March 5 - National Absinthe Day

Happy National Absinthe Day! On March 5, March 5th, this day is for those who are twenty-one years or older to celebrate a drink called absinthe.  

Often mistaken for a liqueur, it is truly a spirit because it isn’t sweetened. It belongs to the vodkas, gins, and whiskeys when categorizing absinthe. Having originated in Switzerland in the 18th century, it rose to popularity in early 20th century France. 

The spirit is made by infusing wormwood, fennel, anise, and other herbs into alcohol through distillation. The creation of absinthe is credited to French doctor Pierre Ordinaire. He developed and prescribed the elixir in the early 19th century as a cure for many illnesses. 

Absinthe has a strong licorice flavor to it and has a high alcohol content. The spirit is often served with ice, a sugar cube placed on a slotted spoon over the glass and water poured over the sugar. 

Also known as The Green Fairy, The Green Goddess or The Green Lady, the drink was popular with artists and writers. It was also once rumored to have hallucinogenic effects. Just as it was gaining in popularity, as the century was coming to a close, its reputation took some severe blows. 

The Green Lady was blamed for causing madness, seizures, and low morality, among other ills of society. One of the final blows was a scandal in 1905 involving a French laborer who had spent the day drinking. His drink of choice was absinthe. Later that day he murdered his children and pregnant wife. 

The drink was banned in France and other countries soon followed. In the United States and around the world the ban has since been lifted. 

however, studies have proven there is nothing hallucinogenic about the drink. Absinthe does have a higher alcohol content than other spirits, so keeping that in mind is important to drink responsibly. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Have some absinthe (Remember always to drink responsibly and never to drink and drive) and use #NationalAbsintheDay to post on social media. 

HISTORY 

Why March 5th? It’s a nod to the French beverage company Pernod Ricard, and the day that the approval of their final label for Pernod Fils Absinthe became official in 2013. 

#NationalAbsintheDay 

@PernodAbsinthe 

@nichecinema