The Absinthe Murder

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  • čas přidán 27. 06. 2022
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    Subtitles: Jose Mendoza | IG @worldagainstjose
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Komentáře • 2,9K

  • @TastingHistory
    @TastingHistory  Před rokem +1320

    Hope everyone likes the new set for Drinking History! Still a work in progress, but then aren’t we all?

    • @szayelapporograntz3276
      @szayelapporograntz3276 Před rokem +8

      Looks amazing! Can't wait for the finished version.

    • @SL-fd5fp
      @SL-fd5fp Před rokem +10

      We're developing and maturing like wonderful wines and sensational cheeses 😊

    • @Firegen1
      @Firegen1 Před rokem +6

      Auwww the main tale is so sad. This was a brilliant episode, Max. The new set looks lovely. Though now you have a Sherlock Holmes vibe.

    • @Moss_Cliff_
      @Moss_Cliff_ Před rokem

      It’s gonna be great, I’m sure! Having watched this channel grow is super inspiring :)

    • @desertedenblooms
      @desertedenblooms Před rokem +4

      Indeed! You never disappoint! You are a master of the culinary beverage Macabre SIR!

  • @chefmdecamp
    @chefmdecamp Před rokem +1113

    Moral panics have to be one of the most fascinating aspects of humanity, where everyone in one point in time suddenly gets worked into a collective anxiety attack that this one thing is responsible for most of society's ills, and a few decades later, everyone calms down and goes "Oh, well, I guess absinthe/comic books/booze/video games/movies/jazz/etc isn't all that bad... whew... but wait... MAYBE THIS OTHER THING IS?"

    • @Normie_Normalson
      @Normie_Normalson Před rokem +90

      that's the trouble with naturalistic observation, it attempts to infer causation from correlation without controlling for confounding variables.

    • @Sweet.peach21
      @Sweet.peach21 Před rokem +59

      It will be downfall of humanity in my opinion. While I understand that it was an animalistic nature to worry abt things killing you, we just take it wayyyyy too far

    • @xxfalconlifexx9715
      @xxfalconlifexx9715 Před rokem +10

      I work myself into a personal anxiety attacks over moral panic all the time. I'm convinced the internet is the cause of most of society's ills. It's not collective though, just me probably.

    • @patrickmccurry1563
      @patrickmccurry1563 Před rokem +24

      Generally an utter failure of knowing history and believing emotion trumps logic and evidence. Blaming all/most of a society's ills on something means it would be trivial to show how the ills didn't precede the thing.

    • @weldonwin
      @weldonwin Před rokem +63

      Hell, in the 70's there was a panic that playing Dungeons and Dragons was turning kids into literal Satanic Cultists. Which if you have ever met a DnD player is one of the most ludicrous things ever

  • @vyloznik
    @vyloznik Před rokem +861

    I laughed so hard when he was painting this picturesque scene of a guy waking up in a serene farmhouse and going downstairs to have a cup of coffee, but instead pours a glass of absinthe because “If there’s one thing to remember it’s that he was a violent and raging alcoholic” 😂😂😂

    • @montecarlostar
      @montecarlostar Před rokem +18

      I know, it would work great in a novella 😂

    • @CrizzyEyes
      @CrizzyEyes Před rokem +32

      It sounds like a Hemingway short story to be honest

    • @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721
      @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 Před rokem +18

      The title "The Absinthe Murder" conjured the idea of, like, an Agatha Christie story or something. Definitely wasn't expecting that.

    • @TheDuckGenie
      @TheDuckGenie Před rokem +20

      @@CrizzyEyes I find this a little more funny that Ernest Hemmingway invented the cocktail Death in the Afternoon.
      His Recipie for his creation: “Pour one jigger absinthe into a Champagne glass. Add iced Champagne until it attains the proper opalescent milkiness. Drink three to five of these slowly.”
      Make sure you use cold Champagne because god forbid you dilute the drink. Ernest Hemmingway had a truly legendary liver.

    • @hedgehog3180
      @hedgehog3180 Před rokem +13

      @@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 I was really expecting someone to have been poisoned with a glass of Absinthe, not for a guy to just pick up a gun and shoot everyone. Like there were several factors there other than the Absinthe that seemed more important.

  • @Just_Pele
    @Just_Pele Před rokem +1228

    After my great-aunt passed away we were looking through her glassware and we found a set of four old, strange glasses with a bulb on the bottom. No one else cared about them, but they didn't know what they were. They were original French Absinthe glasses, and we found the "spoon" in a silverware drawer, so I took it as well (my cousin thought it was a small spatula). Apparently there had been a lot more going on in my great aunt's past than her own children knew about. 🤨😆

    • @archkull
      @archkull Před rokem +100

      take good care of that set! and sorry for your loss man

    • @SuperBenette
      @SuperBenette Před rokem +53

      Always nice to have a person with a flavour arround. I am sure she was wonderfull.

    • @aariley2
      @aariley2 Před rokem +17

      That's the way it should be!

    • @LuisAldamiz
      @LuisAldamiz Před rokem +15

      Ha! Great-aunts are best aunts.

    • @rdiddyspace1708
      @rdiddyspace1708 Před rokem +15

      she sounds cooler than most hipsters today that jump onto every trend without doing their homework.

  • @patximartel
    @patximartel Před rokem +192

    The funny thing about absinthe, is that other things that contain wormwood didn't got prohibited like Vermouth, Bäsk, Pelinkovac, Génépy, etc.

    • @notfeedynotlazy
      @notfeedynotlazy Před 6 měsíci +7

      _Ackhtually,_ 😜Vermouth _used_ to be made with wormwood until the absinthe trololo, and by that time its wormwood content was discreetly droped and replaced by other ingredients, usually jealously kept secret (my bet is that still wormwood, just not saying it aloud😏). Dunno about the other liquours.

    • @raccoonking7566
      @raccoonking7566 Před 4 měsíci +3

      @@notfeedynotlazy Well, pelinkovac is really popular here in the Balkans. Pelin is just the translation of grand wormwood to the local languages (Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian and Montenegrin are all really similar and share a ton of words), so pelinkovac is just another liqueur made from it.
      Have a friend who drank a lot of it in high school. On our 18th birthdays, you could often see him drinking it and he usually had a small pitcher of it next to him for refills. It's often served as an apertiff, usually with a slice of lemon inside, it's actually pretty tasty.
      It has less alcohol than absinthe, but as far as I know it never earned the infamy for causing people to go nuts.
      The root of the word vermouth comes from wormwood, it used to be one of the ingredients in it. I'm pretty sure that at the time of the absinthe craze and ban, most vermouth didn't have any wormwood in it.
      From a quick google, Bäsk also has wormwood in it, but Sweden never banned absinthe or wormwood liqueurs. IDK anything about Génépy, but it's Wikipedia page doesn't even mention the word "ban."

  • @inkthered
    @inkthered Před rokem +211

    My dyslexic brain reading “The Absent Mother”, like wow, Max, hitting too close to home

  • @merrittanimation7721
    @merrittanimation7721 Před rokem +1273

    Never had absinthe, but the moral panic around it has always fascinated me.

    • @TastingHistory
      @TastingHistory  Před rokem +183

      Such an interesting subject

    • @lairdcummings9092
      @lairdcummings9092 Před rokem +186

      History doesn't actually repeat, but it does rhyme...
      Witness, the moral panic around marijuana. "Reefer Madness," anyone?

    • @lairdcummings9092
      @lairdcummings9092 Před rokem +8

      @@scladoffle2472 which pretty much describes where we are with Absinthe, as well.

    • @brokenglassshimmerlikestar3407
      @brokenglassshimmerlikestar3407 Před rokem +35

      I recently drank absinthe for the first time, didn't like it... imagine licorice plus alcohol

    • @lukewarmwaterr
      @lukewarmwaterr Před rokem +21

      @@brokenglassshimmerlikestar3407 just remembered I saw absinthe for sale at the liquor store last week for the first time..... time to go back

  • @Sambroke
    @Sambroke Před 8 měsíci +30

    When I was a kid everyone thought absinth was some illegal psychedelic drug because of that bad teen movie

  • @arhernan2008
    @arhernan2008 Před rokem +282

    I love how much effort he puts into pronouncing things correctly

    • @sonjaborst3354
      @sonjaborst3354 Před rokem +24

      He even almost had van Gogh right!! The first G should sound like the last, then it would be perfect. But well done even so!

    • @leifiverson8549
      @leifiverson8549 Před 11 měsíci

      Pronounced "vun koch" In English

    • @emotionalfriendone43
      @emotionalfriendone43 Před 7 měsíci +6

      @@leifiverson8549wrong. In English we pronounce it Van Go

  • @MichiruEll
    @MichiruEll Před rokem +494

    I come from the region in Switzerland where Absinthe originated from, but it also got banned for quite a while here in Switzerland. But if you knew a guy who knew a guy, you could always get your hands on it. My grandfather still hides his absinthe even though it's legal again.

    • @oddish2253
      @oddish2253 Před rokem +13

      I still hide my Harry Potter books too when I visit Europe just to be safe.

    • @kjarakravik4837
      @kjarakravik4837 Před rokem +6

      @@oddish2253 Wait I don't get it, Harry Potter is pretty popular in most of Europe too?

    • @oddish2253
      @oddish2253 Před rokem +17

      The inquisition is no joke.

    • @skuzzyj
      @skuzzyj Před rokem +14

      @@oddish2253 and never expected, to be fair.

    • @swisslord2478
      @swisslord2478 Před rokem +1

      @MichiruEll Maybe it's the old absinthe, the one who is toxic
      Greetings from Geneva

  • @inf0phreak
    @inf0phreak Před rokem +335

    Wow, he actually went out and bought an absinthe fountain for this episode. The absolute madlad!

    • @TastingHistory
      @TastingHistory  Před rokem +143

      The madness hit me!

    • @Yora21
      @Yora21 Před rokem +23

      The magic of 1.25 million subscribers.

    • @lairdcummings9092
      @lairdcummings9092 Před rokem +47

      Here, in Exhibit 'A,' we see the pernicious impact of Absinthe on the mind of the absinthist...

    • @Skeloperch
      @Skeloperch Před rokem +12

      Count Dankula's newest video: "The Chef That Taste Tested History - Absolute Madlads"

    • @marmotarchivist
      @marmotarchivist Před rokem +12

      And he doesn’t even particularly like the taste of anise. So that’s commitment.

  • @YochevedDesigns
    @YochevedDesigns Před rokem +151

    Well, you know what they say, "Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder." 😉 I made my own absinthe once, because I had all the ingredients growing in my herb garden. I hate the taste of licorice, so I left the anise out. It came out really good, and packed a hell of a punch! I made enough to have lots of small bottles made up for my friends, with a little tag on the bottle illustrated with the stamp of a green fairy.

    • @Engelhafen
      @Engelhafen Před rokem +10

      You should invent strawberry twizler absinth 😁

    • @neillynch_ecocidologist
      @neillynch_ecocidologist Před 8 měsíci +3

      You should have seen my attempt at making beer without hops and yeast. Eventually marketed it as Robinson's barley water!

    • @michaellavery4899
      @michaellavery4899 Před 8 měsíci +2

      You should have tried my attempt at making it with powdered water.
      It had a very chewy consistency.

    • @eyesofthecervino3366
      @eyesofthecervino3366 Před 3 měsíci +1

      Interesting. Another comment mentions that Czech absinthe doesn't use anise, either -- sounds like you may have made something like that.

    • @stevenellison3128
      @stevenellison3128 Před měsícem

      Ha! Sounds great. ​@@Engelhafen

  • @danzigrulze5211
    @danzigrulze5211 Před rokem +123

    I grew a taste for absinthe when I was stationed in Germany and we would actually get it at the local bar we would frequent. When I got out the Army, living in southern Louisiana, I found that a brewery in New Orleans started making absinthe again and started buying locally made absinthe, instead of imported versions from France and Czech Republic. I quit drinking a few years ago, but if I were to have a drink I'm pretty sure it would be a single glass of absinthe.

    • @drunkenslav2334
      @drunkenslav2334 Před rokem +6

      im actually czech and im hoping to import new orleans absinthe for myself! how the tables turn eh?

    • @user-lv7ph7hs7l
      @user-lv7ph7hs7l Před rokem +2

      ​@@drunkenslav2334 And I'm French/Swiss living in Austria who drinks Czech absinth because it's much cheaper than French or Swiss stuff imported lol. It is good though, I like Czech absinth.

    • @drunkenslav2334
      @drunkenslav2334 Před rokem +3

      @@user-lv7ph7hs7l that makes me patriotic :D, i personally like the absinthe from Jelínek not gonna lie!

  • @CalebCalixFernandez
    @CalebCalixFernandez Před rokem +414

    Wormwood is what gives absinthe its name. The scientific name for wormwood is Artemisia absinthium. It's a very hardy and resilient plant that can grow almost anywhere. The Kirlia plush tucked in the back is a nice reference to absinthe's nickname: la fée verte.

    • @krankarvolund7771
      @krankarvolund7771 Před rokem +17

      Or simply, Wormwood is called "absinthe" in France ^^

    • @darrena2625
      @darrena2625 Před rokem +8

      I've always known it as the green fairy

    • @lenabreijer1311
      @lenabreijer1311 Před rokem +4

      It is a great ground cover for under trees. Very pretty.

    • @TheNodrokov
      @TheNodrokov Před rokem +6

      I believe the word "vermouth" also comes from wormwood, although I could be wrong about that

    • @havenrugger
      @havenrugger Před rokem +15

      @@TheNodrokov yep. Vermut is German for wormwood. WW is a key ingredient vermouth.

  • @redbonito2131
    @redbonito2131 Před rokem +314

    if this had come out sooner I would've shown this along with my absinthe presentation I held in art history class!!

  • @BC25citizen
    @BC25citizen Před rokem +49

    O Henry wrote a story called “The Fool Killer”, where an absinthe drip is one of the principal characters. He describes it almost as a person, entrancing the narrator with its witchy ways. Good story too.

    • @entelechy777
      @entelechy777 Před rokem

      That's not an uncommon practice of humanity. There's numerous psychoactive substances that were outright considered spiritual entities.

  • @spinejackel
    @spinejackel Před rokem +196

    i’ve been following this channel for a while and i gotta ask:
    WHERE do you keep all your pokémon plushes?
    how many do you have??
    every episode you have a _different_ little guy sitting somewhere in frame
    i’m fascinated by them just as much as the food/drinks you discuss and make

    • @jonathanbair523
      @jonathanbair523 Před rokem +21

      Watch some of the first Ketchup with Max and Jose, they show where the plushes stay on the bed in the guest bedroom... czcams.com/users/KetchupwithMaxandJose

    • @spinejackel
      @spinejackel Před rokem +6

      @@jonathanbair523 fantastic fantastic! thank you!

    • @jeffbo7515
      @jeffbo7515 Před rokem +8

      Part of the reason i watch every vid xD the plushies its like a where is walter xD

    • @ericnobbs1754
      @ericnobbs1754 Před 9 měsíci +2

      Gotta catch 'em all.

  • @SimuLord
    @SimuLord Před rokem +223

    A soldier was caught deserting his camp and hiding in a wormwood grove.
    When he was brought before the sergeant, Sarge said to him "You're AWOL, Private. Absinthe without leave."

  • @Angelicwings1
    @Angelicwings1 Před rokem +398

    I love absinthe and watching the process. In Australia we have strict rules on wormwood and what wormwood is allowed. A distillery in Queensland created their own Australian version of Absinthe. It’s got the best name. “Moulin Roos”

    • @goawayleavemealone2880
      @goawayleavemealone2880 Před rokem +10

      I love this.

    • @Nogu3
      @Nogu3 Před rokem +4

      Its also pretty good! You can get it at a select few places around the country

    • @heatherwolmarans8287
      @heatherwolmarans8287 Před 12 dny

      Wormwood grows everywhere here in SA🇿🇦 and is used on many traditional cultural African practices and ceremonies.

  • @davidstronge8818
    @davidstronge8818 Před rokem +83

    Probably already mentioned, but let us remember that "absinthe makes the heart grow fonder"

    • @minbannister3625
      @minbannister3625 Před rokem +1

      Best comment.

    • @spicencens7725
      @spicencens7725 Před rokem

      Haaa! 😄

    • @cimmerianj8997
      @cimmerianj8997 Před rokem

      Not in the case of Jean Lanfray, it made him kill his wife!

    • @edwardsholty7959
      @edwardsholty7959 Před 6 měsíci +1

      I came across a more complicated variant back in my college days, (1960/64). It involved a patient with peculiar "breaking of wind". It sounded for all the world like "HONDA."
      He sought the advice from an herbalist, who immediately diagnosed the problem as Absenthe, who as everyone knows, makes the fart go HONDA. (I do love triple puns.)

  • @KayAnn2121
    @KayAnn2121 Před rokem +46

    Finally tried absinthe in the big easy last year at ‘the olde absinthe bar’. I really enjoyed it and got an immediate buzz. The bartender lit the sugar cube on fire. The drama of the presentation was really fun!

    • @nimbulan2020
      @nimbulan2020 Před rokem +2

      That's known as the Czech method if I remember correctly, and a very modern invention.

    • @j.murphy4884
      @j.murphy4884 Před rokem +6

      @@nimbulan2020 It's to hide the fact that Czech "Absinthe" is usually just Vodka and green food colouring

    • @civerone
      @civerone Před rokem +3

      @@j.murphy4884 Not quite true. You can actually taste the bouquet of herbs because the anise is missing in Czech absinth. Of course there may exist some fake versions.

    • @archloy
      @archloy Před rokem

      Was my first and only one try of absinthe and too hard for me at times. I think, water will make it smoother a lot, like others anise based beverages that we ("we", at least french :p) fill with water (ricard/berger...)

  • @Lauren.E.O
    @Lauren.E.O Před rokem +389

    Jean Lanfray: (drinks half his weight in various alcohol, especially wine, and shoots his family over unwaxed boots 👢)
    The people following the trial: It was the absinthe! There is NO other way this could’ve happened!
    Vineyard owners: 😉 🍷

    • @krankarvolund7771
      @krankarvolund7771 Před rokem +34

      More like the newspapers, Max pointed that the court is actually the only instance that did not believed it was absinthe XD

    • @Lauren.E.O
      @Lauren.E.O Před rokem +7

      @@krankarvolund7771 True. There was that “expert” witness, but he didn’t seem to be too convincing to the rest of the court. Made an edit.

    • @30noir
      @30noir Před rokem +11

      Now they'd blame his xbox.

    • @EnigmaticRPG
      @EnigmaticRPG Před rokem +27

      It's such a staggering amount of alcohol (did he even eat that day?) that I'm surprised he could even see the boots! Not to mention making it through a work day, more or less on his feet... Coffee is some powerful stuff lmao

    • @melanieortiz712
      @melanieortiz712 Před rokem +10

      They say women are emotional🙄

  • @JayBe443
    @JayBe443 Před rokem +256

    The history part is my favorite. This series really is extraordinary, I can’t believe its free content.

  • @thenovicenovelist
    @thenovicenovelist Před rokem +13

    I'm growing lemon balm right now. It's quite delicious in tea. It sort of reminds me of lemon drop candy but not nearly as sour. It's also supposedly good for anxiety. However, it can supposedly lead to some side effects such as increased appetite.
    It is part of the mint family, so if you or anyone else is allergic to mint they should talk to their health care practitioner before using it. And it can take over your garden if you aren't careful. I have them in planters at the moment.

    • @Rockhound6165
      @Rockhound6165 Před měsícem

      I have a lemonbalm plant. It's a perennial so after it dies off, just prune the dead branches and watch the magic every spring.

  • @Nightstarlady
    @Nightstarlady Před rokem +20

    absinthe plants grow abundantly in certain regions in Switzerland, there are multiple breweries that make local absinthe as well, theyre all different in they own special way, i really recommend that if you like absinthe (ive found either you love it or you hate it) making a tour of the areas in Switzerland if you can!

  • @EphemeralTao
    @EphemeralTao Před rokem +287

    I definitely prefer my absinthe without sugar. I think at this point I've had about a dozen different traditional and new-style absinthes.
    Incidentally, enhancing the colour of cheap/fake absinthe using copper sulfate as a colouring was only one of the problems with it. Another was the use of antimony perchloride, another toxic heavy-metal compound to enhance the louche. But the biggest problem, which isn't often mentioned, was the alcohol used for the cheaper stuff. Proper absinthe uses _marc_ as the base for distillation, which is also known as "wine spirits", and is distilled from grape pomace similarly to grappa. The cheap stuff, even when it didn't use toxic heavy metal colourants, was commonly made with industrial ethanol, which was very often contaminated with methanol and other toxic alcohols and distillation byproducts.

    • @saulemaroussault6343
      @saulemaroussault6343 Před rokem +9

      Oooooh this makes sense

    • @havenrugger
      @havenrugger Před rokem +12

      Marc is only one type of base alcohol that works for absinthe. While it is considered the gold standard, it's by far not the only option. GNS, brandies, beet, and even rectified pisco have all worked very well. I do like the character that Marc impresses on an absinthe as it ages though.

    • @spacewater7
      @spacewater7 Před rokem +9

      See my reply about the copper 'enrichment' possibly causing chronic poisoning. Worst of all would be if one imbibed copper at chronic doses for long periods, without also balancing supplements of manganese and zinc. The three nutrients must be taken in balance with each other, and in commercial or industrial settings this is never addressed, due to the hunger for profit. Much like adding ethylene glycol (antifreeze) to wine...

    • @dj1NM3
      @dj1NM3 Před rokem

      So rather than do FDA style regulation to punish poisoners, they just killed an entire style of alcohol.

    • @havenrugger
      @havenrugger Před rokem

      @@dj1NM3 they wanted to kill it because absinthe had taken all of the wine industry's customers. Many in the government made their fortunes in wine and their families owned vineyards.

  • @TehlItER
    @TehlItER Před rokem +30

    “Mine only has 2”
    As if owning one is not enough of a flex

  • @DBZVelena
    @DBZVelena Před rokem +18

    As a Dutch person, i can tell you, i´m impressed with your pronunciation of Vincent van Gogh. Most English speaking people pronounce it as `Van Go`.

    • @davidrobertson5700
      @davidrobertson5700 Před rokem +4

      I'm glad the van can go or I wouldn't get my Ebay deliveries.

    • @kevinmoore2929
      @kevinmoore2929 Před rokem

      The Absinte brand of absinthe uses a version of Van Gogh's self portrait on its labels and boxes.

  • @emersonwright972
    @emersonwright972 Před 5 měsíci +2

    It's a funny thing, Max. I despise anise and other licorice flavorings, yet love absinthe almost as much as I love red wine. Lovely stuff.

  • @havenrugger
    @havenrugger Před rokem +205

    Thanks for this. As the owner of the Wormwood Society, I've been saying much of the same thing for the past 25 years. It's amazing how many people don't want to believe that what we can obtain now is the same as what was drank during the Bslle Epoque, I stead holding onto these grandiose ideas of tripping or other drug like effects. I like that you added in the description of absinthism, but one thing that I think would have made the dispelling of the myths even strong was the rebuttal by The Lancet right around the same time that Magnan coined the term, which in reality was a description of the DTs and end-stage alcoholism:
    The Lancet in 1868 -
    “It is quite clear that a great deal of what has been said [about absinthe] is mere nonsense, and will not bear a moment's investigation. And when one reads carefully even the seemingly authoritative description of the symptoms … it is impossible to fix on any definite peculiarities which clearly distinguish poisoning with absinthe from poisoning with any other concentrated alcohol, taken in small doses repeated with extreme frequency…
    For our own part, we have never been convinced that there is anything in the symptoms of acute or chronic absinthism as they are described, essentially different from those of acute or chronic alcoholism...
    We have repeatedly seen the whole train of symptoms, which are now so much talked of, produced by the constant drinking of brandy or rum. As for hallucinations, there is nothing more common [in end-stage alcoholism]…”

    • @margotmolander5083
      @margotmolander5083 Před rokem +36

      I had a friend in college who ordered some "real" absinthe from somewhere in Eastern Europe. He was *so* certain that it was going to make him hallucinate like LSD that he did indeed have a very strange experience (he ran off with my knitting which he said was moving). All that on maybe 2 ounces. All based on the power of suggestion.

    • @havenrugger
      @havenrugger Před rokem +18

      @@margotmolander5083 never underestimate the power of the mind!

    • @emilyspector2728
      @emilyspector2728 Před rokem +2

      I would love to buy a bottle that is AUTHENTIC. I think the one Max is using is close to the actual recipe.

    • @havenrugger
      @havenrugger Před rokem +15

      @@emilyspector2728 it's pretty authentic. During the Belle Epoque, Pernod Fils was the gold standard of absinthe. Unfortunately they've not pit as much energy into the brand after the ban was lifted, so it's more of a mid-shelf offering now, but it's authentic.

    • @ShayniBC
      @ShayniBC Před rokem

      @@havenrugger To your view who has the most authentic recipe currently made?

  • @mayawynn3799
    @mayawynn3799 Před rokem +213

    Great episode. But I can't believe Max made it through the whole thing without making the "absinthe makes the heart grow fonder" pun.

    • @hogwashmcturnip8930
      @hogwashmcturnip8930 Před rokem +11

      Well it certainly didn't in that murder trial (groan)

    • @deathisonlythebeginning5098
      @deathisonlythebeginning5098 Před rokem

      clearly yr more clever than him. My joke was always abstinence makes the dick grow harder.

    • @keiranmuller7384
      @keiranmuller7384 Před rokem +1

      he doesn't care what momma says

    • @LizardOfAus
      @LizardOfAus Před rokem +10

      Absence makes the heart grow fonder,
      Absinthe makes the mind go wander,
      As I sip this magyck brew
      I close my eyes and think of you.
      I love you more than I can say,
      And shall forever and a day,
      Love and honor and worship you
      And to your heart be ever true.

    • @scientificallyaccuratespino
      @scientificallyaccuratespino Před rokem +2

      @@keiranmuller7384 IDKHOW!!

  • @LadyAneh
    @LadyAneh Před rokem +28

    I love the taste of anise, though I’ve never had absinthe. I have had another anise-flavored liquor which is Italian, though, called sambuca, and this also creates a ouzo effect when combined with water. Love your channel, btw!

    • @Robb1977
      @Robb1977 Před měsícem

      sambuca is like candy compared to most absinthes... especially sambuca romana. Not saying that in a bad way, a lil anisette and coffee, and especially in cookies is a hard flavor to beat. But a well made absinthe may taste a bit more like italian liqours in the style of Strega or Galliano.

  • @pandorahunter
    @pandorahunter Před rokem +12

    I have had some delicious absinthe about 20 years ago. I was barely able to drink legally and was intimidated by it's supposed danger so I drank very little but didn't want to pass up the chance lo. It was still illegal and someone had brought it back from Germany. I enjoy learning more of the history.

  • @frog_inabog_
    @frog_inabog_ Před rokem +165

    dutch speaker here (flemish, not from the netherlands), can confirm your pronunciation of Van Gogh is very good! i'd even say it's the best one i've heard from a native english speaker thus far

    • @TastingHistory
      @TastingHistory  Před rokem +33

      Thank you! I always struggle with Dutch.

    • @ahandsomefridge
      @ahandsomefridge Před rokem +9

      You didn't quite get the hard G, but otherwise perfect! And yes, Dutch is a horrible language :D

    • @barbaraoxford
      @barbaraoxford Před rokem +24

      Van Gogh probably didn't have a hard G himself. As he was from Brabant

    • @ahandsomefridge
      @ahandsomefridge Před rokem +6

      @@barbaraoxford Good point!

    • @tchotchonyt2442
      @tchotchonyt2442 Před rokem +3

      As a dutch-speaking Belgian, you'd just fit right in, perfect pronounciation!

  • @CalebCalixFernandez
    @CalebCalixFernandez Před rokem +94

    Another thing: absinthe turns cloudy when adding water because it's getting diluted and the compounds extracted from the anise by the alcohol become suspended rather than dissolved. And to keep them dissolved, it requires a high amount of alcohol. Absinthe is around 70% alcohol.

    • @Reddotzebra
      @Reddotzebra Před rokem +14

      Primarily anethole, the oily substance from anise that also gives it that licorice flavor. When you pour water into the solution, the oil comes out in tiny free floating droplets in what is called an emulsion, since it can dissolve in alcohol but not in water. That's why I say anise is the key ingredient, and wormwood is only there as a minor spice.

    • @CalebCalixFernandez
      @CalebCalixFernandez Před rokem +10

      @@Reddotzebra that's correct. Max mentions that Pernod claims to have changed its recipe when absinthe was banned, but actually it just removed wormwood from the recipe, making the product very similar to a sister drink: pastis.

    • @hjalfi
      @hjalfi Před rokem +5

      I knew someone who would drink neat absinthe. He claimed that it was all right for him to do it, because he was Polish.

    • @torianholt2752
      @torianholt2752 Před rokem +5

      Adam Ragusea released a video on anethole the other day explaining this LOL.

    • @lisahinton9682
      @lisahinton9682 Před rokem +1

      I was looking for this comment. :-) I love when science can explain food.

  • @yume2kkiz
    @yume2kkiz Před rokem +9

    this video was so cool, the absinthe having an anise flavor and turning opaque reminds me of a drink we have in lebanon, arak!!! it also turns from clear to cloudy and tastes like anise:]

  • @WastedTalent-
    @WastedTalent- Před rokem +13

    Great episode! I haven't bought Absinthe for about 15 years, but when I did, I ordered it from Europe (ship to US) from a shop that is no longer around. I did months of research on Absinthe before I took the plunge and bought several bottles to try. Note, the US laws are strange concerning Absinthe. You could buy Absinthe (mail order) but you could not sell it in a store or bar. In the old La Fee Verte forum, people went apeshit over those who lit their drinks on fire, al la Eurotrip and Johnny Depp in From Hell. Or, fielding questions from people who wanted to "Trip Balz."
    A few pointers for those who are interested in trying/buying Absinthe.
    1. Don't buy Absinthe that was made in a land-locked country (Switzerland is the exception). Czech Absinthe is novelty garbage. Save yourself some money and buy a bottle of Nyquil, instead. When first starting, look for French, Spanish, and Swiss.
    2. ABSINTHE. NOT Absente, Absenta, or Absinth. Those are not real Absinthe. They lack Wormwood/Thujone.
    3. Don't buy the stuff that's sold in liquor stores in the US. It's not the same as the stuff sold in Europe. It lacks Thujone.
    4. Find an online dealer from Europe to buy the real thing. World of Absinthe has a nice selection. I recommend the Absinthe Jade Nouvelle Orleans. It's very smooth. It was one of my favorites. It's expensive and the shipping will get you. I used to make $500 orders to justify the shipping.
    5. Before jumping in, find out if you like the taste first. Get a bottle of Pernod Pastis and give it a try. Chances are, if you already like Ouzo, you'll like Absinthe.
    6. Try it without sugar, first. Some Absinthes are very sweet and adding sugar will only make it sickeningly sweet. I prefer without.
    7. Know your limit! In those days, I could binge drink over 30 beers in 5-6 hours (Just beer. And I'm a woman), but 6 glasses of Absinthe was my limit (no other booze involved). Any more, and I'm power barfing in technicolor. It sneaks up on you.
    8. Do your research.
    9. I hope this helps someone get their feet wet.
    10. Enjoy your Absinthe!

  • @melissajanulis6645
    @melissajanulis6645 Před rokem +141

    Melissa leaves (lemon balm) have a mild lemon-mint flavor/smell. I have lots growing in front of our house and it is great to add to water, mixed drinks, tea, etc. I've even made a cake using lemon balm. Just grab one or two leaves and rub them in your fingers to release the oils. They grow like weeds (and come back every year) and are great ground cover.

    • @justchevrotainrating
      @justchevrotainrating Před rokem +21

      i love that your name is melissa and you're commenting on lemon balm.

    • @lenabreijer1311
      @lenabreijer1311 Před rokem +12

      We grow it too. My sister has a citrus allergy and we use lemon balm to get a hint of lemon into food. I will have to try using it to make a cake. How much do you use? I have it dried as well as in the garden but it is a little early to harvest it.

    • @melissajanulis6645
      @melissajanulis6645 Před rokem +14

      @@justchevrotainrating That's how I discovered it - I found some "Melissa leaves" at our local health store and was curious. The capsules are expensive, which is ironic because it grows like a weed.

    • @justchevrotainrating
      @justchevrotainrating Před rokem +2

      @@melissajanulis6645 it really does. i planted some in my parent's yard over a decade ago and they are still mowing it.

    • @JerryB507
      @JerryB507 Před rokem +6

      The lemon balm outside my front door now has a name.

  • @samuelzachariev
    @samuelzachariev Před rokem +2

    Absinthe has a long history in the Czech Republic too. In Prague there’s a café called Café Slavia where all the famous Czech philosophers, authors, and artists during the 1880s would gather to drink absinthe and discuss things. Plus, supposedly the fire-ritual of dipping a sugar cube in absinthe and setting in on fire, before dropping it in and waiting for the fire to die out, or extinguishing it by just diluting it with water, originated in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic)

  • @senecauk8363
    @senecauk8363 Před rokem +2

    At uni, my mate used to order absinthe online- proper stuff with wormwood. We did the whole sugar/spoon/flame thing and, usually, treated the drink with respect. From what I recall, it was incredibly refreshing - 'fresh' tasting and 'clean', if that makes sense. I don't remember getting smashed off it, though that probably says it all...

  • @LordGodfrey
    @LordGodfrey Před rokem +231

    A few years ago, my mom got very upset that I brought absinthe home. I had to explain to her that most, if not all, of what she had heard about it was false 😂

    • @amylattimore3589
      @amylattimore3589 Před rokem +24

      As a teen I wanted to try it sooooooooo bad so I was excited when I finally got to try it followed by great disappointment when I tasted it ... I've never felt so let down by somthing I built up in my head it was like Santa all over again

    • @Shenaldrac
      @Shenaldrac Před rokem +9

      @@amylattimore3589 What are you talking about? Santa's real. He has an address the US postal service delivers to and everything!

    • @onironius8008
      @onironius8008 Před rokem +8

      @@Shenaldrac it's in Canada, and the postal code is H0H 0H0.

    • @joshua22267
      @joshua22267 Před rokem +3

      She would have hated me. I brought acid home after a festival before. Talk about hallucinations 😂😂😂😂😂

    • @LuisAldamiz
      @LuisAldamiz Před rokem

      Well, mine believed that having more than two eggs per day would make your liver explode or something and that not waiting three hours between meal and bath in the sea or swimming pool could cause death. All lies spread by prestigious doctors.
      More recently you may have heard about cholesterol and the niceties of high carb diets, right? Doctors again making up things!

  • @gljm
    @gljm Před rokem +20

    You know what they say: 'Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder".

  • @heatherlowry754
    @heatherlowry754 Před 10 měsíci +3

    I got to try absinthe for the first time while visiting New Orleans and absolutely loved it! My folks got be a beautiful fountain to go with my art deco style. An absinthe rinsed glass for prosecco is a lovely twist to the classic absinthe drip
    Thank you for the history lesson!

  •  Před 9 měsíci +4

    Absinthe, Vermouth and Anisettes were the drink of choice of my elder relatives as it is sweet and gentle in flavour and can be watered down, so allegedly you wouldn't get drunk with it. I say "allegedly" because... you know, if you drink enough aperitifs before eating, you'll get tipsy alright. Still, it was considered a civilised drink to have before lunch or dinner. I don't know if it had any wormwood in it. On a side note, all the artemisia family have poisons in them from very mild to strong depending on the species. It's the reason why many of them were used as vermicide, and sometimes as homemade abortive.
    Disclaimer: I'm from Europe.

  • @lego4f
    @lego4f Před rokem +68

    In the Val de Travers in Switzerland, where Absinthe was invented in the 18th century, Absinthe was always available during the ban, under the counter of course. And near fountains and wells in the woods, oftentimes a bottle was hidden, if you knew where to look.

    • @MichiruEll
      @MichiruEll Před rokem +12

      My grandfather, who lives in Jura bernois, still keeps his absinthe hidden. A habit he picked up when he used to buy it under the counter from the Val de Travers.

    • @edenjung9816
      @edenjung9816 Před rokem +8

      Swiss Absinthe tastes great.
      My mom has a bottle around, and while she never drinks (except when her friend makes her homemade advocaat) she puts it into some of her Jams or Marmalade.
      I sometimes drink it, but without sugar. Its a nice drink.

  • @Nepou_
    @Nepou_ Před rokem +34

    Great video as always. A famous cocktail with Absinthe is "Death in the Afternoon'" also called Hemingway Champagne. I've had it, and it's definetly one of my favourites. For the recipe, the author can be quoted :
    "Pour one jigger absinthe into a Champagne glass. Add iced Champagne until it attains the proper opalescent milkiness. Drink three to five of these slowly."

  • @redacted8525
    @redacted8525 Před rokem +2

    Perhaps one of the green drinks was chartreuse? It’s also a really beautiful green drink but the flavor profile is wildly different. We always just drank it straight from the bottle, but we were also little heathens.

  • @tzor
    @tzor Před rokem +1

    I first had it on a return to key west in the mid 2000's. The reputation was still going around in whispers but since I didn't have any "vivid dreams" as a result I paid them no heed. Occasionally I would get a bottle at my local specialty liquor / wine store. I probably should buy another bottle, one of these days.

  • @jg5737
    @jg5737 Před rokem +34

    I love seeing the old advertising posters that show "the green fairy" floating above the drinkers and making them happy. I've tried several brands of absinthe (not at the same sitting) and I find that the eastern European ones (Czech mainly) taste different than the western European and US versions.

    • @eflarsen
      @eflarsen Před rokem +1

      the eastern european ones afaik are still allowed to have the wyrmwood in it, whereas the western european and us versions have the general taste of absinthe but without the wyrmwood

    • @thibaultwyrsch6888
      @thibaultwyrsch6888 Před rokem +5

      @@eflarsen I don't think that's the case because nowadays, all western european absinthe use wormwood. What doesn't have wormood are things like Ricard/Pernod. But I agree that eastern european absinthes are very different from the western ones. From what I've read, two differences are that they are made by maceration instead of distillation and some don't contain anis

    • @vaspeter2600
      @vaspeter2600 Před rokem +1

      @@thibaultwyrsch6888 Different quality ingredients also makes a difference in taste. Eastern brands usually use lower quality ingredients (sadly enough, I wish we caught up on that front).

    • @pressb
      @pressb Před rokem +2

      How long is the piece of string, there are two types of wormwood and in broad terms three types of preparation, distilled, macerated, and flavoured, of things labelled as "Absinthe" in liquor stores. You are most likely to run into the last two (cheaper) in your generic liquor stores.
      Flavoured, just that, bottom of the quality tree, human consumption grade alcoholic spirit with colours and flavours mixed in, as good as it sounds.
      Macerated, a step up the quality tree, if you are lucky they start with a wine spirit in which they soak a blend of herbs (macerated) and drain off the resultant liquour (they some times fortify this further to up the alcohol content).
      Distilled, top of the quality tree, a charge of wine spirits (sometimes beet spirit) and herbs is placed in a specially designed Absinthe still and then distilled, the resultant distillate is the top end product.
      So the three production types definitely "taste different", this layered with two types of wormwood and then a wide variety of herbs used by the individual producers and you have entered the wonderful world of flavour that is Absinthe.
      Note also, that the anise acts to cancel the "alcohol burn", so you end up with a delicious drink of very interesting flavours that doesn't taste like it has alcohol in it (which it most definitely does in spades).
      Further the sugar and wormwood sit across from each other on the palate producing a tension off which flavour notes can be produced or announced.
      Further still, each glass of Absinthe you drink modifies your palate such that you experience your next Absinthe differently. Back in the day, the Absintheurs would design a round (sequence of different Absinths) as a kind of flavour symphony for your afternoon. This is quite noticeable even cycling between two one (ok), two (ok), then back to one again and it tastes different, so you can find different Absinthes that play well together when drunk in sequence as a medley.
      Enjoy.

  • @taekwongurl
    @taekwongurl Před rokem +94

    Welcome back Drinking History!! I've had absinthe in France, I was 15 and my parents weren't around. I did not hallucinate b/c this version had no wormwood in it. I was disappointed at the time, but as an adult, wow, what an idiot I was.

    • @Lionstar16
      @Lionstar16 Před rokem +13

      If it makes you feel better, we all do stupid things at 15 :)

    • @beepboop204
      @beepboop204 Před rokem +2

      at least you grew out of it 😅

    • @SombreroPharoah
      @SombreroPharoah Před rokem +18

      Thujone is a nervine narcotic. Dw, it's a myth to hallucinate. You didn't miss a bad time lol

    • @krankarvolund7771
      @krankarvolund7771 Před rokem +6

      Absinthe with no wormwood is called Pastis, it's very popular in southern France ^^

    • @Reddotzebra
      @Reddotzebra Před rokem

      Hallucinations are not on the menu, the only thing absinthe will do is get you absolutely smashed, really quickly.
      Except for all the preparation time.

  • @seancraig7773
    @seancraig7773 Před rokem +2

    When I first tried absinthe, I was studying abroad in the UK around the time they re-legalized it in the US. A few friends and I bought a bottle for the novelty ("that stuff that we always heard was illegal") and had no idea how to drink it. So we tried it neat. I'll never forget that toothpaste-napalm flavor.

  • @chemicaldruid4591
    @chemicaldruid4591 Před rokem +1

    One thing that comes up to my mind about your set is that there could be a luminous spot with a plain white background, just so it shows colors better on camera.
    This is used in sommellerie to see the full color of a wine.

  • @Lauren.E.O
    @Lauren.E.O Před rokem +218

    Liking the new setting for Drinking History! Very nice, and that map is great to have in the background.

    • @fredyair1
      @fredyair1 Před rokem

      London!

    • @j.g.campbell3440
      @j.g.campbell3440 Před rokem +1

      The yellow from the map overwhelms any green in the absinthe. You must make a sequel and hold the green fairy against the dark background

    • @just83542
      @just83542 Před rokem

      @@j.g.campbell3440 I was going to request something white for the sake of the viewers having a color contrast

  • @pauka123
    @pauka123 Před rokem +181

    Hell yeah ! Fabulous french pronounciation Max as always ! Pro tip : the absinth fountain with sugar and spoon is a perfect way of getting completely smashed but elegantly and quite slowly, with time between servings, during New Year's Eve ! 20/20 (as we score here), je recommande ✅

    • @TastingHistory
      @TastingHistory  Před rokem +14

      Thank you 🙏

    • @pauka123
      @pauka123 Před rokem +16

      This vidéo was awesome ! Pernot also merged with Ricard, which is the first manufacturer of another anis apéritif which is now known as "Ricard" but which is actually pastis. And it is essentially a very very rough version of Absinth, also drunk with ice and water, and turning translucent yellow (hence its nickname, un jaune, 'a yellow'). It is among the most popular beverages in the lower half of France. I hate pastis, but I love absinth - it is fancier and, indeed, sweeter, just like you seem to prefer it ! Cheers to you and your trustworthy pallate !

    • @TheRealLyrelia
      @TheRealLyrelia Před rokem +1

      @@pauka123 I appreciate the information. Thanks for sharing!

    • @00muinamir
      @00muinamir Před rokem +6

      I once went to a nice restaurant and saw they had absinthe, so I ordered it--they did indeed haul out a gigantic absinthe fountain and everyone was staring at us, lol. Can confirm, great way to get smashed and look fancy while doing it.

    • @lisahinton9682
      @lisahinton9682 Před rokem +2

      @Pauline Racz
      Comme il est intéressant que votre échelle aille de 0 à 20 au lieu de 0 à 10 ! Ici aux États-Unis, nous avons une expression : "Vous apprenez quelque chose de nouveau chaque jour !" et je dirais que c'est certainement le cas ici avec votre commentaire.
      Merci!

  • @tashakon551
    @tashakon551 Před rokem

    In the Footsteps of van Gogh is is the most interesting documentary I've ever seen. I've watched the whole thing four times. It's really cool in particular because of all the "supplemental" stuff you learn about van Gogh that helps you understand the popular narrative of his life. It completely recontextualized his Christmas-eve cutting of his ear, his relationship with his parents and siblings, and his place in the art scene at the time. Can't recommend it enough!

  • @truetrueevil1
    @truetrueevil1 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Pastis is also worth a try. Tastes very similar with an aniseed flavour but already has the sugar added, so less faff. Generally it seems to be more commonly drunk in France today where you can get a carafe of ice water and a glass or small caraf of pastise and sitting in the sun in a cafe sipping away is a great way to pass a summer afternoon.

  • @AilingRodent
    @AilingRodent Před rokem +45

    Here in West Switzerland, Absinthe never really disappeared even when it was illegal. Especially in the Jura region, it was known to be continually made on an artisanal level.

    • @RLKmedic0315
      @RLKmedic0315 Před rokem

      Sounds a lot like the Moonshine culture in the southern US. The government may have banned it, but if people want it the governments desires are mostly irrelevant.

    • @user-lv7ph7hs7l
      @user-lv7ph7hs7l Před rokem

      Yes in the Valais too. One of the local brands proudly proclaims that they never stopped making it, though exact details are not mentioned. I forget the brand but it's the most known one in the region and its clear not green.

  • @matthiaskleindienst9146
    @matthiaskleindienst9146 Před rokem +131

    While studying I was living with two French guys and they showed the street version of this (they called it Wolf's Milk, if I recall correctly): no sugar, a shot glas of Pernod to a pint glas of ICE COLD water. It's also murky, greenish white and though the alcohol is watered down extremely the flavour is still there and it makes the most refreshing summer drink I know of.

    • @hogwashmcturnip8930
      @hogwashmcturnip8930 Před rokem +7

      Pernod is not absinthe. But you are right about what a nice summer drink it is.

    • @b.johnathanwarriorinagarde7980
      @b.johnathanwarriorinagarde7980 Před rokem

      @@hogwashmcturnip8930 What's a good one for me to look for?

    • @samk522
      @samk522 Před rokem +20

      @@hogwashmcturnip8930 Pernod makes both anise liqueur and genuine absinthe. The name Pernod is still associated with the liqueur because that's all they were legally allowed to make for decades, but they absolutely make the real stuff again. I have a bottle myself, and it's what Max uses in this episode.

    • @hogwashmcturnip8930
      @hogwashmcturnip8930 Před rokem +4

      @@samk522 Thanks for explaining. In Europe I have only ever seen the Pernod brand connected with anise. Maybe I should look harder!

    • @hogwashmcturnip8930
      @hogwashmcturnip8930 Před rokem +5

      @@b.johnathanwarriorinagarde7980 Depends where you are. I am not the right person to ask as I don't drink it very often. But Pernod and Ricard are the ones the French seem to go for. In Spain, in the 'Campo' some of it is home made.. As is a lot of the wine sold in the village bars. The wine is a bit like a lottery. Get a good batch and Everyone is happy, hit a bad one and it would be better to use it to clean the sink!

  • @boscobubbles8839
    @boscobubbles8839 Před rokem +4

    I love your content! I am a huge history dork and I am a caterer, between your recipes and drinks you will make my Dungeons and Dragons group very happy. Thank you so much!

  • @wayneg457
    @wayneg457 Před rokem +1

    That’s a fascinating story! I had heard parts of it before but never in the fuller context the way you presented it. Really entertaining and educational. Thanks.

  • @Pauline1193
    @Pauline1193 Před rokem +143

    Funnily enough, the Pernod "substitute" for Absinthe with anise is now a very common and well liked drink in France ! It's called "Pastis, and it's the perfect apéritif in summer 😊

    • @jama211
      @jama211 Před rokem +3

      Oh that's what Pastis is! thank you!

    • @jmiquelmb
      @jmiquelmb Před rokem +7

      Oh, so Pastis Pernod was a substitute for Pernod Absynthe?

    • @shaolin1derpalm
      @shaolin1derpalm Před rokem +10

      I think pastis is dewormwooded absinthe

    • @adrianpayne7886
      @adrianpayne7886 Před rokem +4

      Actually Anise was the first “substitute” for absinthe in the 1920’s - Pastis came along in the 1930’s

    • @Pauline1193
      @Pauline1193 Před rokem +7

      Pernod created "Anis Pernod" in 1918 as a woodwormless alternative to absinthe. He is therefore credited as the inventor of Pastis though it didn't have that name yet. The name "Pastis" was given to the drink a bit later by Paul Ricard who created a very similat drink in the early 30s.

  • @silverintogold7707
    @silverintogold7707 Před rokem +20

    First time I tried Absinthe it was at a Goth club. The bar tender poured the Absinthe first over the cube, then let it on fire before putting it out with the water drip. The fountains were ornate and impressive. I'm not a fan of the flavor, but the aesthetic is magical.

    • @havenrugger
      @havenrugger Před rokem

      #friendsdontletfriendsburnabsinthe it's an ersatz tradition that was invented in the 1990s to sell fake brands that don't taste anything like real absinthe.

    • @deanolium
      @deanolium Před rokem +7

      Unfortunately, that style of preparing absinthe, whilst quite popular (mainly due to the Czechs doing it that way and they were one of the first to re-legalize it) is pretty bad for the absinthe since you burn away a lot of the taste. Also they tend to use really cheap absinthes which misses out the herbal notes that's the main appeal.

  • @joshshields9229
    @joshshields9229 Před 18 dny

    Melissa/Lemon Balm tastes like lemon and sage, together. Where I live, we also call it Lemon Sage. It's very easy to grow. And it can easily take over gardens and flower beds.

  • @rappers5719
    @rappers5719 Před rokem +2

    It's great to hear so much about drinks I've never heard of. Good work taking it to the Max.

  • @sherimeinburg3066
    @sherimeinburg3066 Před rokem +40

    Absinthe is my Drink of Choice, and I would suggest adding water to almost the top of the Glass. A good way to measure if you have the balance of water to Absinthe correct is to watch the louche line. As you're louching, the clear absinthe will sit on top of the louched absinthe and get thinner, the moment it disappears it's ready to drink.

  • @hendrikm9569
    @hendrikm9569 Před rokem +14

    Something interesting I discovered, is that after you store an opened bottle of Pernod, the Anissed Taste lessens, and other herbs "appear".
    However, the Louche seems to lessen as well.

    • @evelinharmannfan7191
      @evelinharmannfan7191 Před rokem

      Maybe due to the essential oils of ansinth evaporating first?

    • @hendrikm9569
      @hendrikm9569 Před rokem

      Maybe, but there wasn't soooo much headspace in the bottle yet.

  • @sonicchica
    @sonicchica Před rokem +2

    Accidentally discovered this channel as trying to watch something before to bed. It was a random recommendation from watching a lot of “How to cook that”. Loving the food history.
    Now I wonder how many Pokémon plushies you owned. You always have the perfect Pokémon to match each video that I seen so far.

  • @jenelaina5665
    @jenelaina5665 Před rokem +1

    Used to drink it in Canada, just across the way/river. A coffeeshop sold it and had a few types, including Pernod, and you could mix/put out the sugar cube fire with water or... Pop.
    Absinthe with ginger ale is surprisingly great.

  • @QueenCityHistory
    @QueenCityHistory Před rokem +15

    I bought a spoon in an antique store once and just thought it was cool. It was over 100 and I bought it for around $1. I didn’t know until later it was an absinthe spoon. One of my friends told me it was considered “drug paraphernalia”…later I found out it’s not. Btw I love the blue walls!!!

  • @justwhistlinpixie
    @justwhistlinpixie Před rokem +40

    Since Adam Ragusea recently did a video on anise flavors and briefly covered the science of absinthe becoming cloudy, I hoped you would make an episode on absinthe! I love to see the perspective each of you bring to the table for this fascinating drink.

  • @andrewbledsoe131
    @andrewbledsoe131 Před rokem +1

    Absinthe has always interested me since I was a kid and read stories with it in them. Absolutely f****** love this one. So glad I found your page through Facebook Reels

  • @KarleighMiller-wy2su
    @KarleighMiller-wy2su Před 8 měsíci

    Why am I just now finding this.. ?! Two of most favorite interests. History and cooking. Brilliant !!!

  • @GryphonBrokewing
    @GryphonBrokewing Před rokem +20

    I enjoy black liquorice, so have always enjoyed ouzo and sambuca. Absinthe is just stronger and less sweet. Ice water over the sugar cube gives a great louche and you can better control the sweetness (unlike with the former two). I've also had some certified pre-ban. I didn't detect much difference between that and modern.

  • @AdrienneLaVey
    @AdrienneLaVey Před rokem +248

    I’m thrilled to come across this video! As someone who makes absinthe content regularly (reviews of individual modern brands, pre-ban, and vintage absinthe, as well as educational videos), this video was such a breath of fresh air! Very factual, and I loved the focus on the political implications behind the absinthe ban. Some people will never be convinced that absinthe wasn’t hallucinogenic, and I really appreciate you quashing that misconception in this presentation. Your video was such a breath of fresh air because you didn’t plant any implications or false ideas in the viewers heads like many other people do.
    If you’re interested in trying some better brands of absinthe, I highly recommend Lucid, La Clandestine, Angélique, and anything by Jade Liqueurs (pricey, yes, but as close to pre-ban absinthe as you’ll get in the modern era).
    As someone who has had Pre-Ban Pernod made in 1900, I can honestly say that they don’t make it the same way now as they did in the pre-ban era. That was quite the experience that I’ll never forget.
    I think that the difference between now and then has more to do with the brand owners investing less in making a quality product and more on marketing and relying on their brand’s name and reputation instead of them “taking the magic ingredient out”.
    Loved the videos! I recommended it to my followers if they want to watch and share it! Santé! 💚🥰

    • @gateauxq4604
      @gateauxq4604 Před rokem +8

      Hello, I do believe I’ll be checking out your content. Absinthe is so fun!

    • @be6715
      @be6715 Před rokem +8

      What is the taste difference between the 1900 version and the more recently made?

    • @AdrienneLaVey
      @AdrienneLaVey Před rokem +28

      @@be6715 With the modern version of Pernod Fils, it’s pretty clear that they haven’t tasted any pre-ban absinthes. The current product is artificially colored, doesn’t seem to have much wormwood in it (and if it does, it isn’t high quality), the base spirit now isn’t as high quality as it was back then, and they use star anise instead of green anise (they both share the word “anise”, but they’re completely different, and star anise is much lower quality and much cheaper). They can scream about having their “original recipe” all they want, but absinthe lovers who have tasted their pre-ban products know the truth.
      I actually did a video of tasting pre-ban Pernod Fils from 1900 if you’re interested.

    • @frydemwingz
      @frydemwingz Před rokem

      Based big tiddied goth girls are the only thing still holding together the US economy. Is there nothing they cant do? They are just holding it down like woah.
      Where should I go to find a goth gf? What online community should I look into?

    • @daniels3571
      @daniels3571 Před rokem +12

      @@AdrienneLaVey minor annotation: If I recall correctly, Recette Traditionelle is indeed coloured naturally using sting nettle or spinach. However of course, this isn't traditional, as (I know, you know, just for the others ;-) ) aromatic, medicinal herbs were originally used to colour absinthe, like artemisia pontica, hyssop, mint, or melissa. These added additional flavour to the final product. Spinach or nettle hardly do that (but are probably way cheaper).

  • @finntheirish13
    @finntheirish13 Před rokem +1

    The fact that I just now found you saddens me... but what makes me happy is that I can binge the backlog of missed episodes!!!

  • @lnbjr7
    @lnbjr7 Před měsícem +1

    You are such an incredibly great match for this equally incredible series! So much fun watching you!

  • @soundsofglasswork6283
    @soundsofglasswork6283 Před rokem +16

    Recently started drinking Absinthe as my spirit of choice after having some at my fathers residence. Tried buying an Absinthe fountain but found that they apparently are backloged for awhile cause the companies that sell them have to leak check them since the spigots usually have something stupid like a 70% chance of leaking if they don't do the check themselves.
    As a glassblower though I've been entertaining the idea of "well If I can't buy one, I'll make one." and still am trying to design something that not only looks good but is easy to clean. Maybe even throw in some color options while I'm at it.
    It's intresting seeing the spirit come back to the states.

    • @Corrodias
      @Corrodias Před rokem

      You don't even need a fountain, though you can use one if you want just for the fun of it, but really you can just mix the liquor with water (and ice if desired) and be done with it, adding some sugar if you really want to, but it's optional. The whole dripping thing is purely for fun.

    • @soundsofglasswork6283
      @soundsofglasswork6283 Před rokem +1

      @@Corrodias I know. Still fun anyways to do it the special way to make it feel special/like a tradition.
      I usually just run cool water in my sink and tap it closed till it starts dripping and just place the glass underneath it so I'm well aware I don't need one lol.

    • @maggiemae7539
      @maggiemae7539 Před rokem

      Not the spirit we need!

  • @jdshort1141
    @jdshort1141 Před rokem +36

    Hi Max, perhaps you could do another absinthe cocktail sometimes called death in the afternoon, it was Hemingways favorite! I love also how composers like Satie and Debussy were Absinthe drinkers haha!

    • @TastingHistory
      @TastingHistory  Před rokem +28

      Yes! And did you noticed I used a little Debussy in the background of the video ; )

    • @hilarysell719
      @hilarysell719 Před rokem +1

      Yes death in the afternoon is such a pleasant drink. And you might like it a little better because you're going to get the sweetness of the grape from the champagne.

  • @whitetrashd8225
    @whitetrashd8225 Před rokem +1

    I used to have a set of absinthe glasses and a spoon. Got rid of them when I quit drinking. Years later, I wish I hadn't thrown them all out.

  • @treannadawn
    @treannadawn Před rokem

    Great video, Max! I'm a little late checking this out but I have been a fan of french absinthe, especially Pernod. I used to have it using one of my absinthe fountains, spoons and sugar cubes. The past few years, however, I have been using it in cocktails. My favorite being Death in the Afternoon (aka the Hemmingway). The Green Fairy isn't for everyone but it is my absolute favorite liqueur

  • @SL-fd5fp
    @SL-fd5fp Před rokem +85

    Love the inclusion of the different countries method making absinthe. The beautiful irony of the Bible verse for the 'Devil's' drink too!

  • @Marco_Onyxheart
    @Marco_Onyxheart Před rokem +37

    As a Dutch speaker, cheers to the surprisingly accurate pronunciation of Van Gogh. It's not perfect, but better than most English speakers. You said the gh with an actual Dutch g and that made me happy.
    If you want to make it perfect, make the a more of an "ah" sound and make the first G the same as the gh, and you've got it.

    • @erraticonteuse
      @erraticonteuse Před rokem +1

      I don't know why, but for some reason as an English-speaking American I can see the word "gouda" and grasp how the Dutch pronunciation of "g" works. But I see "van Gogh" and it refuses to click into place.

    • @Eruvadhril
      @Eruvadhril Před rokem +2

      The A in 'van' almost more of a U-like-in-'fun' sound. It's similar to the German 'von'.
      English-speakers are probably more likely to be familiar with the G and CH sound in Dutch as the sound in the Scottish word "loch" or the Hebrew letter Chet. It's kind of similar to the Spanish pronunciation of the letter J.

    • @vincentcarrot
      @vincentcarrot Před rokem

      Offish topicish, but Absinthe Helfrich was incredible! I suppose there still is Akveld's which is good also.

  • @angelsinthewindow
    @angelsinthewindow Před rokem

    This for some reason is one of my favorite drinks though I can't really stand normal Black Licorice. I fell in love with the elegance of the look and the time it took to make it, plus all the beautiful looking designs the spoons can be found in. There are a lot of makers and some have their own little spins on the designs of the spoons making it a feast for the eyes as well. The art of bartending is so interesting to study. I had heard all the rumors about the hallucinogenic properties of wormwood and such but thank you so much for bringing to my attention more of the history with how that rumor came to be plus just how much someone would actually have to drink in order to get that.

  • @theartsypixie2771
    @theartsypixie2771 Před 7 měsíci +1

    I bought a tiny little plant from the clearance section of Lowes for a $1 because it was Artemisia Absinthium. I put it in my medicinal garden and oof had to transplant that booger 3 times cause it is huge after a year.

  • @krzysztofdabrowski9399
    @krzysztofdabrowski9399 Před rokem +56

    That's the first time I've heard about dilluting absinthe with water...
    In Poland and Bohemia it is drunk warm - You put the absinthe spoon over the empty glass, you put on a sugar cube or two, you pour absinthe over it and set it on fire. When the fire starts dying out you pour some more, until all the sugar carmelises and falls into the glass (usually setting the liquid inside aflame as well). Then you cover the glass to put the fire down and you drink before the fumes escape. It's warm, it's nice, it hits hard. Having it any other way feels weird. :)
    Although I would be interested to try it in a Bunnyhug coctail.

    • @vincentcarrot
      @vincentcarrot Před rokem

      The fire ritual and the Bohemian absinthe are inventions of the 1990s. No evidence has been found that that ritual would have existed in the pre-ban absinthe heyday.

    • @TwoTonTaft
      @TwoTonTaft Před rokem +5

      The Bohemian method was made fairly recently, by purveyors of knockoff and inferior "Absinth" It makes it a bigger spectacle, and the burnt sugar masks the taste of the beverage.

    • @adrianpayne7886
      @adrianpayne7886 Před rokem +1

      The fire ritual was concocted in the 1990’s to sell fake absinthe to unsuspecting tourists in the Czech Republic- it had no basis in history

  • @RockyPeroxide
    @RockyPeroxide Před rokem +40

    Your pronunciation of van Gogh is almost spot on!
    You nailed the Gogh part that most English speakers struggle with, and the van part is pronounced a bit more like the German Von (as in Von Braun) but a bit harder.
    As a Dutchman myself it delighted me to hear someone actually pronounce it like this =]

  • @dragonspight
    @dragonspight Před rokem

    This is the first video of yours on a topic that I was already extremely familiar with. I still learned quite a bit of very interesting history.
    Also good choice going with Pernod. It's easily my favorite brand.

  • @seshenofthenile2363
    @seshenofthenile2363 Před rokem +15

    Your dedication to this channel is impressive!

    • @baileywright3113
      @baileywright3113 Před rokem +1

      My thoughts exactly! I have been binge watching for a week since I found his channel. I’m so appreciative of the little details of the set/space and recipes that he gets just right.

    • @seshenofthenile2363
      @seshenofthenile2363 Před rokem

      @@baileywright3113 I like his witty sense of humor

  • @fingersfinesilver
    @fingersfinesilver Před rokem +8

    Hi Max - I was surprised that you never mentioned the Czechoslovakian link where it was drunk during the first republic and became (and remained) popular from 1989 onward after the revolution. There is a specific type here, which is Absinth without the "e" and also without the anise - making it bitter but much stronger - so it ends up needing the sugar cube. Also the sugar cube was invented in Moravia. Oops - rabbit hole - I'm late I'm late......

  • @andrewhawking1261
    @andrewhawking1261 Před rokem +31

    I remember drinking home made absenth in France, in Bretagne's countryside, while it was still officially banned in shops. I drank it pure, not dilluted with water. Not very posh, but effective. Got very drunk that night but didn't have headache or anything next day. Good memories of my absenth experience.

  • @tim-tim-timmy6571
    @tim-tim-timmy6571 Před rokem +2

    That was quite a pour you had! 50 : 50 alcohol and water. You mentioned "piquette" to qualify a wine. In old French, piquette would refer to a very locally produced wine. Like anyone would make from the 2 wines in their backyard. Nowadays, it refers to bad wine. Because, let's be honest, when your neighbour shows up with a bottle of his homemade wine, chances you will drink a Chateau Petrus are quite slim.
    Bonus fact on French wines: bad wines nowadays are called "picrate" which come from salts made with picric acid to make bombs during the first world war. When detonated, the fumes would smell like a very bad wine.

  • @mattyb7183
    @mattyb7183 Před rokem +2

    I went to university with someone who was a bit of a wannabe writer. And because many famous writers drank absinthe, he also drank it. And that was the only thing he drank, he even carried a hip flask full of the stuff with him everywhere. But he could only afford the really cheap stuff which smelt and tasted like bad mouthwash.
    Actually thinking about it, considering the amount of the stuff that he drank without somehow getting alcohol poisoning. I wonder if it actually was bad mouth wash...

  • @sapphireseptember
    @sapphireseptember Před rokem +13

    I always wondered why there's such a fascination with absinthe in the Goth community, Alchemy Gothic (a brand that's been around since the 1970s and who make really pretty things with which to adorn yourself or your home) have made various absinthe related things over the years, and bands I listen to have written songs about it. I'm more than happy with gin, although that too has a dark history. I'm going to try proper absinthe eventually, I don't think the bright green concoction I had a few years ago was the real thing.

    • @chrissteiger4199
      @chrissteiger4199 Před 9 měsíci

      NIN the perfect drug. But I want to know why?!?!

    • @saintinblack4971
      @saintinblack4971 Před 8 měsíci

      I think we love it because of the mystique around it, the green fairy, the madness myths, etc

  • @vincentcarrot
    @vincentcarrot Před rokem +29

    Very well done! As someone who has drank absinthe for 20 years now, and who knows a lot of its history, I'd say that your video is among the best on the subject. The modern Pernod Absinthe is most likely an oil mix, that is, alcohol is not distilled with the herbs but oils are cold-mixed into the base alcohol instead. That is a historically correct way of making absinthe, but it is not the original method that Pernod used before the ban. Actually, it is more like the Spanish Pernod oil-mix absinthe of the 1960s (absinthe was never banned in Spain) Some producers moved there after the ban in their countries. Today, there are small distillers who make authentic absinthe by batch-distilling anise, fennel and wormwood plus some other herbs per whatever recipe they use and then coloring the product with melissa and Artemisia pontica (Roman wormwood). If you can get Montana or Philippe Lasala, those are IMO "authentic Spanish 1960s oil mixes", quite drinkable.
    Edit: While it is legal to make your own oil-mixes wherever alcohol is legal, I would advise against it. Essential/aromatherapy oils are not meant for flavoring anything that will be swallowed. And even less would I advise anyone to distill their own absinthe... leave it to trained professionals (or clandestine distillers of Switzerland)!

    • @vincentcarrot
      @vincentcarrot Před rokem +4

      And, unlike cognac or whisky/whiskey, absinthe is not a protected name (in the EU at least). You can make pretty much anything and sell it as 'absinthe'. Apologies to Czech drinkers if I sounded harsh in one my comments but that's the way it is. Real, distilled absinthe is not bitter and is not made just by macerating herbs in alcohol. However, that method gives you other kind of nice bitter drinks, like the Swedish Bäska droppar. Absinthe was defined in Switzerland in 2005 at re-legalization so in CH you can only call distilled absinthe 'absinthe'.

    • @PierredeCur
      @PierredeCur Před rokem +1

      La Bleue is legal now. Naturally clear (thus the name) because distilled. But they make a green one coloured with angéligue.

    • @Danielle-mg5lf
      @Danielle-mg5lf Před 5 měsíci +2

      Tyvm for your post you both taught me a lot today❤😊

  • @sheparedcomanderN7
    @sheparedcomanderN7 Před rokem

    I know this video is almost a year old, but I tried Absinthe for the first time this past weekend. The brand I got is actually the kind with Van Gogh’s face on the box. It actually comes with the sugar spoon. It really does have a heavy black licorice taste and I actually like it quite a bit. So thanks for tipping me off to one of my new favorite drinks. Cheers Max!

  • @jamescully429
    @jamescully429 Před rokem +1

    The Absinthe Murder: Well done sir! I'm a aficionado, and have never seen a more accurate documentary on the rise and fall of my favorite adult beverage. I look forward to seeing more of your work. Cheers!

  • @persnickety-do-dah
    @persnickety-do-dah Před rokem +68

    I so enjoy the artwork chosen with each episode's history lesson - and the history for that matter 🙂

    • @melmoomlem7321
      @melmoomlem7321 Před rokem

      Sucks that absinthe was always portrayed as a mostly naked woman who deserved death tho.
      Yay patriarchy

  • @jamesfry8983
    @jamesfry8983 Před rokem +12

    I've been enjoying absinthe for many years started out 18, now 36, I must of gotten through 100s of types/ brands by now and the one I always go back to is Hapsburg Super Deluxe its 85% and comes in a 50cl bottle and often comes with the absinthe spoon attached to the bottle, I have a vintage fountain and glasses

  • @alexandresobreiramartins9461

    Great video as usual, Marx. I love your channel and do hope you continue with us in tasting and drinking history for many years to come. My best to Jose, as well.

  • @taxiuniversum
    @taxiuniversum Před rokem

    Yes, the echo (and overall „cold“ sound) comes across.
    Aside from a carpet, you may use some curtains. Can be behind the camera or to the left and right.
    Curtains also MASSIVELY reduce echo.