The chemical that's taken all the blame for absinthe's hallucinogenic reputation is called thujone, which is a component of wormwood. At this point, the absinthe is clear many manufacturers add herbs to the mixture after distillation to get the classic green color from their chlorophyll. The fennel, anise and wormwood oils then recondense with the alcohol in a cooling area, and the distiller dilutes the resulting liquid down to whatever proof the absinthe is supposed to be (based on brand variations or regional laws). The distillation process causes the herbal oils and the alcohol to evaporate, separating from the water and bitter essences released by the herbs. The anise, fennel and wormwood are soaked in alcohol, and the mixture is then distilled. Traditional absinthe is made of anise, fennel and wormwood (a plant), and various recipes add other herbs and flowers to the mix. Absinthe is not a hallucinogen rather its alcohol content and herbal flavor set it apart from other liquors.

It makes whiskey's standard 40 percent (80 proof) seem like child's play, which is why absinthe is supposed to be diluted. Absinthe does have a very high alcohol content - anywhere between 55 and 75 percent alcohol by volume, which equates to about 110 to 144 proof. What about the tales of hallucinations, Oscar Wilde and his tulips, family massacres and instant death? Not absinthe's fault, technically speaking. That regular old alcohol received similar treatment during the Prohibition period in the United States turns out to be pretty apropos: We now know that properly manufactured absinthe - an anise-flavored, alcoholic drink - is no more dangerous than any other properly prepared liquor. In fact, it was accused of turning children into criminals, encouraging loose morals and inspiring murders. When absinthe - also known as the Green Fairy - was banned in France, Switzerland, the United States and many other countries in the early 1900s, it had become associated with illicit behavior. Adam Berry/Stringer/Getty Images News/Getty Images It may not be hallucinogenic, but absinthe does have a very high alcohol content.

Absinthe definition