31 May

What Percentage is Absinthe?

Absinthe is a strong anise flavor liquor which is made by distilling alcohol with herbs such as wormwood, aniseed and fennel. We know it is strong and can get you drunk easily, but what percentage is Absinthe and what is the proof?

Let’s look at the alcohol by volume of popular brands of Absinthe:-

La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise 68% abv (136 proof)
Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or 65% alcohol by volume is 130 proof
La Clandestine Absinthe 53% abv (106 proof)
Jade Edouard 72% alcohol by volume or 144 proof
Sebor 55% abv (110 proof)
Jade Nouvelle Orleans 68% abv (136 proof)
Mari Mayans Collectors 70 is 70% abv (140 proof)
La Fee Parisian 68% abv is 136 proof
Lucid Absinthe 62% abv is 124 proof
Jade Verte Suisse 65% alcohol by volume (130 proof)
Pernod Absinthe is 68% abv or 136 proof
Kuber 53 is 53% alcohol or 106 proof
Pere Kermanns is 60% abv or 120 proof
Jade PF 1901 which is 68% alcohol by volume is 136 proof
La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse is approximately 53% alcohol by volume (106 proof)
Roquette 1797 75% abv (150 proof)
La Fee Bohemian 70% alcohol by volumne which is 140 proof

Let’s now compare Absinthe to other beverages:-

Whisky such as Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch 40% alcohol by volume is 80 proof
Absinthe can be 75% alcohol by volume and up to 150 proof
Table Wine 9-12% abv is 18-24 proof
Beer tends to be 4 or 5% alcohol by volume (8-10 proof)

Now, the alcohol-information.com website reports that if you drink 1 shot of Everclear (190 proof) to drinking 2.85 cans of beer and about 3 brandies. This information establishs that one shot of Absinthe is equivalent to 2.25 bottles of beer. So, 22 shots Absinthe is equivalent to 49.5 bottles of beer!

As you can see, Absinthe is much stronger than as wine and beer and even whisky. Care needs to be used when consuming Absinthe because it is so strong and will intoxicate quickly. We need to take particular care when mixing Absinthe with other alcoholic drinks in cocktails.

Care needs to always be taken when your are making your own Absinthe for drinking. If you buy an Absinthe kit like Green Devil then you are simply steeping herbs in a neutral alcohol such as Everclear or vodka. Now, Everclear has alcohol by volume of 95% and a proof of 190 so it is much stronger than commercial Absinthe. When you purchase the Absinthekit there are essences from Absinthe.some also have to be mixed with a neutral alcohol such as Everclear or vodka. Your finished Absinthe will be the proof or abv of the neutral alcohol you have used.

In Absinthe what is the percentage? For commercial Absinthe look on the bottle label or, if you are ordering online, look at the product details for abv or proof. If you are making your own Absinthe from a kit, you need to look at the bottle of Everclear or vodka that you are using.

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30 May

Selecting A Wine Club

A wine club is a great way to learn about wine and to sample different wines that you might not otherwise try. Many people appreciate the gift of a wine club membership around the holidays, and it’s the gift that keeps on giving if the recipient is generous with the wine they receive.

So how do you choose a club? Are all clubs the same and are there important things you should look out for when choosing a membership. There are different things that can help you to choose the right one. Everything from cost to wine style will determine what club you choose.

The Cost Of Wine Club

While cost should not be the only thing that you think about when choosing a wine club it is important. If you are just starting to learn about wine it might be a good idea to start with an inexpensive membership. A wine tasting club that allows you to pay as little as $20 a month can still offer you some very decent wines to try.

More expensive wine clubs will allow you to try more exclusive ranges and will also offer you more bottles of wine each month. So settle on a price range that you are comfortable with and you are on your way to discovering great wines.

Choose Your Wine From Wine Club

There are different types of wine clubs that you can choose from and depending on your preferences you will probably go for a different club than your friends. You can join a wine club that only selects red or white wines. There are some clubs that will only showcase wines from California; others will choose wines from all over the world.

The wines that are not commercially available and are hard to come by otherwise are offered by some clubs from small vineyards. The choice is up to you and many of these memberships are extremely affordable.

Little Details For Choosing The Right Wine From Wine Club

Paying attention to little details can also help you to choose the right wine club. Long duration of membership of its member shows how excellent its customer service is. Be confirmed if shipping costs are included in your monthly membership fee or if they are included as an extra. You might also have other benefits to joining a particular club so look around and find the right type of wine club for you.

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29 May

Absinthe Green Fairy: Have You Ever Used It?

There is an interesting history to the alcoholic dirink Absinthe Green Fairy. Originated as an elixir or tonic it is now one of the most controversial and famous drinks of all time.

By definition Absinthe is strong anise flavored spirit containing 45 to 75% Alcohol by volume. The name “Green Fairy” is primarily due to its emerald green colour. It is simply a distilled liquor made from herbs. The three main herbs tend to be Artemisia Absinthium , fennell and green aniseed. Henri-Louis Pernod who is credited for first ever commercial distillation of Absinthe used other herbs produce his famous original Pernod Absinthe recipe. Other ingrediants such as the herb calamus were used by some manufacturers and this herb along with wormwood and nutmeg were though to be psychoactive. It is the essential oil extract from the herbs which causes Absinthe to louche when iced water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon. The oils are water insoluble and so cause the Absinthe to louche.

Absinthe Green Fairy Is Amazing

Absinthe is known for inspiring many artists and writers of the Bohemian culture of the Montmartre area located at Paris. Famous Absinthe drinkers include Vincent Van Gough, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Degas, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. A lot of writers and artists claim that Absinthe gave them inspiration and gave them their genius. Painters like Van Gogh and Picasso showed Absinthe drinkers in their paintings.

Absinthe’s association tragedies like old Montmartre, Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect, was just the excuse that prohibition advocates needed. Once it was linked with the murder of a family and the growing problem of alcohol addiction in France it was easy for campaigners to get the sale of Absinthe made illegal and it was banned in France in 1915. Other countries also banned it but it remained legal in the the UK, Spain and Portugal.

A wormwood chemical commonly known as thujone was blamed for the psychedelic effects of drinking the Green Fairy. Thujone was thought to produce similar action like THC in cannabis. However Absinthe is mainly alcohol, ethanol, and therefore only contains minute quanitities of thujone. Research proves that Absinthe is just as safe as any other strong liquor and that it is the alcohol content not the thujone that is dangerous. Many studies and articles have been written on the subject. If you remember that it is twice of whisky and drink it with care and in moderation, it is simply a drink which gives pleasure.

During the time of prohibition Czech Republic flourished with vintage style Absinthe in Absinthe bars where Absinthe was served in the classic Absinthe large glasses and in surroundings decorated with vintage Absinthe posters. Now, in 2008, Absinthe is legal once again but with restrictions and United States only allows Absinthe with trace amounts of thujone.

You can buy Absinthe online by the bottle or order Absinthe essences (visit the website AbsintheKit.com) to make your own Absinthe Green Fairy to bottle at home. Real Absinthe and Absinthe kit contains the vital ingredient wormwood but some new Absinthes, produced for the US market, do not contain thujone.

Absinthe Green Fairy is a wonderful spirit and can be used in cocktails too!

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23 May

Trentadue Winery – Sonoma County wine tasting room

fatbellytraveler asked:


Trentadue – Where ‘Old World’ and ‘New World’ meet. The Trentadues’ have been growing grapes in Geyserville since 1959! The family moved here that year after Joseph Trentadue, the current proprietors grandfather, spent decades traveling to Healdsburg to buy grapes to make the family wine. The winery – one of the oldest in Alexander Valley – is to this day, one hundred percent family owned. The Trentadues’ continue to sell a portion of their grapes but the majority of the harvest from their …

Wine Insider

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