Appropriate Quantity Of Alcohol In Absinthe

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 is available with a thermometer attached to it. The direction of hydrometer is upright when put in liquid. One can see the water line to be moving at the level marked 1 after putting it in water.One can see increase in the level of water when it is put in sugared water. The float moves lower with the use of hydrometer in fermenting alcohol as the sugar is eaten by the yeast. A person needs to take the first measurement with the sugar but before the yeast is added and then the final measurement after the yeast has completed fermentation while preparing alcohol.

One can detect the volume of alcohol by the following formula
A person can use the formula Original gravity – Final gravity x 131 = Alcohol by volume to calculate the alcohol content.

The EU and the United States label the alcohol by volume content of drinks on the other hand some other countries believe on proof. Studies show that proof is approximately twice alcohol by volume.

Different brands of Absinthe have different alcohol contents. Look at the following statistics:-

Lucid Absinthe 62% abv (124 proof)
Alcohol by volume is 53% in La Clandestine Absinthe
One can get 55% abv in Sebor
The alcohol content is found to be 60% in Pere Kermanns
Research shows that Pernod Absinthe contains 68% abv of alcohol
One can get 70% abv alcohol content in Mari Mayans Collectors 70
Knowledge of La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse 53% abv (106 proof)
One can get 68% abv alcohol content in La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise
What is La Fee Bohemian 70% abv (140 proof)
The alcohol content is 68% abv in La Fee Parisian
The alcohol by volume is 53% abv (106 proof) in Kubler 53
Research shows that Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or contains 65% abv alcohol
The alcohol content in Roquette 1797 is 75% abv
One can get 68% abv of alcohol volume in Jade PF 1901
Jade Edouard 72% abv (144 proof)
Information about 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
Alcohol in beer tends to be 4 or 5% 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!

The alcohol content can also vary in homemade Absinthes. One person might mix an Absinthe essence from AbsintheKit.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 consumption of alcohol was very less in the month of 2006 when they were polled.

It is necessary to have knowledge of alcohol content in Absinthe and other alcoholic drinks.

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