The Truth About Absinthe

Back in the day we had an acquaintance with a penchant for male corseting, over-done eye make-up, and absinthe. He was a firm believer in the Green Fairy's mystical power to boost creativity, and just as firmly believed that it had nothing to do with the alcohol. We thought he was probably wrong about that. And, according to a new study, we're almost certain of that wrongness now:

"A high alcohol content, rather than thujone, the compound widely believed responsible for absinthe's effects. Although consumed diluted with water, absinthe contained about 70 percent alcohol, giving it a 140-proof wallop. Most gin, vodka, and whiskey are 80 – 100-proof and contain 40-50 percent alcohol or ethanol."