Absinthe A long and tumultuous history surrounds the liquor dubbed “the green fairy.” Banned in the early 20th century in much of the world due to speculation that it caused drinkers to suffer mental diseases and was severely addictive, absinthe is finally emerging on the market once more after the realization that it wasn’t the absinthe, but dangerous chemicals like mercury that caused the negative effects. Though the de facto legalization occurred merely in October of 2007, The Peacock has been an absinthe lounge since early 2004, making it one of two in the entire United States for over 95 years. The follow FAQ should answer any questions you may have, but please feel free to contact us should you have any others: Q. What brand do you serve? Q. So, what is Absinthe anyway? A. Absinthe is a distilled spirit made using Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). It was invented in the late 18th century and quickly became the drink of the Bohemian culture. Q. What makes Absinthe so special? A. Besides the obvious taboo of it (it is, in fact, illegal in some sense), Absinthe has long been associated with artistic creativity. Artists like Hemingway, Van Gogh and many others have professed their love for the Green Fairy and claimed great inspiration. Q. Wait, if it's illegal how do you serve it? A. Absinthe per se isn't illegal, and the legal history is somewhat convoluted. Up until very recently, no spirit containing wormwood could be sold, created or imported into the United States. In the past we used a brand of Absinthe containing two different strands of wormwood, Romanwood and Southernwood, which are related species but not nearly as potent. The law now states that Grand Wormwood may be used, but that the final product must be thujone free. Thankfully, the FDA considers "thujone free" to mean less than 10mg/kg, and the brand we serve now is right under the mark. Q. Thujone? A. Thujone is speculated to be the "active" ingredient in Absinthe, aside from the alcohol of course. It is a GABAa receptor antagonist, meaning that it inhibits GABA receptor activation. Chemically, the molecular structure is very similar to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana - so much so that thujone was originally believed to be a cannabanoid receptor antagonist. Recent research, however, has shown otherwise. Q. Didn't original recipe Absinthe have far more thujone than modern versions? A. This is widely regarded as myth, modern Gas Chromatography Mass-Spectrometry testing on vintage absinthes reveals concentrations of around 10mg/kg, only a miniscule amount above our absinthe. Q.Is it safe? A. As with all alcoholic beverages, absinthe should be enjoyed responsibly. As long as this is the case, absinthe is no more dangerous than any other alcohol. Q. What are the effects like? A. The experience of absinthe is somewhat subjective, but there are a couple consistent answers. The most popular being that it is a more lucid drunk, where one is able to think and express themselves more clearly than when sober, even though having consumed a moderate amount of alcohol. The second most popular response is a heavy increase in creative thinking and artistic ability - hence why absinthe is the drink of many major painters, writers and musicians in Old Europe. Lastly, but somewhat less popular, responses have stated a sort of "body high," but that, like many other effects, falls into the category of absinthe's subjectivity. If you feel the need to cut off your ear and move to the south of France, you may have had too much.