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.
A person needs a hydrometer to measure alcohol content. One can get a hydrometer with a thermometer attached to it. The hydrometer floats upright in the liquid. The water line will reach at level marked 1when it is put in water.When it is put in sugared water the level increases because the water becomes denser. When the hydrometer is used in fermenting alcohol the float moves lower as the sugar is eaten by the yeast. The original gravity and the final gravity of alcohol is measured while preparing it.
This formula is used to get the volume of alcohol
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
Sebor contains 55% abv
Research shows that Pere Kermanns contains 60% abv
Research shows that Pernod Absinthe contains 68% abv of alcohol
Mari Mayans Collectors 70 contains 70% abv (140 proof) of alcohol
What is La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse 53% abv (106 proof)
La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise contains 68% abv (136 proof) of alcohol
Getting knowledge of La Fee Bohemian 70% abv (140 proof)
One can get 68% abv alcohol content in La Fee Parisian
The alcohol by volume is 53% abv (106 proof) in Kubler 53
Doubs Mystique Carte D'Or contains 65% abv of alcohol
Roquette 1797 75% abv (150 proof)
The alcohol volume in Jade PF 1901 is 68% abv
The alcohol content in Jade Edouard is 72% abv (144 proof)
Going through 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)
Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila is available with 38% abv (76 proof)
The alcohol content in beer can be 4 to 5%.
Table Wine 9-12% alcohol by volume (18-24 proof).
The availibility of alcohol is 40% 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 differ 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. The excess intake of any drink can be a danger to health. As people in Memphis have understood this so Memphis was the city that drank the least alcohol in the USA in the year 2006.
One should definitely know about the alcohol content in Absinthe and other alcohol that is consumed by the people.
Tags: absinthe, alcohol content in alcoholic drinks, brands of Absinthe