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. A hydrometer is available with a thermometer attached to it. The direction of hydrometer is vertical when kept in liquid. One can see the water line to be moving at the level marked 1 after putting it in water.The water becomes denser when it is put in sugared water and the level of water increases. The float moves lower with the use of hydrometer in fermenting alcohol as the sugar is eaten by the yeast. There is done two measurements of alcohol, one is taken with the sugar but before the yeast is added and then the final reading is taken after the fermentation of yeast.
One can detect the volume of alcohol by the following formula
The calculation of alcohol content can be done by the formula, Original gravity – Final gravity x 131 = Alcohol by volume.
The EU and the United States label the alcohol by volume content of drinks on the other hand some other countries believe on proof. Proof is near about twice alcohol by volume.
Different brands of Absinthe have different alcohol contents. Look at the following statistics:-
Lucid Absinthe 62% abv (124 proof)
La Clandestine Absinthe 53% abv (106 proof)
Sebor 55% abv (110 proof)
Pere Kermanns contains about 60% abv
One can get 68% abv in Pernod Absinthe
The alcohol content is found to be 70% abv (140 proof) in Mari Mayans Collectors 70
Tips about La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse 53% abv (106 proof)
The alcohol content in La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise is 68% abv (136 proof)
La Fee Bohemian 70% abv (140 proof)
The alcohol content is 68% abv in La Fee Parisian
One can get 53% abv (106 proof) of alcohol content in 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)
The alcohol content is about 72% abv (144 proof) in Jade Edouard
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)
Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila contains 38% abv
Beer can have 4 or 5% alcohol by volume.
Alcohol by volume in Table Wine is 9-12%.
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!
Homemade Absinthes can also vary in alcohol content. One can visit AbsintheKit.com to mix an Absinthe essence.There is a great difference in alcohol content between Absolut vodka and the Everclear (95% abv).
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. Consumption of enough amount of any liquor can be dangerous to health. People in Memphis have realized this and, in 2006, Memphis was the city that drank the least alcohol in the USA – more than 6/10 Memphis citizens had not even consumed a sip of alcohol in at least a month when they were polled.
One should definitely know about the alcohol content in Absinthe and other alcohol that is consumed by the people.