Absinthe is an anise-flavoured spirit created from herbs including the flowers and leaves of the medicinal plant Artemisia. Absinthe is always mistaken as a liqueur but is in fact a spirit.
Absinthe is typically green and is often referred to as la Fee Verte ('The Green Fairy'). Because of its high proof and concentration of oils, absintheurs (absinthe drinkers) typically add 3-5 parts ice-cold water to 1 part absinthe which causes the drink to cloud, called 'louching'. Often the water is used to dissolve added sugar to add sweetness. This procedure is considered an important part of the experience of drinking absinthe, so much so that it has become ritualized, complete with special slotted absinthe spoons and other accoutrements.
Absinthe originated in Switzerland as an elixir, used in a similar capacity as patent medicines would be used later in the United States. Over the generations it has created it‚s own mysticism, and it is better known for its popularity in late 19th and early 20th century France, particularly among Parisian artists and writers whose romantic associations with the drink still linger in popular culture. In its heyday, the most popular brand of absinthe worldwide was Pernod Fils. Pernod itself has been linked with great artists . It is said that Picasso himself was inspired by Pernod Fils when creating his masterpieces. At the height of Absinthe's popularity, it was portrayed as a dangerously addictive, psychoactive drug. It has thankfully had a tremendous revival since the 1990's to take it's rightful place among the spirit categories.
