Is Absinthe All It's Cracked Up to Be?

Absinthe has long held a sort of quasi-mythical status among tinctures. Its distinctive green color and rumors about it being somehow much more psychoactive than regular spirits such as vodka and gin have been responsible for its notoriety. Furthermore, the fact that it is illegal to import absinthe into the United States arouses the curiosity and makes one wonder: is absinthe truly all it's cracked up to be?

What exactly is absinthe? It is a strong liquor that is distilled and infused with a number of herbs, the most important of which is wormwood. Wormwood contains an intoxicant called thujone, and much of the supposed psychoactive effects of abstinthe is apparently due to the presence of this chemical. Absinthe is a very bitter drink and is traditionally served in a glass as a shot. A special perforated spoon known as an "absinthe spoon" is suspended over the glass with a dusting of sugar as cold water is poured over the spoon. The sugar is infused with the water which is then infused with the alcoholic absinthe in the glass. Traditionally, absinthe gained popularity among European artists of the 19^th century. Some famous absinthe users include Vincent Van Goh, Baudelaire, and Verlaine.