Absinthe, the green elixir that has captivated artists and dreamers for centuries. 🧚♂️🍸🌿💚
Sip, Sip, Hooray! Green Magic in a Glass! 💚
Welcome to Absinthe Day, a celebration of the Green Fairy, the legendary spirit that has captivated the imaginations of artists, writers and bon vivants for centuries.
On March 5th, we commemorate the lifting of the US ban on absinthe in 2007, allowing us to rediscover this intoxicating drink and its rich history. It’s a day to celebrate the history, mystique and flavor of absinthe and to raise a glass to its revival.
Marching towards Saint Patrick’s Day and coinciding with Cinco de Marcho, it’s a double whammy of green celebrations!
The Green Muse’s Seductive Secrets! 💚
Absinthe is a highly alcoholic spirit that is flavored with anise and derived from several plants, including the flowers and leaves of Artemisia absinthium, or wormwood.
It is typically distilled from a blend of botanicals, including the aforementioned wormwood but also anise, fennel and star anise and is known for its high alcohol content, ranging from 45% to 75% ABV.
Absinthe was also known as “The Green Fairy” due to its bright green color and its reputation for causing hallucinations and other strange effects.
However, this reputation is largely unfounded and most modern absinthes do not contain enough thujone, the chemical compound that was once thought to cause these effects, to produce any noticeable psychoactive effects.
The Absinthe Chronicles🔮
There are many rumors and magical mysteries about the origin of absinthe. Green potions based on wormwood have been used medicinally at least since ancient Egyptian times. Mixing the wormwood with anise flavors quickly became popular to soften the bitter taste of wormwood.
The first absinthe distillery, Dubied Père et Fils, was first opened in Couvet by major Dubied around 1800.
In the 1840s, French soldiers were given absinthe as a field treatment for malaria. Furthermore, there was a massive wine shortage in France during the latter half of the 19th century, which caused absinthe to grow, almost by default, into its role as France’s most fashionable drink.
Absinthe quickly gained popularity among artists, writers and bohemians, who believed that it induced a state of heightened creativity and perception.
In French cafes, 5 p.m. (known to Americans as the start of “happy hour”) became known as l’heure verte, or “the green hour,” a ritual where creatives imbibed, seeking inspiration from the elusive green fairy, became a cultural phenomenon.
The Fall and Rise of the Green Fairy 🧚♂️
In the early 20th century, absinthe became the target of a moral panic, due to concerns about its supposed addictive and hallucinatory effects, with critics blaming it for various social ills, including alcoholism, insanity and even murder.
Absinthe was banned in the colony of the Congo Free State in 1898. In 1906 both Brazil and Belgium banned the sale and distribution of absinthe. The Netherlands followed in 1909, Switzerland in 1910, the US made it part of their prohibition in 1912 and France banned absinthe in 1914.
In most other countries absinthe was never banned and the trend of drinking absinthe persisted until the novelty simply wore off.
During the 1990ies absinthe experienced a revival. Not wanting to miss out due to competition from Portuguese, Spanish and Czech brands that could still freely bottle the green gold, France lifted its ban and in 2000 French distilled absinthe was a thing again.
With the revival and better communication systems, wild misconceptions about absinthe were busted en masse and other countries followed suit to welcome absinthe back in their liquor cabinets and that’s how the Green Fairy fluttered back into our glasses!
Absinthe is the drink that went from “No way” to “Absinthe-lutely, let’s party!”
The Ritual Of Louche 🥄
The most popular way to drink absinthe is by using the Classic French method. This process is called “loucheing” and is said to mellow the absinthe’s bitterness and release its full flavor.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Pour a shot of absinthe into a glass.
- Place an absinthe spoon over the glass.
- Place a sugar cube on the spoon.
- Slowly pour ice-cold water over the sugar cube until it dissolves and drips into the glass.
- Stir the mixture with the absinthe spoon.
- Enjoy your drink!
Alternatively, you can drink absinthe neat or on the rocks or mix it in a cocktail.
The Green Fairy loves to play and your taste buds are the playground!
The Origin of Absinthe Day 🎊
The ban on absinthe in the United States was lifted in 2007 after a 95-year prohibition due to myths and misconceptions over the safety of thujone, a chemical compound found in wormwood, which is one of the key ingredients in absinthe.
Thanks to modern scientific research and more advanced myth busting, we now know that the levels of thujone in absinthe are not nearly high enough to cause any noticeable psychoactive effects.
And what better day to celebrate than on Cinco de Marcho, a prelude to the green festivities of Saint Patrick’s Day?
A Celebration Fit for the Green Royalty! 💚
How does one properly revel in the glory of Absinthe Day?
Let me paint you a picture, my adventurous comrades:
- Louche Lounging:
Gather with friends and enjoy a traditional absinthe ritual, including loucheing the absinthe with water and sugar. Watch the magic unfold and savor the opalescent transformation. - Mix Magic:
Mix things up! Craft an absinthe cocktail that suits your style. A Green Fairy Mule, perhaps? - Green Feast:
Pair your absinthe with a spread fit for royalty. Cheese, fruits and even a touch of dark chocolate can elevate your Absinthe Day experience to legendary status. - Green Muse:
Channel your inner artist, poet, or dreamer. Absinthe is said to have a way of unlocking creativity. Write, paint, or simply gaze at the stars – let the Green Fairy be your muse!
- Green Gear:
Blend in and wear green! Use it as a dress rehearsal for Cinco de Marcho and St. Patrick’s Day. - Virtual Toast:
In the age of connectivity, share the love virtually. Use hashtags #AbsintheDay and #NationalAbsintheDay to let the world know how you’re celebrating the green fairy!
TL;DR – Louche and Luscious! 🌈
So there you have it, a crash course in absinthe appreciation!
Now, armed with this knowledge, go forth, my curious compatriots and let the celebration of Absinthe Day be as bold and vibrant as the elixir in your glass! Thank you for reading and don’t forget – if anyone asks you why you’re celebrating Absinthe Day by dancing on tables, reciting poetry, or wearing only green, just tell them the Wild Calendar sent you and invite them to the green side!
May your glasses be forever full and your celebrations as vibrant as the elixir within!

🌿🍸 Cheers to the Green Fairy and the joy it brings. Happy Absinthe Day! 🥂🧚♂️
#AbsintheDay #NationalAbsintheDay
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinthe
- https://web.archive.org/web/20071201084027/https://www.ttb.gov/industry_circulars/archives/2007/2007_05.html
- https://blog.thenibble.com/2013/03/05/cocktail-recipes-green-beast-more-for-national-absinthe-day-st-patricks-day/
- https://www.laspeakeasy.com/single-post/2018/03/05/National-Absinthe-Day
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