Absint: Where can I buy good Absinthe?

Absinthe, is it legal again and where can I order it?

First and foremost, yes! Absinthe is legal again. It is once again sold as it was produced in the 19th century. This means that the recipes of genuine, contemporary absinthes do not differ from those of the 19th century. The thujone content is also the same. The idea that absinthe used to contain more thujone is a myth. Old absinthe varieties have now been examined for their thujone content, and no astronomical thujone levels of 300 mg or more were found.

Since so many myths surround the Green Fairy, we would also like to tell you a little about the history of absinthe: In the 19th century, France took advantage of the stimulant effect of the drink during the Algerian War and supplied its soldiers with regular absinthe rations. After the war, the returning soldiers created an enormous demand, as they wanted to enjoy the Green Fairy back home as well.

An increase in production from 400 liters per day to up to 20,000 liters at the end of the 19th century speaks volumes.... Absinthe distilleries literally sprang up like mushrooms, and the wormwood-distilled beverage experienced its heyday. However, absinthe was banned almost everywhere in the world around 1910-1920. At that time, high alcohol consumption was a societal problem. Absinthe, with its 68% alcohol, was of course a very convenient scapegoat. Now, 100 years later, the spirit is legal again. The "Green Fairy" could not be scientifically proven to have harmful health effects, when consumed in moderation. Since the legalization of absinthe, many distilleries have once again started producing original absinthe.

So, we can conclude that absinthe was not banned primarily due to its effects. This was merely a pretext to politically sell the ban. Nevertheless, genuine absinthe has a different effect than normal alcohol (e.g., beer, wine). This is mainly due to its incomparably high alcohol content. Genuine absinthe classically has 68 percent alcohol. No other spirit has that much: vodka, whiskey, gin, rum; all these bar spirits have between 40 and 50 percent alcohol. This means that with 68% alcohol content, absinthe is simply a lot stronger than what you usually drink at home or in a bar. This can induce a different kind of intoxication, the so-called "absinthe intoxication."

This question is not easily answered. As the saying goes, it depends... If you want to drink a strong absinthe that has a particularly intense effect, we recommend the variety Strong68. This absinthe is declared as a bitter spirit, meaning it is legally allowed to contain up to 35 mg of thujone. If you prefer to try a complex absinthe, we can recommend Heritage Verte. This absinthe is produced in France. It has a traditional recipe consisting of wormwood, fennel, anise, and, of course, some other ingredients. Furthermore, it was awarded a silver medal at the ISW 2023 (International Spirits Awards) and a gold medal at the Craft Spirits Awards 2026. Its dark green color is completely natural.

Whoever is looking for the best absinthe should try Maison ALANDIA. It is the gold medal winner of the Concours de Lyon 2025 spirits competition and the Craft Spirits Awards 2026. Only the finest herbs are distilled. The bottle is also traditionally corked and hand-labeled.

Absinthe: The mystical drink with many names

The traditional herbal liqueur, which has inspired artists, writers, and connoisseurs for centuries, has many names. This often causes confusion. Why are there different spellings like "Absinthe," "Absinth," or even "Absynthe"?

Origin of the name

The word originates from the Latin “absinthium,” which in turn derives from the Greek “apsínthion”—both terms refer to wormwood, the drink’s main ingredient. Slightly modified forms of this term have developed in various languages. The French spelling “Absinthe” is the most widely used internationally, as the drink experienced its cultural heyday in the 19th century, particularly in France.

Summary:

Regardless of how it is spelled, the drink remains essentially the same: a high-proof herbal liqueur, usually made with wormwood, anise, and fennel as its main ingredients. The myths surrounding absinthe—its supposedly hallucinogenic effects, its former ban, and its later reinstatement—have contributed to its fascination just as much as the evocative names under which it is sold. Whether “absinthe” or its variants—what is meant is always a drink with history, character, and a touch of myth.