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 to show their alcohol content which makes easy for people to decide about the drink and also the quantity of intaking them.
A hydrometer is used in the measurement of alcohol content. A hydrometer looks partially like a fishing float with a thermometer attached. When the hydrometer is put in liquid it floats upright. One can see the water line to be moving at the level marked 1 after putting it 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. Two measurements are taken when making alcohol – the first measurement (original gravity) is taken with the sugar but before the yeast is added and then the final reading is taken after the yeast has finished fermenting (final gravity.
Alcohol by volume is known by the following formula
A person can use the formula Original gravity – Final gravity x 131 = Alcohol by volume to calculate the alcohol content.
Label is used for the alcohol by volume content of drinks in the EU and the United States but a few countries uses the proof. Proof is more or less double alcohol by volume.
Different brands of Absinthe have different alcohol contents. Look at the following statistics:-
Lucid Absinthe 62% abv (124 proof)
One can get 53% abv (106 proof) in La Clandestine Absinthe
Sebor 55% abv (110 proof)
Pere Kermanns 60% abv (120 proof)
Pernod Absinthe 68% abv (136 proof)
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 caotains 68% abv alcohol by volume (136 proof)
What is La Fee Bohemian 70% abv (140 proof)
One can get 68% abv alcohol content in La Fee Parisian
The alcohol content is found to be 53% abv in Carte D’Or Kubler 53
Research shows that Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or contains 65% abv alcohol
The availibility of alcohol content in Roquette 1797 is 75% abv
Jade PF 1901 68% abv (136 proof)
Jade Edouard contains 72% abv (144 proof) of alcohol
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)
The abv percentage is 38 in Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila
Beer can have 4 or 5% alcohol by volume.
Alcohol by volume in Table Wine is 9-12%.
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!
There can be differences in alcohol content of homemade Absinthes. A person can mix an Absinthe essence from AbsintheKit.com.Absolut vodka and Everclear are available at AbsintheKit.com which have different alcohol content.
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 claims about Absinthe has been totally wrong but there can be risk to health because of over dose of any drink. People in Memphis have realized this and in 2006 Memphis was the city that drank the least alcohol in the USA.
Although alcohol does not harm if consumed in balanced amount but people should be familiar about how much alcohol is in Absinthe and other alcoholic drinks.