Frequently Asked Questions

1) Do your absinthes contain wormwood?

Absolutely!

Absinthe derives its name from the plant Artemisia absinthium. Real absinthe cannot be created without the use of appropriate quantities of this herb. Jade Liqueurs only uses the finest absinthium. And like several of our key herbs, our absinthium is cultivated and harvested to our rigorous historical standards, the quality of which is not available in the commercial market.

More on “wormwood” . . .

Be advised the term “wormwood’ may refer to any of several different herbs, and is oftentimes used improperly. “Grand Wormwood” refers specifically to Artemisia absinthium, while “Petite Wormwood” refers specifically to Artemisia pontica (aka Roman Wormwood). Petite wormwood does not create absinthe on its own, and claims that petite absinthe refers to something other than Artemisia pontica, and/or that ‘petite absinthe’ creates absinthe are without historical basis, and are potentially misleading to the consumer, so caveat emptor.


2) Where in the U.S. can your absinthes be purchased?

At the present time, real absinthe cannot be distributed within the U.S. market due to FDA regulations. Therefore, what one finds in U.S. liquor stores presently is limited to artificially colored, pre-sweetened, anise liqueurs that are marketed as ‘absinthe substitutes’.


3) Where/how can I buy your absinthes?

At the present, our absinthes are sold in retail shops and finer establishments worldwide:

www.absintheonline.com/acatalog/retail.html

For those in areas where our absinthes may not be distributed, they can be ordered and delivered virtually anywhere in the world via this webpage:

http://www.absintheonline.com/acatalog/Jade.html

4) Do you ship to Canada?

At the present time, our agents are working to the benefit of Canadian residents. In the meantime, please inquire to absinthe@absintheonline.com for updates.


5) What is the best way to prepare absinthe?

The most traditional method of preparing absinthe can be viewed in real time here:

www.absintheclassics.com/absinthe_ritual.html

Be advised that the addition of sugar was always optional, and the prevailing experienced opinion is the finest absinthes should be taken without sugar.

Another popular absinthe cocktail was the original Sazerac, explained here:

www.cocktaildb.com/recipe_detail?id=2019

Simply substitute absinthe for pastis. Be advised that the original formula called for Sazerac brand cognac instead of rye whiskey.


6) How long can I store an opened bottle?

If reasonably well re-sealed with a T-cork (cork cap) or similar, a bottle of Jade absinthe can be stored for decades if kept in a dark, cool place (NOT a refrigerator).


7) Why did the color of the absinthe in an opened bottle change from green to amber?

The traditional, natural color of our absinthes will eventually fade to a feuille mort (dead leaf) tint with time, and a small amount of sediment may form. This is characteristic of a true absinthe that is crafted from historically correct, natural methods.


8) How much thujone do your absinthes contain?

First and foremost, the Jade absinthes are absolutely identical in both content and construction to the finest vintage absinthes, period. The Jade absinthes contain concentrations of thujone and other constituents typical of real, vintage absinthe.
Aside from being absinthe historians and chemists, we possess and have sampled numerous full bottles of the best original absinthes, most of which are over 100 years old. Our exhaustive analytical research has concluded that the notions promoted about absinthe and thujone are largely modern myths, and are both false and misleading. Contrary to modern assumptions, the original absinthes do not contain high concentrations of thujone, and never did. This seems strange at first, but is actually explained by simple physical chemistry. Our research has been reproduced through recent studies, a few of which can be found on the web:

www.absintheonline.com/acatalog/Thujone.html
www.absinthe.se/analysis/Absinth-Analytik.htm
www.emmert-analytik.de/Poster_Mosbach_kl.PDF

Additionally, these studies prove something else we already know, which is the claims about thujone content made by makers/sellers of modern absinthes are almost always false and misleading, being mostly marketing propaganda.

Where thujone is concerned, recent studies such as Dettling, Grass, et al (2004), demonstrate conclusively that human subjects are unable to determine thujone concentrations in test samples by drinking them. In other words, the study proved that whether the thujone concentration of a liquid sample was 0, 10, or 100 mg/kg, human subjects were unable to identify them. Furthermore, thujone has not been demonstrated as a causative agent of any psychotropic or hallucinogenic effects. In short, those who have been led to believe that absinthe delivers effects akin to those afforded by illicit drugs have been misled.

Unfortunately for the average absinthe enthusiast, certain sellers of absinthe (or worse, ‘absinth’) promote erroneous and/or outdated information because they have a poor understanding of the chemistry of absinthe, and/or have reason to deliberately mislead potential consumers into believing absinthe delivers effects akin to that of illicit drugs (which is untrue).

In light of these facts, we choose not to publish the thujone content of our absinthes because it is largely irrelevant except to those who make such claims as a deceptive marketing tool to boost profits. That being said, if one goes seeking an absinthe that claims to be ‘high in thujone’, he will almost invariably find himself purchasing inferior ‘absinth’ of Czech or Eastern European origin, bearing little to no resemblance to traditional absinthe, and whose claims of ‘high thujone’ are almost always false, misleading, and irrelevant regardless.