I switched jobs within my company last week, and I was talking with one of my new co-workers, and one thing we discovered we had in common was that we both had served in the military in Europe. He had traveled more extensively than me, and he told me with a wicked grin of how he was once in Moscow and drank a bunch of absinthe. Naturally, this piqued my curiosity, because I have heard of absinthe before and that it has effects beyond that of plain alcohol, and that it's illegal in the U.S.
  Has anyone here had absinthe? What kind of effect did it have on you? Is it legal in Canada?

I switched jobs within my company last week, and I was talking with one of my new co-workers, and one thing we discovered we had in common was that we both had served in the military in Europe. He had traveled more extensively than me, and he told me with a wicked grin of how he was once in Moscow and drank a bunch of absinthe. Naturally, this piqued my curiosity, because I have heard of absinthe before and that it has effects beyond that of plain alcohol, and that it's illegal in the U.S.
  Has anyone here had absinthe? What kind of effect did it have on you? Is it legal in Canada?


Yeah, it's great.
There are many different types. Some, bone jarringly harsh, some, rather timid (about as timid as good Vodka  ;D

You can bring it in to the country.. as far as i am aware. You can some kinds of it in England and i know when she was visiting my cousin bought some back with her.
Russia, Czech Republic etc is where you need to go for the lethal stuff.

Never had it, but am aware of it...

Another lethal one is the Irish 'poteen' (pronounced 'potcheen'), which was classed as illegal by the Irish government at some stage...not sure about now...

Speaking of Czechoslovakia (which Andy was), 'Slivovice' (sp?) is another one that could blow your eyeballs out...

I've certainly heard of it - killer stuff apparently.  ;D

Sounds like I've heard of it some where, can't remember where. I think it was in some crazy drinking story or some thing.

Never bothered to touch the stuff. Sounds very potent.  :-X

Never bothered to touch the stuff. Sounds very potent.  :-X


Seriously, sounds deadly. :o

Yes....in Amsterdam.  I don't know if it was that or the "cigarettes" that had me talking to the fishies in the canal. :D


Did you drink any '14.2' whilst you were there.

I got dragged around Amsterdam by a bunch of Dutchmen pouring that down my throat  ;D

That'll get you talking to more than just the fishies.

Did you drink any '14.2' whilst you were there.

I got dragged around Amsterdam by a bunch of Dutchmen pouring that down my throat  ;D

That'll get you talking to more than just the fishies.
What kind of buzz did it have?

What kind of buzz did it have?


The kind that makes everything darker and fuzzier than it really is  ;D

It tastes like a fairly regular larger, kinda white, I suppose i would compare it to Hoegaarden.

Except that it's a 14.2% beer so having one is like having about 3 of your crappy american ones  ;D

I had about 12 pints and a lot of shots and remember sitting wondering why things were so dark  ;D


Couldn't tell you....I know I drank some cherry flavored stuff and some NASTY anise flavored stuff.....oh, and beer, of course ;)


The Belgians are renowned for their great beers and they're marvelous, however, the Dutch give em a run for their money. What i found was that in Belgium and France, you generally only get a large selection in certian places and often have to go several miles away to find different beers. In Holland all the bars have dozens and dozens.

Yes....in Amsterdam.   I don't know if it was that or the "cigarettes" that had me talking to the fishies in the canal. :D

;D ;D ;D

......In the United States, absinthe is not a controlled substance but its sale in bars and liqour stores is banned. Absinthe is still however legal to purchase and possess in the United States . In most of the European Union, absinthe may be sold as long as it stays at 10mg of thujone. In Canada, absinthe is completely legal, and on sale in some liquor stores.

Unlike most other internet based absinthe shops, our absinthes contain the original levels of the psychoactive ingredient thujone. It is thujone that produces the celebrated "absinthe effects".....

have heard of it; brother-in-law used to drink it; so gave us a big bottle; didn't care for taste, so used it for cooking....not aware of above, till I did a search just now  :)

It's like rocket fuel.  There's an old Russian guy who makes it up in the mountains about an hour south of where I live.  His wife handpaints the bottles.  A friend bought it for the gorgeous bottle and one night we decided to give the contents a go.  OMG  :o

I've NEVER seen it on the shelves here in the States. In the movie Bram Stokers 'Dracula' they  drank it with a sugar cube. I hear its almost considered poison......I wonder if its anything like Everclear?

I've NEVER seen it on the shelves here in the States. In the movie Bram Stokers 'Dracula' they  drank it with a sugar cube. I hear its almost considered poison......I wonder if its anything like Everclear?


Everlcear is around 95% isn't it. Some absinthes are that potent, they tend to range from the high 60's to the mid 90's. I know there is something in Poland (that i can't remember the name of) that comes in at about 97%.
Never had Everclear but from what i hear it's nasty sh!t.. Absinthe is pretty nice depending on what kind you have.