Absinthe History

History of Absinthe

Not long ago, absinthe was illegal across the United States and much of the world. However, that changed in the year 2007 after 95 years of the spirit being illegal. Now absinthe can be freely enjoyed in Tennessee and across the United States.

First Stage (1800s) - "Ordinary Drinking"

Before the ban, absinthe was one of the most popular drinks in Bohemian Europe in the 1800s. There was even a "Green Hour" every day at 5 PM, which is the equivalent of our Happy Hour, except that absinthe was the focal point of the night. Many famous people drank absinthe, including some of the most popular artists and poets of the time such as Ernest Hemingway, Vincent van Gogh, and Oscar Wilde. These artists believed absinthe gave them a more aware and creative mindset than the typical beer or scotch.

Absinthe contains small quantities of thujone, which is a naturally occurring part of the wormwood plant, a signature ingredient in any true absinthe. Some people thought that thujone could be the cause of a more aware feeling you get from absinthe as opposed to other spirits.

Second Stage (1912-2007) - "Monstrous and Cruel"

Thujone, interestingly enough, became the scapegoat that led to the ban of this once hugely popular spirit for almost 100 years. Thujone got a bad rap during the absinthe temperance movement in the early 1900s by people intent on doing away with absinthe for good. One reason, among several, is the wine industry in Europe in the late 1800s. When absinthe began to grow more popular than wine, the wine industry needed a reason to get rid of absinthe. They launched a campaign against absinthe's beloved and most known herb, wormwood, and the thujone that it contained.

Thujone, like most things, can be dangerous in extremely large doses; however, no authentic absinthe contains enough thujone to harm a person. In fact, in the United States an absinthe must be “thujone free” or below 10 mg/l thujone . This did not stop governments across the world from banning absinthe due to the fact that it contained this substance. This theory was further encouraged by doctors of the time who performed experiments on animals, exposing them to large doses of highly concentrated thujone, causing seizures and death. By 1906, Belgium and Brazil banned absinthe, followed by Switzerland in 1908, Netherlands in 1909, United States in 1912, and so on and so forth across the globe.

Third Stage (2007 and On) - "Wonderful and Curious"

Absinthe faded from all but a few memories and stories during the monstrous and cruel time of the ban, until scientists proved that absinthe and its ingredients were actually not harmful as previously thought. Since it was legalized in 2007, absinthe has seen a resurgence in the United States and across the world as consumers begin to realize the amazing flavors of this spirit that was once one of the most popular in the world. 

At Third Stage, we craft our absinthe using traditional distillation methods with our own modern twist and ingredients. We distill and color Third Stage using all natural herbs sourced from around the world. We encourage you to drink it using the classic "drip" method on your first taste in order to get a complete introduction to the spirit. But Third Stage also goes well in any cocktail (see recipes section). We hope that with every sip of Third Stage, you feel the history in the glass and your contribution to its future. Drink green, and find your stage!

Chase Wilson - Founder