Absinthe By Lany Huynh, Alexandra Inslee, Kathleen Sered, and Scout Wilkinson

HistoryPrecise origins are unclear

Medical use of wormwood:

Ancient Egypt (1550 BC)- Expelling intestinal worms - Childbirth pains Ancient Greece (Hippocrates) - Jaundice, anemia, PMS - Also had absinthites oinos

Roman Empire - Soldiers' sandals - Abortion

Distilled spirit with green anise, fennel, and other herbsDr. Pierre Ordinaire's all-purpose remedy (1792)Which he actually got from the Henriod sisters136 proof"La Fe Verte"First Distilleries:Dubied Pre et Fils, in Couvet, Neuchatel, Switzerland (1797)Maison Pernod Fils in Pontalier, France (1805)First Modern Absinthe

Absinthe in FrancePopularity in 1840s:French troops in AlgeriaTreatment of malariaFever preventative1860s:5pm = "l'heure verte"All social classes-1870s vineyard blightBy 1910:French 36million litres/yrEurope-wide industry

In America1878: 7million litres imported from EuropeNew Orleans as "absinthe capital of America"- Green Opal- Milky Way- Legendre1907:The Green Curse of France"

Regulation In The United States2007- Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau lifted the longstanding ban on absinthe. Any product containing Artemisia (Absinthe Wormwood) product must be thujone-free. The word "absinthe" can neither be the brand name nor stand alone on the label.The packaging cannot "project images of hallucinogenic, psychotropic or mind-altering effects." Absinthe imported in violation of these regulations is subject to seizure at the discretion of U.S. Customs.

Ingredients & DistillationPreparation is similar to ginHerbs steeped in distilled alcohol, and then redistilledThe essential oil of Artemisia Absinthium (Grande wormwood) contains thujoneGas chromatography study suggested that vintage absinthe contained 260 mg/L thujoneLater recreation of this study found no concentration above 4.3 mg/L

PreparationFive parts water to one part spirit, sugar to tasteWater-insoluble oils create the clouding effect (Ouzo effect)Spirit is further diluted (1.8L of pure spirit is required for effective dose)

Chemical CompositionHigh alcohol concentration (40-70%; 80-140 proof)PhellandrenePinene (pine trees)Thujyl alcoholBisaboline (lemon, oregano)CampheneUsed in fragrances & as food additive. Too explosive to use for lamp fuel.Nerol (used in fragrances)Thujone (responsible for hallucinogenic effects)

ThujoneMetabolized by the liver and excreted in urineHalf-life ~ 25hrsBlocks GABA-A receptors (brain fires faster and more freely, causes muscle spasms and convulsions)Also a 5-HT3 antagonist

Ethanol & ThujoneEthanolIndirect GABA agonistEthanol does not alter inhibitory action of a-thujoneLike diazepam or phenobarbital, ethanol may alleviate toxicity of thujoneThujoneInverse GABA agonistPoisoning signs similar to picrotoxin in rats

Ethanol & Thujone, contdThujone is a GABA-a receptor antagonist, which means it inhibits GABA receptor activationMany drugs such as ethanol are GABA agonists and produce relaxation partly by increasing GABA neurotransmitter release Thujone is the opposite of these drugs, by inhibiting GABA receptors thujone decreases GABAs slow down effect and allows neurons to fire more easily.Explanation of clearheaded (non-drowsy) drunk

StylesBlanche (la Bleue): Absinthe is bottled directly following distillation and reduction. It is a clear form of absinthe. Verte (or green): The absinthe begins as a clear distillate. It becomes green after adding a new mixture of herbs, called the colouring step.Absenta: Means absinthe in Spanish. It is a sweeter version of Absinthe by using Alicante Anise (type of flower), and also contains a characteristic citrus flavor.

Styles ContinuedHausgemacht (German for home-made): A type of absinthe that is home- distilled by hobbyists. They are normally produced in smaller quantities for personal use. Enables the distiller to personally select the herbs and fine- tune each batch.Bohemian- Style Absinth: Not your traditional absinthe. Produced mainly in the Czech Republic. It contains little or no anise, fennel, and other herbs. Contains wormwood and a high alcohol content.

StorageClear absinthe can be bottled in a clear container.Chlorophyll in naturally green absinthe must be bottled in a dark UV resistant bottle to prevent its breakdown, turning it into an amber color.Pre-ban and vintage absinthes are often an amber color due to this process. It should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry place.

Who here has taken absinthe?Vincent Van GoghOscar WildePablo PicassoEarnest Hemmingway

These guys have:Vincent Van GoghOscar WildePablo PicassoEarnest HemingwayExperiences of absinthe creates clearness of thought, creativity of speech and minor hallucinogenic effects

Cultural InfluencesArts: Vincent Van Gogh drank large amounts of absinthe, which lead to his liberal use of yellow. Pablo Picasso also depicted absinthe in different media, including paintings and sculptures.Literature: Oscar Wilde asked, What difference is there between a glass of absinthe and a sunset?

Still interested?PLACESThe Tower Bar (4757 University Avenue San Diego, CA 92105)

Anthology (1337 India Street San Diego, CA 92101)

References"About absinthe kits". wormwoodsociety. . Retrieved 2008-09-17. "Absinthe." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. .Patocka, Jiri, and Bohumil Plucar. "Pharmacology and Toxicology of Absinthe." Journal of Applied Biomedicine (2003): 199-205. 02 Oct. 2003. Web. 07 Feb. 2011.Ratra G.S., S.G. Kamita, J.E. Casida: Role of human GABA(A) receptor beta3 subunit in insecticide toxicity. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 172: 233240, 2001.Wells, Pete. "A Liquor Legend Makes a Comeback." The New York Times 07 Dec. 2007. Print.Hld, Karin. -Thujone (the active component of absinthe): -Aminobutyric acid type A receptor modulation and metabolic detoxification April 11, 2000 vol. 97 no. 8 3826-3831. 21 March 2001

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