Obsessives - Absinthe

It's very simple: alcohol, wormwood, and some anise characteristics. But not simple at all: The carefully calibrated mix of aromatics and herbs that goes into the absinthe made by Lance Winters of St. George Spirits took extensive testing to get just right.
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[@christinecamley]

I appreciate learning about Absinthe, and this was a great history of this spirit. Lance makes superb spirits. Integrity and quality! Thanks so much for this! Absinthe is fascinating, and so delicious, when sipping, slowly!! It's powerful!

[@Nice-music585]

I like this guy, he's nice

[@raynasaber]

"If you want to hallucinate, there are alot of other fabulous ways of doing that ;)" This guy kicks ass.

[@Damitux]

After a recommendation from a friend I purchased St George Absinthe. Going into the store I was sticker shocked on the price of some of the brands. Way to high for my liquor allowance. But, just tried it now and enjoyed it very much!

[@deadname6203]

It's great that he touched on the hallucinogenic/psychoactive properties that have been attributed to absinthe by artists like Picasso and Van Gogh when he's a shoe-in for a Van Gogh look-alike, red hat and all.

[@sidewayspencer]

I had a teacher that talked just like this guy. I fell asleep in his class all the time because his voice was so calming.

[@DavidWisniewski5748]

"Poetry in a glass." I'm stealing that, and not giving you any credit. Beautifully said, sir.

[@kevinmichael2593]

I like this guy. I saw another interview where he was talking about making gin and he was equally compelling.

[@midesti]

The "We are out of absinthe" sign at 1:04 must have been made with supernatural haste!

[@liammc24]

Im not even taking in what hes saying, I just weridly love his voice and could listen to it all day !

[@ImNotaNative]

This guys voice is so soothing lol

[@BLEUSTARCRASH]

Fascinating. He's so knowledgeable and I adore his passion.

[@KN6SU]

Excellent presentation, Mr. Winters! I'm very glad that SG Distillery is making "traditional" absinthe right here in the Bay Area. Your absinthe is simply great, but I know that it's been criticized by those who find your recipe somehow "not exactly original" compared to the Pernod Swiss/French stuff.

[@Deliquescentinsight]

Nice to see a man who values, and promotes authenticity-genuine experience can only be appreciated with dedication to understanding what you are doing-this goes for Absinthe as much as music. Art, or Life.

[@GDduby]

What a great video and a great product. To think this brewery has been in my backyard this whole time and I never new. Sounds like it is time to take a field trip.

[@mimih23]

"Smooth...such a bullshit comment for a spirit!" Hahaaaa!!!

[@ashpowell9451]

You, my friend, are a champion and I also love your still.

[@Mitchell556]

Love this video. Can't wait to get a hold of your product! I have high hopes for it!

[@slepwick01]

Very informative and well presented. Terrific video.

[@Odddit]

man i have some fond childhood memories of fangin' absinthe

[@TylerFknMetal]

That dude is awesome...I hope to be able to visit his distillery one day.

[@Irondo11]

In Mykonos, I was taught to pour water into my shot of oozo. It was delicious and the colour turned from clear to opalescent. That accompanied my breakfast of a small piece of bread and cheese, then I was off to the beach via boat! (I love Lance's absinthe-colored scarf.) Since I live in SF, I need to visit him!!!

[@dascooker]

Amazing video outstanding narration as well!

[@dbpex]

this man is cool as fuck, I'd like to befriend him just to get to know more things about him. I want to try absinthe ASAP!!

[@electromagnetic]

I LOVE this video.

[@10Dante4]

cool guy and very passionate about his work

[@yumi35]

omg i love how this guy talk

[@ColdDayInHell]

8:08. thanks, got my answer for sure. I've never tried it before

[@joydubyadee]

Poetry in a glass-love it!

[@AnneSofieLovesMozart]

I love the idea of being young in la belle epoque. Walking the rue's in the light of the old street lamps. Sit down in a parisian cafe, outside on a summer midnight, with the moon and the stars shining down from above. Order a glass of absinthe, and write on y novel, till the break of dawn

[@dascooker]

Indeed great stuff

[@Terraceview]

awesome vid, I love Absinthe

[@angryerik]

Kubler. That's a good absinthe. It's like drinking a dream you had as a child.

[@damarei]

Why thank you, good sirrah, in assisting me with dealing with this riff raff and squabhobble.

[@Jcolinsol]

I would love to try an absinthe that smells like the woods around the East Bay. That would be heaven.

[@yearofthebeastable]

Very informative and interesting! (:

[@laurenpayne8213]

we grow wormwood about 50 plants and i use it for all types of things, it is amazing to cure fungal infections, such as athlete's foot or toe fungus, inner leg rashes, parasites esp skin ones are killed by wormwood infusions (boiled for 1hr in water)... and we also did absinthe with some of it but it wasnt really for me, friends loved it tho

[@haikat4]

@Ethanual haha I was trying to think of who this guy reminded me of and you hit the nail on the head

[@orianaaustin9094]

I loved how he discusses the myths as well as the realities of Absenthe. Thanks for the video. On October 31st, I will drink Absinthe for the first time. Possibly St. George

[@illusioncruising]

Great video

[@CarbonatedFox]

Awesome series, guys. You gotta do one about beer!

[@kissphantom05]

My personal absinthe hangover was different just like the intoxication. It is what I imagine a weak dose of exstasy would be ( never done drugs.) All I know is that when I woke up I just wallowed around on my bed and the cool sheets felt so cool and smooth., Wonderful stuff.

[@Nihyre]

*drinks hard liquor* “This reminds me of when I was a kid.”

[@SwissMarksman]

sounds like every chef

[@EishinRyu]

3:53 "Its not hallucination though, if you want to hallucinate there are a lot of other fabulous ways of doing that"

[@Syphyryna]

this guy is cool and funny with his comments.... he's real!

[@ACollectionOfTrees]

Yup, like the guy said. Nothing like a sip of spirits to remind you of when you were a kid...

[@merkabaradio]

this guy is awesome

[@stormatrix]

this video is so smooth

[@chadcivicef603]

great video i see your passion, im new to this but i like the taste. i distill my own moonshine and im producing at an average multiple gallon run of 160 proof. but i want to venture into this too. thanks for this video.

[@pgame20]

"This is smooth, which is such a bullshit compliment for a spirit" So goddamn true.

[@lanson0]

@EoinTheInsomniac absinthe tastes like licorice i think thats how its spelt well that flavors in alot of candies

[@St0n3th3Cr0w]

Absinthe is when I was 5. Sitting in an evergeen bush outside of my grandmothers house in the country in mid fall. The smell of falling leaves and the sappy bush. Facing her old house, generations of memory. On the side of the house is an amber porch light, with a hand blown glass globe filled with dead moths and the screws rusted in place. The light is falling behind the red trees and the shadows are almost at my feet. I am home. And no one can have this but me.

[@jameshicks8454]

I stumbled on this video while drinking YOUR brand which I bought heading home on the OR coast at a liquor store on the CA / OR Border the day before yesterday. I have had all of Ted Breaux's and yours has so much more character, depth and unfolding characters. I will buy yours from now on when I am not making my own! Taking a LOT of discipline to not guzzle this bottle down!

[@GraceOh]

i like this guy

[@carlkrebs1]

very good vid,ive read in a few very old periodicals of medicine and in a rare handful of other places the two reasons peopleused the sugar cube was one you mentioned ,and the other was the use of laudanum on the sugar cube to reduce the opuims bitterness as well. and was also where the true green fairy part would come into play(hallucigenically) also .it makes sense .but ,im no distiller or doctor or opuim user ,so i wouldnt know these things for sure .

[@culbertjon]

From my research I've found that absinthe is legal here is because the wormwood used is a different type that is less potent from what was used ceturies ago in other countries. It was outlawed due to the effects it had on certain people (a murder was blamed on absinthe), and the color was green. The artists used a lot of green in their artwork.

[@TheAbsintheReviewNet]

Right on, that's the way I see it as well.

[@kulyar2900]

this guys is really cool

[@13Stevorama]

seriously, are people really that ignorant. This is very informative and more people should read before they comment.Absinthe is downright delicious, especially if you can get some of the better European brands.

[@sabatheus]

As is turns out (and with regard to Absinthe in particular), yes.

[@JunmaiShu]

Awesome piece. Lance seems like a really cool guy. Just a couple things: 1- Early absinthe wasn't overly bitter. You had some brands that were, just like now, but the better ones weren't any more bitter than the quality brands of today. 2- Mansinthe is indeed a product that cashes in on hype, but it's decent non-the-less. I wonder what the blanche will be like?

[@nalyib]

The cause of "absinthe murders" was that most Frenchman were chronic alcoholics at the time, and as such, sh*tfaced drunk every day. Copper suplhate and antimony obviously posed a health risk, but it was the insane amount of (cheap) alcohol that made many people crazy. In 1910, the average alcohol consumption in France was 10 standard drinks a day per capita (counting all men/women above age 15). One can't possibly imagine today how could they drink that all up.

[@enzobot24]

@g3r0n1m033 Absinthe's basic ingredients are known as "The Trinity". Aniseed, Fennel, and Wormwood. Everything else is up to the distiller. In this case, St. George actually deviated from the traditional aniseed and went with the slightly different taste of star anise (which comes from China).

[@AllHailZeppelin]

5:40-5:56 What brand is he talking about?

[@NecroticPlasma]

lucid

[@shaokem]

at one ounce of absinthe to two and a half to three ounces of water is a good mixture. one glass of this mix, will give you an idea of what absinthe is capable of. but also you'll need a quality absinthe. cheaply made absinthe's rely solely on the alcohol alone and the herbs are secondary. go with the best on the market. i haven't tried St. George, though im sure its good. i've found Jade Liqueurs out of France is great choice.

[@JunmaiShu]

If you want to retain the color certainly. Some makers want customers to be able to see that nice, attractive green color. Personally I would rather know that wonderful green color is going to stay that way though, so I prefer the dark bottles. This is my absolute only beef with the Delaware Phoenix absinthes. It's about as close to true peridot as you can find in a commercial absinthe, but it doesn't stay that way for long.

[@alexiskatsogiannos7468]

Actually I loved Un Emile Verte 45 directly! That is the old version, and the Emiles are still close to my heart. But of course absinthe should taste like anise. Im drinking Wolf Absinthe at the moment, Its sweet from green anise and you clearly taste coriander and mint as well. I keep a very open mind as long as they louche and taste like, well absinthe. Im yet to try St George which I have high expectations on!

[@alexiskatsogiannos7468]

Ok, Correct is I immedyately loved Un Emile Verte 45! And the Emiles are great absinthes.

[@turquoiseshopaholic]

Wow

[@CellarDoorCS]

I'm really glad that your approach to adsinthe is pure, unfortunately the reputation is not. As you mentioned it the halucigen bit will prevail, keep on truckin.

[@murdelabop]

@mysticalclown Absinthe in shots = projectile hurl. Dilute it, definitely!

[@jamesm5192]

Thanks St George for making decent Absinthe! So hard to find.

[@hdtv00]

St George is piss tea more than an Absinthe.

[@jamesm5192]

@@hdtv00 Grace us with your recommendation, fine sir.

[@JohannesMarkvart]

One glass of absinthe is strong like a glass of wine, maybe just a little bit stronger than wine. Absinthe is very tasty and mainly normal alcoholic drink. No madness, no hallucination.

[@paulmyfinger]

Bairnsfather is nice, my favourite drink :-)

[@iliasasdf]

You reminded me of buying absinthe.

[@MiFFiL]

I do not drink at all, and he made it sound lovely.

[@story762]

"Or because they think it's going to make them hallucinate and chop their ear off" I SPAT OUT MY DRINK

[@JackWilsonVideos]

when he was talking about the company that uses less anise he was talking about le tourment verte right?

[@MidwestCombatServicesLLC]

Can anyone tell me if LUCID is any good? What should I buy thats on the shelves these days? Thanx!

[@nbs90]

What's the name of the absinth he shows at around 8.00, seems quite nice. Would like to find out where to get a quality like that ;)

[@jackprat17]

I came here thinking he was going to be an annoying hipster, I go away really wanting to try some decent absinthe. Well played!

[@Taydrum]

This video was my first introduction to absinthe, so thank you for that. With that said Saint George absinthe is not my favorite, but it's alright

[@hdtv00]

That's cause St George is piss and not even a proper absinthe , it's more of a bullshit tea trying to be an Absinthe. It's total shit.

[@KrisKaos13]

Where can I by it in SoCal?

[@tellmeitsnottaken]

That's a helluva nice jacket that guy has on. I want it lol

[@guitaneman]

in the USA: According to the FDA an amount of 10mg thujon per litre pure alcohol is legal. In the european union 35mg are legal. That is the difference between US Absinthes, for example like Lucid, St. Georges, Tournament Vert or the US Kubler version

[@sinokman]

@furvert101 is st george any good??

[@kyleaz2000]

this dude is so awesome, i would love to sit and share a glass of said elixir, and talk about nonsense haha

[@DanMowry]

So, what was the brand he was referring to that "dumbed down" the flavor profile and anybody want to hazard a guess as to what he had to say about Manson's bit off-camera?

[@Teskus]

@hitchcockm00 I was just coming down here to write more or less the same comment. I effing love this guy.

[@oncheurmasque]

Absinthe was originally outlawed (in France at least) because it contained methanol, due to shitty distillation, and so, people who drank too much of it would become crazy and/or blind. But thankfully the ban was lifted and now the distillation restarted. =D

[@permahenry]

Since "absinthe" nowadays is a magic word that sells any crap for any price (with the right marketing, of course), a high price doesn't automatically reflect any level of quality. Food dye, in turn, always reflects low quality absinthe or imitations. You should choose you absinthe exclusively based on independent professional reviews (like those on Wormwood Society's web page). There's no other way to tell in advance if a brand is worth its price.

[@197anthony]

how many shot 25ml can a person drink?

[@daiitokumyouou899]

Actually I am a biochemist, but please email Dr. Murch. I should also note that my experience on absinthe was mostly alcohol free since I burned off the ethanol.

[@IlStefan]

as far as actual absinthes go, lucid is pretty bottom-of-the-barrel. However, it's distinguished among most liquor store offerings in that, unlike king of spirits or le tourment vert, it IS actual absinthe. If you want to try absinthe but don't want to pay AS much, get lucid. If you want to try absinthe and want to shell out a chunk of money, I'd suggest ordering a bottle of Delaware Phoenix Meadow of Love, or PA Distillery's Vieux Carre.

[@daxplil]

this guy should do MAC conferences... this guy could sell anything... not kiddin

[@odoylerules360]

Lance Winters is Fucking awesome!!!

[@greatorderofchaos]

fuk me a chow vid that actually taught me something

[@Jcolinsol]

Can I see your sources?

[@lewis2461]

That was the very last part of the video..?

[@Byrnzi360]

This guy reminds me of a college professor of mine. Especially when he made that "smooth bullshit" comment regarding spirits.

[@197anthony]

How many shot can you drink?