La Galerie de l’Absinthe offers a special tour through the early days of absinthe with its romantic association with writers, painters and other Bohemians, as well as the times of its prohibition and its relationship to the city of New Orleans. With an extensive collection of absinthe through the years, absinthe spoons, absinthe cocktail recipes, and absinthe fountains – this gallery explores the world of absinthe. Founded by Raymond Bordelon, it is devoted solely to the education and preservation of this unique spirit. The Southern Food and Beverage Museum’s La Galerie de l'Absinthe is only one of its kind in the U.S. In early 2004, decades after Repeal Day, the original bar from the Old Absinthe House was returned to its 240 Bourbon Street home and currently resides in the adjacent, speakeasy-style cocktail bar, Belle Époque. This speakeasy operation was known as "The Absinthe House Bar” and served bootleg booze. At the start of Prohibition, The original Absinthe House bar and all of its fixtures were moved to 400 Bourbon Street in order to preserve it. For the next forty years, the store was home to the bartering of food, tobacco and Spanish liquor, and functioned as a typical "corner grocery." In 1815, the ground floor was converted into a saloon known as "Aleix's Coffee House," later rechristened "The Absinthe Room" when mixologist Cayetano Ferrer created the famous Absinthe House Frappe there in 1874 - which became a favorite for Mark Twain and Oscar Wilde. The Original Old Absinthe House is an iconic building on the corner of Bienville and Bourbon Streets was initially erected by Pedro Front and Francisco Juncadelia of Barcelona to house their importing firm. However, it has long been rumored to cause hallucinations – giving it the nickname “The Green Fairy.” The Original Old Absinthe House Because of its high alcohol percentage, it was made illegal in the United States in 1912, only to be made legal again in 2007. The experience of preparing, pouring, and drinking absinthe is difficult to describe without resorting to extravagant language, and so we recommend that you see for yourself what all the fuss is about.Absinthe is a spirit derived from botanicals, including the flowers and leaves of Artemisia absinthium, together with green anise, sweet fennel, and other herbs. We suspect that the increased sensory awareness – the only true and common effect of absinthe we know of – is what made the drink a hit with artists such as Van Gogh, Hemingway, Rimbaud, and many others (though we don’t believe Van Gogh lost his ear due to an absinthe binge!)Ībsinthe need not remain a mystery to you. As you sip your absinthe, try listening to a favorite song, or looking through a photo-book. Absinthe may not have the same effects as certain illegal drugs, but it definitely awakens the senses in a way that no other alcohol truly can. This mellowing, milky louche heightens your senses of smell, sight, and eventually, taste.Ĭompared to other spirits, absinthe is as unique as they come. The blend of absinthe and water releases many of the herby extracts contained in the drink. The manner by which absinthe is poured will prepare you for a relaxing, enjoyable experience. However, there is a case to be made for the pure enjoyment of absinthe as a calming, revelatory experience in itself. The effects of this high alcohol content, even when diluted in water, as the classic French absinthe pour goes, would have more to do with any physical or mental effects you’ll feel in absinthe. Most absinthes are bottled at or above 70% alcohol by volume. We strongly recommend that you do not drink absinthe in excess, as the alcohol content is so high.Absinthe is one of the more potent alcoholic drinks available. However, the levels of thujone in absinthe are relatively low, and it would take you a dangerous amount of drinks to be chemically effected by thujone. The laws governing absinthe worldwidehave less to do with the drink itself and more to do with the thujone contained therein. So how true are the rumors? How does absinthe compare to other spirits?Ībsinthe does contain a psychoactive ingredient, thujone, which is a byproduct of wormwood. The Green Lady became the Green Curse, and when absinthe was outlawed in much of the Western world, the reputation of absinthe as a powerful hallucinogenic grew along with popular curiosity about the psychoactive ingredients in the drink. The nickname, however, changed as the mental effects of absinthe were exaggerated and blamed for madness, sloth, and even murder. The nickname given to absinthe, La Fee verte (The Green Lady), comes from the “love affair” many drinkers had with absinthe, granting the drink the status of a muse. The enigma of the emerald absinthe comes from the infamous rumors about the effect it has on those who drink it. The charm of absinthe is its history the allure is its pour.
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