Ted Breaux is a research chemist and absinthe producer who in 2007 successfully challenged the U.S. ban on absinthe, reintroducing it to American drinkers for the first time in almost a century. For this episode, Breaux joins us to explore why absinthe was banned in the first place, and to explain how he successfully challenged the ban and how absinthe’s fortunes have changed in the years since.

Radio Imbibe is the audio home of Imbibe magazine. In each episode, we dive into liquid culture, exploring the people, places, and flavors of the drinkscape through conversations about cocktails, coffee, beer, spirits, and wine. Keep up with us at imbibemagazine.com, and on Instagram, Threads, and Facebook, and if you're not already a subscriber, we'd love to have you join us—click here to subscribe.