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Absinthe is a very strong alcoholic beverage made with wormwood. The wormwood contains thujone, a chemical that is thought to be slightly psychoactive. It was first sold commercially in 1805, and soon became very popular. Van Gogh is known to have enjoyed absinthe. However, it was outlawed in the early 1900's, in part due to its unusually high alcohol content. Absinthe cannot be sold commercially because it is illegal to sell alcoholic beverages that contain thujone. However, today you can make absinthe by combining the individual ingredients, as it is not illegal to possess drinks containing thujone. To learn how to make your own stock of absinthe, read on...
Step 1:

Ingredients and supplies:

  • 1 to 4 teaspoons Grand wormwood
  • Roman or petite wormwood
  • Herbs including: Hyssop, Anise seed, Fennel seed, Mint, Angelica root, Lemon balm, Veronica, Cardomom, Thyme, Lavender, Sage, and Coriander.
  • 750ml bottle strong, clear alcohol (for example, Everclear. Do not use alcohol less than 100 proof)
  • Glass container with airtight lid, such as a jar
  • Cheesecloth
  • Funnel
Step 2:

Soak the liquor and wormwood. Chop, crumble, or grind the wormwood. Place the wormwood in the container. Pour the alcohol over the wormwood, seal the container, and let it soak in a warm, dark place for five days. Periodically stir up the mixture, or the wormwood will just sit at the bottom of the container. Do not use a plastic container, as the alcohol may eat through the plastic.

Step 3:

Soak the liquor and herbs. Once the liquor is done in the wormwood container, remove the wormwood and replace it with the herbs. You can vary the herbs, adding or removing different herbs. The herbs will change the taste, as well as the color, of the finished product. Use 1/3 cup or less of herbs for each 750ml bottle of alcohol. Chop or crumble the herbs to increase the efficiency of absorption.

Step 4:

Wait. Seal the container, and wait 2 weeks to 2 months. The length of time you let it sit will influence the flavor. If you wait too long, it will be bitter. If not long enough, the herbs will not have time to flavor the alcohol. No matter how long you let it sit, it will turn out better if you stir it every few days. If you don't, the herbs will just sit at the bottom of the container, and they will not have a chance to flavor the alcohol.

Step 5:

Strain. Pour the alcohol through a piece of cheesecloth to strain it. Otherwise, there will be small pieces of herbs in your alcohol. Then use a funnel to pour it back into the bottle.

Step 6:

Serve the absinthe. Because absinthe is so strong, you should dilute it before drinking it Mix 1 part absinthe to 5 parts water, and add a little sugar. Be aware that homemade absinthe can be a little bitter. Because of the thujone, it is not recommended to drink more than 3 servings of absinthe in one sitting.

Don't be fooled by "absinthe" you may see in the liquor store. It is not traditional absinthe; it has no thujone.

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