There has been much controversy regarding the thujone levels in Absinthe and whether Absinthe can really make you hallucinate but what about its alcohol content – How much alcohol is in Absinthe?
All commercial alcoholic drinks are labeled to show their alcohol content so that people can choose the right one for them.
A person needs a hydrometer to measure alcohol content. A hydrometer looks partially like a fishing float with a thermometer attached. The hydrometer floats upright in the liquid. The water line will reach at level marked 1when it is put in water.When it is put in sugared water the level increases because the water becomes denser. The float moves lower with the use of hydrometer in fermenting alcohol as the sugar is eaten by the yeast. There is done two measurements of alcohol, one is taken with the sugar but before the yeast is added and then the final reading is taken after the fermentation of yeast.
This formula is used to get the volume of alcohol
Original gravity – Final gravity x 131 = Alcohol by volume, is the formula to know alcohol content.
Both the EU and the United States label the alcohol by volume content of drinks, some other countries go on proof. Proof is more or less double alcohol by volume.
Different brands of Absinthe have different alcohol contents. Look at the following statistics:-
Lucid Absinthe 62% abv (124 proof)
La Clandestine Absinthe 53% abv (106 proof)
The alcohol content is found to be 55% in Sebor
Research shows that Pere Kermanns contains 60% abv
Research shows that Pernod Absinthe contains 68% abv of alcohol
One can get 70% abv alcohol content in Mari Mayans Collectors 70
La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse 53% abv (106 proof)
One can get 68% abv alcohol content in La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise
La Fee Bohemian 70% abv (140 proof)
The alcohol content in La Fee Parisian is 68% abv (136 proof)
One can get 53% abv (106 proof) of alcohol content in Kubler 53
The alcohol content in Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or is 65% abv
It is proved that Roquette 1797 contains 75% abv of alcohol
Jade PF 1901 is available with 68% abv of alcohol volume
Jade Edouard is available with 72% abv (144 proof) alcohol content
Knowledge of Jade Verte Suisse 65% abv (130 proof)
Jade Nouvelle Orleans 68% abv (136 proof)
As you can see Absinthe can range from 53% abv to 75% abv, quite a difference. Now, let’s compare those levels to other alcoholic drinks:-
Absolut Blue Vodka 40% abv (80 proof)
Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila is available with 38% abv (76 proof)
Alcohol in beer tends to be 4 or 5% by volume.
Table Wine is available with 9-12% alcohol by volume (18-24 proof).
Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch Whisky 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof).
Everclear 95% abv (190 proof)
No other alcoholic drink seems to come close to Absinthe!
The alcohol content can differ in homemade Absinthes. One person might mix an Absinthe essence from AbsintheKit.Absolut vodka contains 40% abv and the Everclear contains 95% abv alcohol.
Absinthe was banned in the 1900s because of claims that thujone, the chemical in wormwood, was like THC in the drug cannabis and that it was psychoactive and caused psychedelic effects. Although the claims that Absinthe is an hallucinogen are completely wrong but one should not forget that excess drinking of any liquor can be harmful. People in Memphis have realized this and, in 2006, Memphis was the city that drank the least alcohol in the USA – more than 6/10 Memphis citizens had not even consumed a sip of alcohol in at least a month when they were polled.
Alcohol is fine if consumed in moderation but you need to know how much alcohol is in Absinthe and other alcohol that you buy and consume.