I really like the alcoholic beverage "absinthe". I have heard it is available in britian and was just wondering how common consumption is?
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Quick question for those brits here.
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Xoq wrote: I really like the alcoholic beverage "absinthe". I have heard it is available in britian and was just wondering how common consumption is?
Not common at all. Was fashionable for about five minutes maybe five years ago, but only then readily available, I think, in London. Maybe Manchester, I don't know. Certainly not the sort of stuff you'd down in your village pub anyways. I'd imagine the majority of Brits still haven't tried the stuff. Much more popular in the Czech Republic, obviously, and even the likes of France.
Have never come across a bar/pub selling it, but that may tell you more about the sort of pubs I frequent than its availability - I think the advent of Brits descending on Prague en masse made it popular a while ago, but like most things it's retreated back into the shadows...
Snorri xxx
It's nasty stuff is the old "Green Fairy". Not in any way nice to drink and way too expensive. For some reason everybody associates it with the Czechs but it's French and has been popular there for centuries. There's a cheaper Czech alternative called "Zelena" which literally means "Green". It is truly the worst drink I have ever tasted.
GlasVegas wrote: It's nasty stuff is the old "Green Fairy". Not in any way nice to drink and way too expensive. For some reason everybody associates it with the Czechs but it's French and has been popular there for centuries. There's a cheaper Czech alternative called "Zelena" which literally means "Green". It is truly the worst drink I have ever tasted.
Happy Hour is called Green Hour in France, isn't it, cos everyone used to neck the Absinthe then. I think the biggest importers into the UK were the Czechs when the internet started up, I think that's the Czech connection. I used to buy the stuff off the internet maybe 6 or 7 years ago. Always went down a treat at parties, people wondering what weird shit you're drinking. I've had a couple of mates go Very Strange after necking this stuff. Nasty drink. You're better off with Pernod. Though it don't look quite so kewl.
Sampled some in Manc , however the barkeep did say it was really a kind of Absinthe lite , the tripping qualities of the Victorian era stuff having been long since outlawed . Cant say if he spoke true or no , but for the record we ended up like various 'fast show ' folk by the end of the day, ver,ver drunk ... but no visuals
Desperate to be cool and perpetually out of date, I bought some from a friend's birthday last week from my local (sorry, Digi Mike) Sainsburys (EDIT: in fashionable Islington in London). Cost about 15 notes and there were several varieties on offer, so it's still easily obtainable.
Included were instructions on how to drink fashionably (involving spoons and matches, and therefore has some kind of heroin chic). Didn't have any as we were all hungover and its not fot the faint of heart.
Have never had the hallucinatiosn that are supposed to stem from the wormwood grass used in its creation/distillation, but haven't drunk enough in the past to get to that stage. But my time will come.
Oh yes.
Al Jarvis wrote:
Xoq wrote: I really like the alcoholic beverage "absinthe". I have heard it is available in britian and was just wondering how common consumption is?
Not common at all. Was fashionable for about five minutes maybe five years ago, but only then readily available, I think, in London. Maybe Manchester, I don't know. Certainly not the sort of stuff you'd down in your village pub anyways. I'd imagine the majority of Brits still haven't tried the stuff. Much more popular in the Czech Republic, obviously, and even the likes of France.
rubbish - you get it all over the place!
Was sparse but available here, no idea if it still is. never had any bought locally tho. Had some that had been brought back from Prague. Oddly enough, while it's like drinking petrol neat, if you mix it 50-50 with water it becomes almost benign, not NICE, just benign.
I can tell you some hilarious tales of what happens to Irishmen who mess with the stuff, and their houses, and clothes and cars (and no drunk in charge was involved).
This place looks like it offers some quality stuff but it's not the cheapest. Still, who wants to drink like a prole?
It was banned in the UK for a fair old while wasn't it?
I do remember a big fuss when it was "un" banned around about 1999-2000. Before that (from what I heard) it was a drink which would supposedly have you hallucinating after a few glasses. That bit really interested a few of my mates and one specifically bought a bottle thinking he was going to be getting some fantastic trips. Of course, nothing happened aside from a bad hangover.
I tried it and just remember it being green, having a pretty rancid taste and a very high proof. Never bothered with it again! Aftershock tasted much better at the time I seem to remember but that's a bit too sickly sweet for me these days.
Alistair wrote: It was banned in the UK for a fair old while wasn't it?
Well, I used to think that too, and remember it was only available in London in Soho (most venues seemed to have it) and private drinking clubs (the likes of Groucho's) but -according to the Hibster - you apparently got it everywhere! 
I stock it in my pub... legend has it that it was what van goch was drinking when he cut his ear off, but the absinthe on the market nowadays isnt really any stronger or worse for you than aftershock or sambuca or any of the other stupid shots that the youngsters throw down their necks today...
It was banned from about 1918 up to 1999, because of the alleged wormwood hallucinogen. Oscar Wilde and a host of 'bohemian' piss artists used to get wrecked on it regularly, claiming it brought the best out in their creative processes.
It was unbanned due to EU Law, and the need to be brought into line with the rest of Europe.
Most pubs tried it, but obviously only stock what sells; some larger JD Wetherspoons still sell it, but after the 'curiosity' effect it didnt really take off. It's from the same family as Pernod, so the alcohol crystallises in your stomach, and can be reactivated by drinking water in the morning.
the gregory Peck film "Night People" features a scene in which he tries to get a woman to drink it but ends up drinking it himself. The idea was that it would act as a truth serum.
Think I tried it recently,I think it does have the same kick as Pernod.Hadn't heard of it before the Moulin Rouge film.Don't think I'll be sacking the Guinness just yet!
You can even get it in Darlo! However, it is a very silly drink and should not be used in jest, it makes your legs go wobbly!! 
