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 according to their alcohol content which makes people able to decide about the drink and also about the quantity of consuming them.
The measurement of alcohol content is done by a hydrometer. A hydrometer looks a bit like a fishing float with a thermometer attached. The hydrometer swims straight in the liquid. When it is put in water, the water line will move towards the level marked 1.If it is supplied in sugared water the level will be higher as the water gets denser. As the sugar is eaten by the yeast when the hydrometer is used in fermenting alcohol the float moves lower. One has to calculate the original gravity and then the final gravity of alcohol.
Alcohol by volume can be checked by this formula
Alcohol content can be calculated by the formula Original gravity – Final gravity x 131 = Alcohol by volume.
The EU and the United States use label for the alcohol by volume content of drinks while a few 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 is available with 53% abv
The alcohol content is found to be 55% in Sebor
Pere Kermanns contains about 60% abv
The alcohol content is found to be 68% abv in Pernod Absinthe
Mari Mayans Collectors 70 70% abv (140 proof)
Tips about 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)
La Fee Parisian contains 68% abv of alcohol
One can get 53% abv (106 proof) of alcohol content in Kubler 53
Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or 65% abv (130 proof)
It is proved that Roquette 1797 contains 75% abv of alcohol
The volume of alcohol in Jade PF 1901 is 68% abv
The alcohol content in Jade Edouard is 72% abv (144 proof)
What is 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)
The abv percentage is 38 in Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila
Beer can have 4 or 5% alcohol by volume.
There is 9-12% alcohol by volume in Table Wine.
One can get 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof) in Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch Whisky.
Everclear 95% abv (190 proof)
No other alcoholic drink seems to come close to Absinthe!
Homemade Absinthes can also vary in alcohol content. An Absinthe essence can be mixed from AbsintheKit.com.com with Absolut vodka (40% abv) and another might make it with Everclear (95% abv) – a huge difference.
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. We now know that claims that Absinthe is an hallucinogen are completely false but we do need to remember that any liquor can be harmful to our health if we consume too much. People in Memphis have realized this and during the poll in 2006 more than 6/10 Memphis citizens had not even drunk a sip of alcohol in at least a month.
Although alcohol is fine if consumed in moderation but one should know about alcohol content in Absinthe and other drinks.