Just in time for spooky season we explore a treat of a fine spirit with a tricky past.

Absinthe: what it is, how it behaves in the glass, the deal on wormwood, a brief history, and some thujone theory.

Please absinthe responsibly, and apologies for the historical nugget on dog flatulence.

Resources from this episode:

Books:

Absinthe: History in a Bottle, Conrad, B. (1988)

The Drunken Botanist: The plants that create the world’s great drinks. Stewart, A. (2013)

The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris, McCullough, D. (2012)

Society of Wine Educators: Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) Study Guide, Nickles, J. (2020)

Academic Journals/Papers:

Chemistry Central Journal (5:44): Determination of the biologically active flavour substances thujone and camphor in foods and medicines containing sage (Salvia officinalis L.), Walch, S. Kuballa T., Stühlinger, W., Lachenmeier, D., (21 July 2011) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3155476/

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (97(8)): α-Thujone (the active component of absinthe): γ-Aminobutyric acid type A receptor modulation and metabolic detoxification, Höld, K., Sirisoma, N., Ikeda, T., Narahashi, T., Casida, J., (11 April 2000), pp. 3826 - 3831, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC18101/

Websites:

Cocktail Safe: Wormwood and thujone safety information for cocktails https://www.cocktailsafe.org/wormwood-and-thujone.html

The Spirits Business: The 10 most famous absinthe drinkers, Hopkins, A. (2014) https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2014/08/the-10-most-famous-absinthe-drinkers/

The Nachtkabarett: Mansinthe, Kushner, N. http://www.nachtkabarett.com/mansinthe

Wormwood Society: Absinthe Original D- Don’t believe the hype, Robinson, B., (24 November 2009) https://wormwoodsociety.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=665&catid=16&Itemid=233

Podcasts:

Glass in Session® Winecast: S1E2: Aperitif Wines (2019) https://glassinsession.libsyn.com/s1e2-aperitif-wines

Wine Two Five: Anise Spirits and a Nice (Wine!) Surprise (2018) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anise-spirits-and-a-nice-wine-surprise/id986650051?i=1000415280141

Wine Two Five: Boos & Booze: Spooky Wine & Spirits Stories (2015) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/boos-booze-spooky-wine-spirits-stories/id986650051?i=1000355843969

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Music: “Write Your Story” by Joystock (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.)