Spirits: Absinthe Flashcards

1
Q

True absinthe contains:

A
Grande wormwood
Roman wormwood
Green anise seed
Sweet fennel
Mellissa (lemon balm)
Hyssop
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

True absinthe does not contain:

A

Additives
Sugar
Artificial coloring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Who invented absinthe, and when?

A

An eccentric Swiss doctor developed absinthe in the 18th century as an herbal medicine.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

When did absinthe become popular?

A

1840s. The French issued rations to its soldiers in Algeria.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What cultural fixture emerged around absinthe in the 1860s?

A

L’heure verte—the green cocktail hour of 5pm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

When and where was absinthe banned?

A

Worldwide (except Spain) by 1914.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Which is the only country to have legal definitions of absinthe?

A

Switzerland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What compound present in absinthe is believed to cause hallucinations?

A

Thujone. Its presence in absinthe is currently regulated.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is absinthe’s ABV range?

A

50%–80% (100 to 160 proof)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

When did the U.S. lift its ban on absinthe?

A

2007

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How is absinthe traditionally served?

A

Diluted with 4 to 6 parts of water and a dissolved sugar cube.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Which five genuine absinthes are made in the U.S.?

A
  • Pacifique (verte, WA)
  • Germain-Robin (blanche, CA)
  • Delaware Phoenix “Meadow of Love” (verte, NY)
  • North Shore “La Sirene” (verte, IL)
  • St. George (verte, CA)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What distinguishes finer absinthes from inferior ones?

A

Distillation from whole herbs and a quality base spirit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why was absinthe banned?

A

Wine company propaganda

Bad science

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is grand wormwood’s latin name?

A

Artemisia absinthium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What French town became home to over fifteen distilleries?

A

Pontarlier

17
Q

What differentiates pastis from absinthe?

A
  • No grand wormwood
  • Sugar (making it a liqueur)
  • Licorice root
  • Star anise (Chinese) instead of green anise seed (European)
  • Lower proof
18
Q

When did l’heure verte become popular?

A

1860s