Comments on: Virgin America: Now, with Absinthe. http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 10:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Phikus http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479488 Phikus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479488 Airship@~13: <i>Absinthe tastes like unicorn vomit.</i> How do you know? Let us know what leprechaun piss tastes like too, while you're at it. ;D Airship@~13: Absinthe tastes like unicorn vomit.

How do you know? Let us know what leprechaun piss tastes like too, while you’re at it. ;D

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479744 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479744 Virgin Atlantic's international flights have already been selling La Fee Absinthe Parisienne, 68%abv, the full size 75cl bottles in their inflight duty-free for US$50 for quite a while. They were the first airline in the world to EVER sell absinthe (La Fee) duty-free, and now serve it as well. The La Fee is a traditional French absinthe which "louches" - goes cloudy - like Pastis, and tastes of anise. It's much stronger than Le Tourment Vert as its 68%abv (136 degrees proof), while Le Tourment is a lower abv. with a different taste. So Virgin are the only airline to be both selling AND now serving absinthe inflight. Virgin Atlantic’s international flights have already been selling La Fee Absinthe Parisienne, 68%abv, the full size 75cl bottles in their inflight duty-free for US$50 for quite a while. They were the first airline in the world to EVER sell absinthe (La Fee) duty-free, and now serve it as well. The La Fee is a traditional French absinthe which “louches” – goes cloudy – like Pastis, and tastes of anise. It’s much stronger than Le Tourment Vert as its 68%abv (136 degrees proof), while Le Tourment is a lower abv. with a different taste. So Virgin are the only airline to be both selling AND now serving absinthe inflight.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479490 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479490 Wow, frogmarch, you left the average American in the dust with that post. I nearly snorted coffee on "pastis flavored with lawn trimmings". I bet you could buy that in Provence, though, somebody ought to do a comparison. The absinthe featured in Guy de Maupassaint tales had 5 to ten times as much wormwood, people who indulged got all crazy and people who overindulged got all dead. Wow, frogmarch, you left the average American in the dust with that post. I nearly snorted coffee on “pastis flavored with lawn trimmings”. I bet you could buy that in Provence, though, somebody ought to do a comparison.

The absinthe featured in Guy de Maupassaint tales had 5 to ten times as much wormwood, people who indulged got all crazy and people who overindulged got all dead.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-480258 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-480258 Virgin should be promoting Abstininthe. Virgin should be promoting Abstininthe.

]]> By: Strangepork http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479491 Strangepork Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479491 No Hallucinations, and you've got to like the flavor. It still has the mystery appeal, so it should gain some more popularity. The ritual is fun, and I had no hangover from a higher end bottle. No Hallucinations, and you’ve got to like the flavor. It still has the mystery appeal, so it should gain some more popularity.
The ritual is fun, and I had no hangover from a higher end bottle.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-480772 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-480772 I've only ever had homemade absinthe. In fact we used to take it to the local pub to share with the bartenders. I’ve only ever had homemade absinthe. In fact we used to take it to the local pub to share with the bartenders.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479493 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479493 Having both made absinthe and tried the real thing in europe I'd have to say that the only reason it's different than other liquor is that the alchohol content is usually around 60% or higher (120 proof). The guy that makes lucid absinthe ran samples of vintage pre-ban absinthe through a gas chromatograph and discovered that the levels of thujone were miniscule - definitely not enough to cause hallucinations. Here's an article in <a href="http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.11/absinthe.html">wired</a> about it. Basically, it seems that all the hallucinations and ear chopping and all that were due to heavy metal poisoning from fake absinthe. Having both made absinthe and tried the real thing in europe I’d have to say that the only reason it’s different than other liquor is that the alchohol content is usually around 60% or higher (120 proof).
The guy that makes lucid absinthe ran samples of vintage pre-ban absinthe through a gas chromatograph and discovered that the levels of thujone were miniscule – definitely not enough to cause hallucinations.
Here’s an article in wired about it.
Basically, it seems that all the hallucinations and ear chopping and all that were due to heavy metal poisoning from fake absinthe.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479494 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479494 I've been drinking Pernod for years, ever since I visited France. It's actually based on absinthe without the wormwood, and it's much, MUCH, better than absinthe. It's had 50+ years to evolve its taste to the people of France's tastebuds. Pernod is actually the most consumed (non-wine) alcohol in France. Instead of beer, they just pour about a shot of Pernod in a big tall glass and fill the rest with ice cold water (no ice though). Still, the whole absinthe craze is actually making me embarrassed to buy Pernod, I feel like I'm on the hipstertrain to douchetown. I’ve been drinking Pernod for years, ever since I visited France. It’s actually based on absinthe without the wormwood, and it’s much, MUCH, better than absinthe. It’s had 50+ years to evolve its taste to the people of France’s tastebuds. Pernod is actually the most consumed (non-wine) alcohol in France. Instead of beer, they just pour about a shot of Pernod in a big tall glass and fill the rest with ice cold water (no ice though).

Still, the whole absinthe craze is actually making me embarrassed to buy Pernod, I feel like I’m on the hipstertrain to douchetown.

]]> By: franko http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479495 franko Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479495 @ #14 -- that's because czech absinthe is terrible. @ #14 — that’s because czech absinthe is terrible.

]]> By: ChunkyMonkeyBrain http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479497 ChunkyMonkeyBrain Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479497 "Hallucinations and madness" from Absinthe. Yet another myth about alcohol started and propagated by fundamentalist assholes wishing to ban all use. Talk about a liquor so horrible that it can actually chase young experimenters away from the habit...but no. Due to legend, it's now more mysterious and desirable than ever before. Excellent work, jeebus freaks! “Hallucinations and madness” from Absinthe. Yet another myth about alcohol started and propagated by fundamentalist assholes wishing to ban all use.

Talk about a liquor so horrible that it can actually chase young experimenters away from the habit…but no. Due to legend, it’s now more mysterious and desirable than ever before.

Excellent work, jeebus freaks!

]]> By: MadMolecule http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479498 MadMolecule Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479498 NYT ran a good, informative piece about absinthe a while back: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/03/dining/03curi.html NYT ran a good, informative piece about absinthe a while back: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/03/dining/03curi.html

]]> By: AetherWeaver http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479504 AetherWeaver Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479504 The Green Torment is the most godawful disgusting swill that has ever called itself absinthe in the US. It rivals some of the horrible czechsinths in its unpalatable grossness... looking and tasting of mouthwash! I hope they start serving some decent brands(there are a number which are great... Leopold Brothers, Kubler, Marteau, etc) as well. LTV turns many off absinthe before they have a chance to taste the real thing. The Green Torment is the most godawful disgusting swill that has ever called itself absinthe in the US. It rivals some of the horrible czechsinths in its unpalatable grossness… looking and tasting of mouthwash!

I hope they start serving some decent brands(there are a number which are great… Leopold Brothers, Kubler, Marteau, etc) as well. LTV turns many off absinthe before they have a chance to taste the real thing.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479509 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479509 absinthe is the stuff american hipsters drink to feel cool, even if they don't like the taste. pastis (like pernod) is the real world equivalent that Frenchmen drink to quench thirst and please the tastesbuds. absinthe is the stuff american hipsters drink to feel cool, even if they don’t like the taste.

pastis (like pernod) is the real world equivalent that Frenchmen drink to quench thirst and please the tastesbuds.

]]> By: agoodsandwich http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479769 agoodsandwich Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479769 does anyone actually LIKE absinthe? Or is it just a hipster kind of thing? does anyone actually LIKE absinthe? Or is it just a hipster kind of thing?

]]> By: Ian70 http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479781 Ian70 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479781 Absinthe reminds me of the kids in the movie "Go" who believed they were tripping balls when all they took was an aspirin. "Ohh! I can feel it!" I'm sure there's some kind of effect, but compared to legitimate reality-wrecking drugs it's got to be a complete lightweight. However, it is still alcohol. So it can still fuck you up plenty good. Absinthe reminds me of the kids in the movie “Go” who believed they were tripping balls when all they took was an aspirin. “Ohh! I can feel it!” I’m sure there’s some kind of effect, but compared to legitimate reality-wrecking drugs it’s got to be a complete lightweight.

However, it is still alcohol. So it can still fuck you up plenty good.

]]> By: airship http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-480297 airship Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-480297 The assumption has been made in this thread that I was being disparaging when I asserted that absinthe tastes like unicorn vomit. Nothing could be further from the truth! Everything emitted by a unicorn is delightful and enjoyable. Their vomit has a subtle, sweet flavor and a smooth, velvety texture. It resembles kiwi jelly spiked with fairy dust and starlight, only better. Their poop is actually Twinkies. Why do you think Hostess allows no tours of their Twinkie factory? Because it's full of unicorns pooping. As to leprechaun piss, everything that comes out of a leprechaun is vile and disgusting. I have no need to sample it to know that this is so. Just a whiff of a leprechaun's breath will cause a strong man's lungs to collapse in agony. Sample a leprechaun's piss? I think not! The assumption has been made in this thread that I was being disparaging when I asserted that absinthe tastes like unicorn vomit. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Everything emitted by a unicorn is delightful and enjoyable. Their vomit has a subtle, sweet flavor and a smooth, velvety texture. It resembles kiwi jelly spiked with fairy dust and starlight, only better.

Their poop is actually Twinkies. Why do you think Hostess allows no tours of their Twinkie factory? Because it’s full of unicorns pooping.

As to leprechaun piss, everything that comes out of a leprechaun is vile and disgusting. I have no need to sample it to know that this is so. Just a whiff of a leprechaun’s breath will cause a strong man’s lungs to collapse in agony. Sample a leprechaun’s piss? I think not!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479531 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479531 Thujone is a relative of turpentine. It does have an effect ... similar to turpentine. Thujone is a relative of turpentine. It does have an effect … similar to turpentine.

]]> By: Blaine http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479535 Blaine Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479535 #14: "Most absinthe contains a tiny amount of wormwood compared to what it used to have. i.e. it won't make you feel like Baudelaire did, nowhere close." Got any sources on that? According to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, you're talking out of your ass. "The analysis of postban (1915–1988) and modern commercial absinthes (2003–2006) showed that the encompassed thujone ranges of all absinthes are quite similar, disproving the supposition that a fundamental difference exists between preban and modern absinthes manufactured according to historical recipes. Analyses of pinocamphone, fenchone, base spirits, copper, and antimony were inconspicuous. All things considered, nothing besides ethanol was found in the absinthes that was able to explain the syndrome “absinthism”." http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/jf703568f?cookieSet=1 #14:

“Most absinthe contains a tiny amount of wormwood compared to what it used to have. i.e. it won’t make you feel like Baudelaire did, nowhere close.”

Got any sources on that?

According to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, you’re talking out of your ass.

“The analysis of postban (1915–1988) and modern commercial absinthes (2003–2006) showed that the encompassed thujone ranges of all absinthes are quite similar, disproving the supposition that a fundamental difference exists between preban and modern absinthes manufactured according to historical recipes. Analyses of pinocamphone, fenchone, base spirits, copper, and antimony were inconspicuous. All things considered, nothing besides ethanol was found in the absinthes that was able to explain the syndrome “absinthism”.”

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/jf703568f?cookieSet=1

]]> By: ariadneallan http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479540 ariadneallan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479540 Read this article on Ted Breaux, a New Orleans native, chemist and environmental microbiologist, who makes absinthe based on pre-ban protocols and the chemical analysis of a sealed bottle of the stuff from the 1800's. It seems that there is a huge difference in quality of the available absinthes. I have have yet to try anything but homebrew versions, but I think a sampling of the well made stuff would be worth it. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.11/absinthe.html?pg=1&topic=absinthe&topic_set= Read this article on Ted Breaux, a New Orleans native, chemist and environmental microbiologist, who makes absinthe based on pre-ban protocols and the chemical analysis of a sealed bottle of the stuff from the 1800′s. It seems that there is a huge difference in quality of the available absinthes. I have have yet to try anything but homebrew versions, but I think a sampling of the well made stuff would be worth it.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.11/absinthe.html?pg=1&topic=absinthe&topic_set=

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479812 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479812 Absinthe can be quite delcious, but La Tourment Vert, as others have noted, is pretty bad. I stupidly bought a full bottle because I liked how it looked. I also tend to think that absinthe is a bad choice for flying, since the traditional absinthe drip requires one to set a sugar cube on fire, which I'm guessing the FAA would frown on. Absinthe can be quite delcious, but La Tourment Vert, as others have noted, is pretty bad. I stupidly bought a full bottle because I liked how it looked. I also tend to think that absinthe is a bad choice for flying, since the traditional absinthe drip requires one to set a sugar cube on fire, which I’m guessing the FAA would frown on.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479563 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479563 absinthe doesn't taste like unicorn vomit, it tastes like Simple Green absinthe doesn’t taste like unicorn vomit, it tastes like Simple Green

]]> By: Blaine http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479565 Blaine Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479565 #28 I actually thought this was directed at me, so I read it. "In the antique absinthes he had collected, the thujone content was an order of magnitude smaller than Arnold's predictions. In many instances, it was a homeopathically minuscule 5 parts per million." 5 parts per million. That's not only small... that's HALF the amount that current US regulations allow in Absinthe. The US allows 10 parts per million. http://www.ttb.gov/industry_circulars/archives/2007/2007_05.html Boy, that shit Oscar Wilde used to drink ain't nothin' compared to what we got. And what we got is a green licorice spirit that produces no effects beyond that of green beer at St. Patrick's Day. #28

I actually thought this was directed at me, so I read it.

“In the antique absinthes he had collected, the thujone content was an order of magnitude smaller than Arnold’s predictions. In many instances, it was a homeopathically minuscule 5 parts per million.”

5 parts per million. That’s not only small… that’s HALF the amount that current US regulations allow in Absinthe. The US allows 10 parts per million.

http://www.ttb.gov/industry_circulars/archives/2007/2007_05.html

Boy, that shit Oscar Wilde used to drink ain’t nothin’ compared to what we got.

And what we got is a green licorice spirit that produces no effects beyond that of green beer at St. Patrick’s Day.

]]> By: kinetix http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-480846 kinetix Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-480846 Jedno becherovka, prosím. Jedno becherovka, prosím.

]]> By: Boba Fett Diop http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479569 Boba Fett Diop Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479569 Ted Breaux's absinthes can be found here: http://www.bestabsinthe.com/index2.htm I've tried his Edouard and quite enjoyed it, but I'm also a big fan of pastis. You have to really like things flavored with anise, but Breaux's varieties are a lot more nuanced than the few versions available in Canada (particularly the Czech stuff, which is quite harsh and not especially improved by the addition of sugar). Ted Breaux’s absinthes can be found here:

http://www.bestabsinthe.com/index2.htm

I’ve tried his Edouard and quite enjoyed it, but I’m also a big fan of pastis. You have to really like things flavored with anise, but Breaux’s varieties are a lot more nuanced than the few versions available in Canada (particularly the Czech stuff, which is quite harsh and not especially improved by the addition of sugar).

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479826 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479826 Too bad Le Tourment Vert makes crap absinthe. Too bad Le Tourment Vert makes crap absinthe.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479574 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479574 Straight absinthe doesn't do much for me, but I've had some good absinthe cocktails -- absinthe and champagne ("Death in the afternoon") is pretty good. Straight absinthe doesn’t do much for me, but I’ve had some good absinthe cocktails — absinthe and champagne (“Death in the afternoon”) is pretty good.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479575 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479575 I have tried this particular brand, Le Tourment Vert, and I must say, it is terrible. It may be the worst absinthe available in the U.S. right now. Perhaps the grossest part is the artificial coloring that makes it look like mouthwash. I have tried this particular brand, Le Tourment Vert, and I must say, it is terrible. It may be the worst absinthe available in the U.S. right now. Perhaps the grossest part is the artificial coloring that makes it look like mouthwash.

]]> By: Vidiot http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479578 Vidiot Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479578 Le Tourment Vert, aside from being unspeakably foul, was <a href="http://sloshed.hyperkinetic.org/2009/02/11/le-tourment-vert/">astroturfing the various cocktail blogs</a> a little while back. Dirty pool. Le Tourment Vert, aside from being unspeakably foul, was astroturfing the various cocktail blogs a little while back. Dirty pool.

]]> By: josephlrc http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479834 josephlrc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479834 @47, certainly my evidence is anecdotal, but yes, some people, who are way too old and engineerish to be hip or a hipster do like absinthe. Licorice liquor- what is not to like? @47, certainly my evidence is anecdotal, but yes, some people, who are way too old and engineerish to be hip or a hipster do like absinthe. Licorice liquor- what is not to like?

]]> By: aldasin http://boingboing.net/2009/04/30/virgin-america-now-s.html#comment-479582 aldasin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-479582 "I do not know if it will cause you to hallucinate" Maybe you should check the facts before you post? No, no it won't. “I do not know if it will cause you to hallucinate”

Maybe you should check the facts before you post?
No, no it won’t.

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