Absinthe - now available by popular demand

I *really* don't think this is fair to Uncle Kagé.

I don't recommend it. The stuff is nasty!

"The best part of that article people drinking it and noting that they are in a state of altered consciousness.

Well DUH, a 124-proof drink will do that to you! "

ever get the impression that the author never reads the adjectives they put in news articles?

Only 124 proof? I can get 190 proof liquor here.

Ah yes, it's essentially made of distilled ethanol extract of mugwort/wormwood, and two other herbs.

Mugwort and wormwood have some hallucinogenic compounds, and are also the original source of the anti-malarial drug, artimensin. They all over the place, common perennial weeds most people overlook, often found growing in large patches amidst clumps goldenrod, ragweed, and other tall weedy plants.

They're from the family Asteraceae, which includes genera of many well-known flowers, such as chrysanthemums. One might note the pungent aroma of mum foliage, and that it has some similarities to mugwort aroma.

But, it contains thujone, a somewhat toxic monoterpene compound that acts as a GABA-A receptor antagonist, causing overactive muscle contractions leading to spasms and convulsions. It may also cause premature labor in pregnant women. As such, the plant should be used sparingly along with other plants containing significant amounts of the chemical: juniper, tansy, and sage. However, absinth, being distilled, has very little of it.

It has some coumarin and coumarin derivatives, which are precursors of anticoagulants like warfarin, so people with bleeding disorders should avoid it.

Consumption of the plant is also said to increase lucid dreaming, through the actions of several of its other chemical components.

This concludes the biomedical study for the evening. You're welcome! :3

If you've been importing it,
don't lose the importer's contact information.

The stuff allowed to be sold in the US has negligible amounts
of the hallucinogens.

It's still 124 proof, but it won't make you see stuff.

Not that I'm willing to take anything that makes you hallucinate.
My life is surreal enough. It's not even shocking anymore for me
to be on vacation and think I see animal ears and tails on people
walking around.

You would drink something called Tormentor?