I'd do a 68 or 72 and maybe do melissa instead of mint, but it looks fantastic. There are so many garbage absinthe videos out there, an absolute breath of fresh air to watch this one. Big cheers.
No, boss, I wasn't absent, I was absinthe.
Working man's drink.
Absinthe without leave?!
how can I be just as if not more absinthe in my children's lives than my mother was?? these are the important questions science stumbles on answering
I found this too! On my first drinking of absinthe, I made the all too common mistake of buying that godawful Hill's 'absinth' which isn't real absinthe at all, and it was about the same as vodka or gin to me. Then I imported a bottle of real Spanish absinthe and could tell the difference immediately in taste, louche (it actually DID louche) and above all, effect! After 4 drinks I felt absolutely wasted yet coherent, able to game at full facility, my thoughts crystal clear instead of hazy. Never anything else like it. You certainly don't trip balls, but it's very VERY different! Love your recipe!
Absinthe is from Switzerland originally, it spread to neighbouring France where it was popularized amongst the boheme bourgeoisie.
Arsenic was also used as a green pigment. And that shit will most definitely mess you up. Would totally not surprise me if that too was used to colour absinthe.
Yeah dude. Shady ass people out to make a buck!
Look up "Scheeles Green" the arsenic based green dye / pigment. Absolute horror show.
Before tin was discovered, metallurgists used to make bronze by mixing ARSENIC with copper....
Wasn't this what made people like Van Gogh go insane?
Wouldn't surprise me if they still do that in China
To be fair, people were also brewing with less knowledge of the dangers of distillation and methyl alcohol. They also may have used more / extra potent wormwood. Tripping from poison or just higher doses seems most likely.
Generally, yes, the only way you'd trip is because of poison in the batch.
That is what I would expect, but more wormwood just makes your stomach hurt. I tested this by drinking wormwood extract. The thujone chemical does nothing but make your stomach hurt
As an recovering alcoholic i spent a bit of time drinking absinthe (never watered down, and about 1/4- half a bottle at a time cause i was stupid ), you are very right about the buzz its different compared to other booze (very clear) the interesting thing i found was if you have for example if you have a shot of vodka after a few good drinks the scales tipped very quick to being not having that clear buzz and your motor functions shot (wasted i would call it) - Also reminded me a lot of moonshine or high alcohol content vodka (talking about real stuff not some of the crap some companies make - had friend who were polish and made it from scratch)
Great video and very well done, i think if you learn how things are made and the process and have it for enjoyment not to get wasted or block out shit it can be a really cool journey
Man my mouth was watering, watching you mix all those botanicals together 😂
Yes!!! Completely sober and utterly smashed at the same time!!!
Best description ever!!!
Yes….exactly how I felt after some drinks of Taboo Absinthe….. No other alcoholic drink has ever had an effect on me like that. Drunk and sober at the same time. It’s the strangest drink I’ve ever experienced.
I can still walk on water if you pull me 35 miles an hour behind a boat.
It's like washing down 2 Xanax with a beer.
Id love to see a colab with @TastingHistory with Max Miller on this.
I would be totally down to do that! Plenty of other historic spirits. Arak or Baiju perhaps?
I'd love to see Max properly plastered. He always seem so self-conscious that it would be funny to see him let go.
@@andersjjensen Remember he used to work for Disney. I think they drug test their employees daily. I still can't believe that he and Jose are that averse to a party.
I would buy tickets to this!
I really enjoy the historic replica videos. Its also cool taking another look at absinth.
There are at least 2 other videos in the absinthe series coming. But I would be keen to do more like this. Open to suggestions Arak should be on the list I think.
@@StillIt Cool! If you wanna trippin' you could use the og recipe which uses mugwort instead of the wormwood.
It will blow you away but it's dangerous especially if you consuming bigger quantity.
I get that lucid intoxication from a few different types of spirits that are produced in my area. It felt like I was young again when I could drink a fair amount and my brain wouldn’t be dragged down. Also, the “hangover” was basically me knowing that I was hungover but not feeling hungover. If any of that makes sense. It is very hard to explain and very surprising when it happens.
yeah I totally know what you mean about the clean hangover.
Single Malt Scotch and some pot stilled whiskys (Red Breast) and some pure moonshine can do that. I get a moment of clarity when I drink certain spirits. Absinthe was one of those.
You're saying when you drink a nostalgic drink in a different environment you feel different? Must be a magical property of alcohol and not cognitive bias
@@acex222No, that’s not what I’m saying. Mind your biz if you don’t know.
@@justinomarino it's literally what you said.
Loved the “new text later” 😅
Great video! I also have my suspicions about the modern commercial versions just being coloured and flavoured washes rather than anything actually brewed beforehand.
Great video. Would even say it's my favourite. Love the history injections.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Old Absinthe House in New Orleans where Toulouse Lautrec used to vist they put some ice in a glass put a suger cube on top the glass and poured
the Absinthe over the suger cube melting the sugar cube into the glass.
I drank one drink but it wasn't my cup of tea.
I washed it down with a shot Crown Royal.
I used to make DIY Absinthe with a home made, pressure cooker pot still with a snake I made my self and a big coffee can for a cooling jacket. Back in the early 90's I was the only game in town. I put a LOT of wormwood in my recipe and yeah......
Yeah, I actually prefer the higher wormwood absinthes I think. The 1700s one is probably more your style, or the video the next one in the series :)
@@StillIt White sage actually makes a decent substitute for wormwood. The thujone content is similar and sage seems more available than wormwood in much of the world.
Sage also gives a similar relaxing effect when smoked.
Absinthe wormwood is what made absinthe toxic I have 10 absinthe wormwood growing in my yard. I won't be consuming them. But some bugs don't like them so I let them grow. Without absinthe wormwood your not making absinthe.
@EddieTheH Wouldnt smoke sage if i were you. Many different types of sage with many different phytochemicals. Wouldnt smoke anything really. Id rather stick it in a vape
@@DG-iw3yw White sage is pretty well understood.
Really enjoyed the video, think I'll the recipe out... One question; when you're running your maceration/botanical run in your air still, can you go into detail of what temp you run it at? And if you're running it at full wattage or do you step it down like is commonly done with a voltage regulator.... Cheers!
The still is going to run at the temp its going to run at. You really cant control it. This video goes into way more detail:
ua-cam.com/video/cTvYaA53P74/v-deo.html
Instead its way better to think about off take speed. In saying that this still has no temp/power control its just on or off. Thankfully Still Spirits have tuned it pretty well for these kinds of runs.
I have never seen a blog like this before it was very fun and enjoyable . You are a very enjoyable and interesting man. Thank you ! 🦍
"New text layer" explained it for me prefectly. Thank you. I can now lay in eternal rest.
Hey mate
Wouldnt recommend keeping spirit in those containers for anthing more than a year as the cork top is really just a version of chipboard and glue!
I have a few jars that are undrinkable even though they have been aging for 3 or 4 years on decent wood! Unmistakeable glue flavour :( !
Maybe a 2nd or 3rd use badmo barrel aged absinthe could be cool?
Yeah good point. I should have mentioned that. Its just my holding container for stuff like this that needs a home untill its used quickly.
But yes, a barrel aged absinthe would be dope!
Thanks for this fascinating journey through history and flavor! Cheers!
Glad you liked it. My pleasure!
I’m having to distill vicariously through you. UK law is still in the pocket of business and the taxman when it comes to this. Looks like good stuff, keeps it up.
NEWBIE HERE ... Your buzz giggle is absolutely hysterical like a drunk Santa's elf ... I was laughing so hard the few times you giggled that giggle
.thanks for the recipe... Anything that has that black liquorish flavor but I was drawn in by your face so I had to stop... I'm a fan thanks again
Last time I drank absinthe at a festival years ago I tripped balls. Coming to think about it, the liquid acid might have had a contribution.
I miss that. Sigh.
@@Numb217 whats holding you back
@@TheBladus No connections anymore.
@@Numb217 just go to local raves tbh. Put yourself out there, people will find you :) especially at psychedelic parties :P
@@TheBladus Thanks!!! I moved to a tiny mountain area after my divorce and don’t know a soul. ☮️
Had a couple of absinthe shots once. With the first one I lost the power of speech for a few seconds, and the second one (someone' missed the photo) everyone's voice took on a texture for a few seconds. I've never done it as shots since, but well louched, I find it quite relaxing in ways that a normal beer isn't.
I also approve of the historical notes throughout.
Had a 100ml bottle once on a lark… While not exactly the most fun, deficient trip balls, lol
I remember my first shot of the stuff. Of course, had heard all the tales it makes you rip your own ear off and the likes, but it had to be tried. Was offered a shot when I went to a relative's house, aged probably 19 or so at the time. Skulled the shot, hit me like a sailors fist, almost passed out. What they didnt say it was some imported stuff distilled at almost 90%......
It's terrible to shoot but it was no worse than any other strong liquor.
Awesome video! Back in the 90s, it was still illegal in the US. Everclear was legal in some states but not mine. It is also illegal to distill in my state. So, I would make country wine, make "jack" (freeze off the alcohol), and then macerate the herbs (in a fashion similar to limonchello) to make an absinthe-like drink. It is absolutely critical in New Orleans dishes and drinks. You can't have Oysters Absinthe Dome, NOLA-styled caramelized onions, or a Sazerac without absinthe. Never did I get the effects you're talking about. Then again, I have always had a high tolerance for substances and my body metabolizes compounds crazy fast...my dad was the same way. Even prescription drugs work weird in me and it is very difficult to put me under, and keep me under, for surgery. Thankfully, absinthe is now legal in the US. It is crazy expensive and hard to find. Outside NOLA, expect to pay nearly $100 US for enough absinthe to make 4-6 drinks at home. Sadly, distilling is still illegal in my state.
Funny, we couldn’t have everclear in Alabama, 191 proof…but we had clear springs, which was 190 proof. We drank lots of hunch punch, lol.
Dude, I did not know that absinthe was used as a culinary ingredient! Im going to have to look into this!
Isn't absinthe w proper thujone levels available commercially in most of the US for well under $100/bottle?
@@maskedman1337 American alcohol laws are messed up! I only know because, after I graduated from business grad school, I was offered a $350k loan to build a boutique meadery. By the time the feds got gone with my plan, the compliance costs inflated my startup costs by 10x and I had to wait a minimum of 4 years before I could sell the first drop. I recently paid $40 for 110 ml of absinthe for cooking. In the US, every distillery must have a distributor. The distributor must charge the distillery state alcohol taxes to transport the alcohol in each state operating in. So, if the distillery is in Louisiana, and the end destination is Florida, then taxes must be paid for LA, MS, AL, and FL. Moreover, an alcoholic beverage cannot be transported in a state if it doesn't meet those state laws. So, each state has a right to ban ingredients, set acceptable percentages of chemicals, etc. above and beyond what the feds establish. Thus, Alabama might allow less of a chemical or ingredient than Mississippi. To get to Florida, the distillery has a choice to (1) make a formula that complies with all state laws on that route or (2) plan a new distribution route that eliminates problematic states. Everytime the formula or label is changed, the feds must approve both the formula and label. States sometimes also have this requirement. A fast track label and recipe review takes four years and loads of money. To avoid one state, the distillery might have to pay taxes for four or more additional states due to the route alteration. So, long and short, yes some areas of the US might allow perfect absinthe at an affordable price. BUT...their are some areas where absinthe (true absinthe) still isn't legal. In many areas, if you can get true absinthe,it just isn't affordable.
@@maskedman1337 Yes. My go to bottle was like 60$ and it's an entirely normal 750ml bottle.
I had a couple thoughts:
Could be interesting to grow all your own botanicals for this or for Gin.
However, some sources say Artemisia absinthium (common wormwood) is invasive, and it wouldn't want to put that in my garden.
Might be interesting to see how close you could get using only plants native to America, or if you'd be better off just taking what we have here and doing your own thing.
I seem to remember Alan Bishop did something like that. There was absinthe being produced in Indiana in the 1830's and they wrote that there was already worm wood growing there when they got there. So Alan tried to replicate it.
Yup Allan Bishop dose a lot of his own botanicals including wormwood. Check him out here:
www.youtube.com/@hipgnosis2
I grew both this wormwood and sweet wormwood. It makes good tea too mixed with mint. Not that invasive, just reseeds itself, which is handy. Won't spread if you mow around the area.
This channel reminds me of Harbaz's Very Old Banana Whiskey (amongst other delights) I used to drink when working at Tell Nebi Mende, near Homs, Syria, in the early 1980's. That particular distillation smelt of pear drops (you'll know what that may imply) and did indeed make you trip balls. Unmercifully. The hangover was something special too.
I have to say that i did try that recipe. And it's one of the tastiest absinthe i have had. Good job and thank you for making this video.
And now i also want to develop my own recipe.
For most of my life Absinth was illegal in the US and my state. Then all of a sudden it was made legal and me and a friend had to try it. Both totally bummed we didnt trip balls. My friend later on got a bottle from the UK and we thought that would be "real" absinth and would make us trip but nope. Crazy how a little smear campagna can change history, but same thing happened from the sugar industry.
Yeah dude, before I got into this I had similar beliefs for absinth. Pretty crazy how things get into general public belief.
The US finally discovered after almost 100 years that "thujone" the supposed psychoactive component derived from wormwood was not in the levels needed to actually be effective.
@@StillIt Could be that 150 years ago some makers were slipping an adulterant into the mix something like datura to give it a little extra kick?
@F1083 In the 1500s in germany they had to specifically ban beer being brewed with magic mushrooms as an ingredient. Its a great combo, a beer and afew psilocybes
@@DG-iw3yw you're thinking of black henbane, not magic mushrooms. Europeans didn't learn about magic mushrooms until the mid 1900s. They're from South America.
I did look up the 1500s ban you mentioned and learned about brewers adding henbane (which is a poisonous nightshade) to beer.
Finally a new episode on Absinth. I love it.
You should have Erin sample the product. Her response would be interesting.
Couldnt get our schedules to line up for co drinking on short notice haha
I get it about the historical aspect of this effort ("adventure"?). To my mind it adds a bit of "connectedness" with the process that adds another dimension to the experience.
Now I'm not a fan of wartime history or anything that recent, but back in my diving days - away on trips to Truk or other war-torn places - I'd listen to the DM giving a talk about the history of the wreck we were about to dive on. I remember thinking this will go out the other ear, but it made a connected difference to the dive, and became part of the story that I could tell when describing the experience, which I never thought I would be capable of.
Great effort on the distilling there! And tho I'm not (and probably never will) be a distiller, I am most definitely a consumer and will seek a reasonable Absinthe to try out, now I know what I'm looking for! Cheers mate!
Not a drinker but this was very much a pleasure to watch. You were clearly enjoying yourself. I especially like the way the English pronounce "tripping balls." It just sounds so classy. Cheers.
When I drink I get homesick, because absinthe makes the heart grow fonder. 😂
I'll make sure to remember 'New Text Layer' next time i make Absinthe 👍
I may have been up late sipping absinthe while finishing this video off lol
"Historically accurate absinthe" wasn't on my bingo card for the year.
Thanks for the blessing, youtube.
Wanna stamp another one? Check out the birth of absinthe as we know it in the 1700's Swiss style absinthe video:
ua-cam.com/video/CueOEfqgIEo/v-deo.htmlsi=uLh2iitqtz1Oby77
This was interesting and also rather funny to me, as I wrote a book specifically set in 1860 London and absinthe makes a brief appearance in one of the earlier chapters.
you have petite (or roman) wormwood in the recipe list. Have you used grand wormwood in a batch? if so, was there a reason for the choice difference or was it just what was handy? We have grown our own Grand Wormwood for almost 2 decades and I make mine with it but was curious if there is a taste difference. thanks for the vid. Cheers!
The only way to trip balls on absinthe is using 2 drops of lordinum on a sugar cube in a tea strainer above the glass of absinthe and then set the sugar cube on fire and letting it drip into the absinthe
Yup that will do it
That’s how it was done back then in the opium dens so everyone there would be tripping balls like there’s no tomorrow for quite a while.
yes please
@MRONETEN I mean considering you could buy ten grams of pure cocaine from the chemist back then without a prescription...
As depicted in Bram Stokers Dracula movie.
Lucid Intoxication is an interesting description.
Its a apt one I think after experiencing it
A number of years ago I travelled to Poland for a wedding with a large group of friends, all seasoned drinkers hailing from the UK. Our journey led us to the beautiful city of Gdańsk, where we stumbled upon Café Absinthe, a quirky little bar that caught our eye. The name alone promised an interesting evening, and we were not disappointed.
As we stepped into Café Absinthe, the air buzzed with an intoxicating blend of mystery and anticipation. The bar’s centrepiece is their elaborate absinthe setup, hinting at a ritualistic drinking experience. We were intrigued, and the friendly bartender eagerly explained their unique preparation method.
It all began with a brown sugar cube, which was soaked in absinthe and carefully balanced on an ornate absinthe spoon over a glass of the potent spirit. The bartender lit the sugar cube on fire, the blue flame dancing hypnotically as it caramelized. Once the sugar was sufficiently caramelized, he extinguished the flame by slowly dripping ice-cold water over the cube, allowing it to dissolve into the absinthe, creating a cloudy, louche effect. After a thorough stirring, we were informed the green fairy had been activated and the drink was ready to consume.
Our group eagerly participated, each taking turns with the ritual. The first sips were a revelation - the absinthe was nothing like our usual drinks. It was herbaceous, intense, and somewhat otherworldly. Before long, the effects of the "fairy" became apparent. The atmosphere grew lively, almost frenzied, and the dance floor beckoned.
One by one, those of us who had consumed just a single glass began to falter. We toppled over in fits of laughter, unable to maintain our balance. One friend mysteriously disappeared, only to be found a full day later in a compromising situation - he had mistaken a private home for his hotel and had been arrested and locked up for his rampaging confusion.
Amidst the chaos, I stepped outside for some fresh air and met an 18-year old American. It was his first trip to Europe, and he was eager to soak in every experience. In the spirit of camaraderie, I offered him a glass of absinthe. An hour later, I saw him again, though this time he was being carried out of the bar by security, having decided that he no longer needed clothing.
Reflecting on the evening, it was clear that drinking absinthe is an experience unlike any other. It's not merely about getting drunk; it's more akin to a psychedelic adventure. The intense, almost hallucinogenic effects of the green fairy were both fascinating and formidable.
I ended up having two glasses myself and, unlike some of my companions, managed to keep my clothes on and avoid any run-ins with the law. Despite the chaos, or perhaps because of it, I had an immensely enjoyable evening. The night at Café Absinthe became a legendary tale among our group, a testament to the wild and unpredictable nature of travel adventures.
So, if you ever find yourself in Gdańsk, seeking a night of unforgettable experiences, look no further than Café Absinthe. Just remember to respect the green fairy - she’s potent and unpredictable, and you never know where she might lead you!
They just gave you fancy dressed Slivovitz 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Sorry to burst your bubble but if it was in Poland it wasn't real absinthe, it's only legal in the czech republic (yes, worldwide one single country is allowed to sell the real thing).
@@tobiaswedin They don't like laws in Poland though
@@14percentviking sure, but basically every bottle of "absinthe" ever seen outside of czech republic is not the actual thing. It's only if you or someone you know go to that specific country and grab a bottle you can actually say you have tasted absinthe. Otherwise the closest thing you can say is that you have tasted a absinthe branded drink.
@@tobiaswedin In the European Union, regulations dictate that the thujone content in absinthe must not exceed 35 mg/kg. and yet Spain is in the EU but has no restrictions. In the nanny state of the United States, the limit on thujone content is set to be below an embarrassing 10 ppm (parts per million). During my visit to a bar boasting around 50 different bottles of absinthe, a member of our group, hailing from the Czech Republic, cautioned us against indulging. A few days later, I bought a bottle from a nearby off-license that was indeed labelled "Made in the Czech Republic." I think it's therefore safe to conclude that some countries are less uptight, more relaxed and value freedom more so than the USA.
that was a great video, I made some spiced rum at the dead mans fingers distillery recently and I'd love to do something like this. One time I drank tonnes of Absinthe (in B52's) and then on a complete Absinthe hangover did a lighthouse tour, where they span glass prisms around the light (think dark side of the moon cover). There was definitely an element of tripping on that occasion I can tell you... one that'll never be forgotten!
oh, my goodness. It has been decades since I heard anyone mention Crokinole or even seen a Crokinole board let alone played it.
hahaha, I saw it in a youtube video or something. Decided it looked like fun, decided to buy a terrible big box store board. Played for a few weeks and decided to make my own (the one in the video).
I go through cycles of playing lots . . . . then nothing for months.
@@StillIt - Yep. That's the way it appeals to most. Play like crazy for a while then not touch it for months.
I scrolled down here to see what that game was called. I thought he was saying "crocodile," but a Google search was coming up with nothing similar. Now that I know it's "Crokinole" I can order or make a game! Sweet!
Totally agree on the nature of absinthe intoxication. Great video.
Yeah its a interesting one!
In the UK Birch sap wine has a reputation for being FAR out there but unfortunately it's proving to be very difficult to find a genuine method.
Interesting thats a new one to me. I will have to hit google
How where find birch sap ???
I don't drink, but you are so enjoyable to watch, I had fun learning about the history of absinthe. Great video.
Hey jesse i turned today 21 and my made me one of your irish whiskeys and i gotta say man its good im glad he found you and thank you for the amazing time
I've been replaying Fallout 4 recently and this looks like Nuka Cola Quantum when it's louched lol. (It genuinely almost glows)
I have never played. But man the amazon series makes me want to!
26:43 no, there ya go
Haha sponsor block add on gives me a button to just skip ahead to that part. 😆
Thanks, you the mvp
@nowonmetube me too, but others don't, and instead of laughing at others about petty things as if they're a metric of worthiness, I try to help. Now go make yourself useful to someone if you can.
Gotta love that title..😂
Weed - Legal in the USA. Not in NZ
Distilling - Legal in NZ. Not in USA
Sigh, we are so close to doing this haha
I haven't drunk alcohol in years. And I loved every minute of this video.
Wonderfully done, thanks for the history behind it all etc. - was a great watch :)
So I have always been told that the very high alcohol volume kills off the wormwood. Back in the day when this was being made from a wine base the ABV was a whole lot lower and supposedly the lower ABV allows the wormwood to work better.
Thats a interesting one. Il have to look into it.
How disappointing that no balls were tripped
No balls were tripped. Good times were still had.
The myth around Absinthe is from ONE BATCH made with ergot infected rye over a century ago
I don't drink alcohol, and I don't have any sort of distillery. Was curious about the results of all this anyway.
...Curiosity is going to be the death of me someday...
Absinth makes the heart grow fondue! - I have waited a LONG time to be able to crack that witticism in context! 😳
My heart can grow fondue? Does it taste good? Can I harvest it?
I don’t even really drink but I watched all the way through. You’re entertaining
You’ve got one of the most ‘majestic’ beards I’ve seen.
Well done
Wow......I thought it was just us Canucks that played crokinole...lol.
I think it may be. I saw it in a youtube video. Wanted to play, bought a crappy board from a big box store. When I wanted to upgrade it was either import from Canada or make my own. So I made the one in the vid. Awesome game!
if you want to trip balls make something from hawaiian wood rose seeds.
5 to 8 max will surely do the trick! Tried 5 once, wired for 18 hours, no sleep!😊
Absolutely one of the finest presentations on the internet.
I got recommended your video by the algorithm from a TechLinked video for some reason. I am now subbed. I suppose you might know this from the information UA-cam gives you, but I thought I'd make a record of it.
West Campus of Grayson County College has the Munson Memorial Vinyard and once had a Viticulture Course based on the work of the late Resident; Thomas Volney Munson. I've been there many times when I was living in the proximity.
The best thing you can do to protect the color is to use dark-colored glass. the chlorophyll that gives absynthe the color is very photosensitive.
Really good point mate.
So interesting! I’d heard both the nasty rumors and some debunking. Spiritous liquors just aren’t my thing, but it looks like fun to make, and you certainly make it sound enticing. Thanks!
Absolutely awesome video, I love the history inbetween the distilling, super interesting!
My husband and I order absinthe from Germany once every few months. We have one drink on friday and Saturday nights. We use a heaping teaspoon of powdered sugar in it instead of the sugar cube, it taste SO much better that way, we love it!❤
Well some of these ingredients would be easy for me. I have seed fennel in my herb garden, and there's lemon balm growing along the path behind my house. Neither gets any pesticides or herbicides. Now I gotta find something to make with all the rosemary I have 😂
Thank you so much for making this really cool video!! I look forward to seeing what you'll make next!
Last I had a bottle of absinthe was a clear one from a small specialist alcohol shop, recommended by the owners. I hadn’t been told what I should feel, but defiantly I would have described it as a lucid drunk. Something like the opposite of what you said, my mind was clear and lucid, hearing and sight were perfect, with an amazing sense of calm and comfort, but to the point where I had a disconnect from concentration it was really hard to summon the energy to talk, walking was purely on muscle memory alone. I managed to tell my friends “if didn’t know how to walk, I wouldn’t be doing it”, which took a lot of effort. It was like being in a really comfortable place, feeling good, calm and happy., content. One day I ran out and switched to a cider or beer, the contrast was instant and horrible, and the lucid and calm gone, just a head full of basic drunk.
Sounds delicious and the buzz sounds enjoyable. Any recommendations for commercially available alternatives? I don't have the equipment or money to distill my own. I'm excited for the next video in the series!
Awesome video, would love to see you take a crack at Kykeon. It would be hard but ideal to make it with Ergot infected grains. That’s most likely why it was psychedelic, after all.
I'm sober but I really enjoyed this and your dive into the history.❤
Also to improve your Louche shake your water in a shaker and get it as cold as possible and then add dropwise or as slow as humanly possible while keeping it cold. Even great absinthe will show a lackluster louche dumping in not quite so cold water quickly. The mouthfeel will improve too.
I've had several different bottles of traditional absinthe from France etc, and the "lucid intoxicated" feeling is an excellent way of describing it.
I admit the title of the video brought me here to see if you would "trip balls". I know nothing about distilling anything, but this was entertaining. For a while it seemed like a mad chemist lab, then morphed into cooking, then back to mad chemist lab . Too bad I can't sample your efforts! Great video.
Hi . Loved this video ; I will sub and watch some more , thanks .
On holiday in Majorca a few years back , I was being dragged around a souvenir shop when I noticed some bottles of absinthe . I mentioned this to my partner and was over heard by the shop manager , who then started chatting about the drink . I said that I thought absinthe was usually of a higher ABV than those on sale . He asked me if I was willing to come back the next day and I put in an order . I got two bottles at 160% and two at 180% ( really 80 and 90 % ABV I believe ) and they came in green , blue and black colours . The black version was stronger on the liquorice flavour , otherwise they were all gorgeous and very pleasant ....in taste and effect . One night a friend insisted that the way to drink absinthe was to level fill a teaspoon with sugar and then soak the sugar with absinthe . Then you set fire to the absinthe before tipping the flaming spoon into your glass of absinthe and then stifle the flames with your hand and then drink the whole thing in one gulp ! Ok . After four of these in the kitchen , I managed to spill my glass over the kitchen work top . It was a laptop sized , lovely light blue flame on the surface ... oh very pretty ain't it ... oh poo what to do now !!
Beware , very very odd stuff , but I love it every now and then !
Glad to find your channel again mate! I've had the real deal. All it did was get me drunk. But it did seem like a different kinda buzz. May just be all the hype and placebo affect. Effect? You know what I mean.