Absinthe is a strong anise flavor liquor which is made by distilling alcohol with herbs such as wormwood, aniseed and fennel. We know it is strong and can get you drunk easily, but what percentage is Absinthe and what is the proof?
Here are the alcohol by volume levels of popular brands of Absinthe:-
La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise 68% alcohol by volume or 136 proof
Doubs Mystique Carte D'Or 65% alcohol by volume (130 proof)
La Clandestine Absinthe 53% abv (106 proof)
Jade Edouard 72% abv (144 proof)
Sebor is 55% alcohol by volume or 110 proof
Jade Nouvelle Orleans 68% alcohol by volume (136 proof)
Mari Mayans Collectors 70 is 70% abv is 140 proof
La Fee Parisian which is 68% alcohol by volume is 136 proof
Lucid Absinthe 62% abv is 124 proof
Jade Verte Suisse 65% abv (130 proof)
Pernod Absinthe 68% abv (136 proof)
Kubler 53 53% abv (106 proof)
Pere Kermanns 60% alcohol by volume or 120 proof
Jade PF 1901 which is 68% alcohol by volume is 136 proof
La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse is approximately 53% alcohol by volume or 106 proof
Roquette 1797 75% abv (150 proof)
La Fee Bohemian 70% alcohol by volume (140 proof)
Let's now compare Absinthe to several other beverages:-
Whisky such as Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch 40% aby (80 proof)
Absinthe can be 75% alcohol by volume and up to 150 proof
Table Wine 9-12% abv (18-24 proof)
Beer is about 4 or 5% alcohol by volume (8-10 proof)
Now, the alcohol-information.com website has worked out that if you have one shot of 190 proof Everclear is equivalent to drinking 2.85 cans of beer and about 3 brandies. With this information we establish that 1 shot of Absinthe is equivalent to 2.25 bottles of beer. So, 22 shots Absinthe is equivalent to 49.five beers!
As you can see, Absinthe is much stronger than types of fermented drinks such as wine and beer and even stronger than whisky. We therefore need to be careful when consuming Absinthe, not because it will make us have hallucinations, but because it is so strong and will intoxicate quickly. We need to take particular care when mixing Absinthe with other alcoholic drinks in cocktails.
Care should also be taken when making your own homemade Absinthe drink. If you buy an Absinthe kit from someone like Green Devil then you are steeping herbs in a neutral alcohol such as Everclear. Now, Everclear has an abv of 95% and a proof of 190 so it is much stronger than commercial Absinthe. Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.some also have to be mixed with a neutral alcohol such as Everclear or vodka. The finished Absinthe will be the proof or abv of the neutral alcohol you have used.
In Absinthe what is the percentage? For commercial Absinthe just look on the bottle label or, if you are ordering online, look at the product details for abv or proof. If you are making your own Absinthe from a kit, you need to look at the bottle of Everclear or vodka that you are using.

