Absinth Collectors

Absinth, the highly intoxicating green alcoholic drink, is highly sought after as collectibles. Absinth was banned in many European countries and the United States due to the extreme condition, known as absinthism, which afflicted the population. Absinthism was a result of over-indulgence of absinth and caused a great deal of users to either go mad or commit suicide. Several countries, including Czech Republic, Spain, and Brazil, currently produce Absinth for public sale. Other countries, such as Switzerland, produce bootleg varieties of Absinth that are not available for public sale. However, if you know who to ask and how to ask it, you might be able to obtain a bottle of this bootleg liquor. It is well worth the hassle to get a bottle of Swiss Absinth, since many versions of the drink in this country are clear. Short of traveling to an Absinth-producing country and smuggling bottles back in your luggage, the only other way to obtain Absinth is through online alcohol retailers. Before you order anything from these online liquor stores, you should be aware that Absinth is banned in the United States. If you choose to purchase Absinth from an online source, the order may be confiscated upon entering the country. Most of these companies sell only current Absinth. If you are interested in purchasing pre-banning Absinth, expect to sell out some money. Additionally, before you buy any Absinth claiming to be made before the mass banning of the drink, you should know all the background information on the store and ensure the source is legitimate.

You should store your Absinth carefully to ensure none of the precious green liquid is lost. If the bottle has a cork, store it in the same manner as wine. The bottle should be laid on its side to ensure the cork remains wet. If the bottle has a screw on lid, it should be stored standing upright. The only reason for laying a bottle on its side is to keep the cork wet. If a bottle does not have a cork, you stand the risk of Absinth seeping out of the bottle. Your Absinth collection should be stored in a cool, dry space. A cellar or basement works well for storing your Absinth.

Besides collecting bottles of Absinth, many collectors choose to collect Absinth memorabilia. Items such as antique Absinth labels, Absinth posters, and advertising memorabilia are highly sought after by collectors. Additionally, many collectors seek out antique Absinth glasses, spoons, or fountains. This paraphernalia allows the drinker to correctly prepare the Absinth before consuming the mixture.

Absinth is too strong and bitter to drink directly out of the bottle. For this reason, Absinth must be prepared before it is consumed. To prepare Absinth, an Absinth glass and Absinth spoon is used. The Absinth glass has an extremely wide mouth and often contains two separate chambers. The bottom reservoir holds the Absinth and allows you to pour in the correct amount of the green elixir. The top reservoir is for the water and sugar mixture that is added to the Absinth. This reservoir usually has a measurement marking to ensure the correct amount of sugar is added. Often, these Absinth glasses are etched with beautiful designs and publicity advertisements for famous Absinth distilleries. An Absinth spoon has a large bowl and several slots in the bowl to allow the sugar and water mixture to seep into the Absinth in the glass below. Absinth fountains were often found in bars or cafes and contained water. This water would be slowly dispensed to drip over the sugar cubes, which are held in the Absinth spoon. Like Absinth glasses, these fountains are often decorated with etching or advertising logos.