Absinthe is a strong anise flavor liquor which is made by distilling alcohol with herbs such as aniseed. wormwood and fennel. We know it is strong and can get you drunk easily, but what percentage is Absinthe and what is the proof?
Let’s look at the alcohol by volume of popular brands of Absinthe:-
La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise 68% abv (136 proof)
Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or 65% abv or 130 proof
La Clandestine Absinthe 53% abv (106 proof)
Jade Edouard is around 72% alcohol by volume or 144 proof
Sebor is 55% abv or 110 proof
Jade Nouvelle Orleans 68% alcohol by volume (136 proof)
Mari Mayans Collectors 70 is 70% alcohol by volume or 140 proof
La Fee Parisian 68% abv is 136 proof
Lucid Absinthe 62% alcohol by volume = 124 proof
Jade Verte Suisse 65% abv which is 130 proof
Pernod Absinthe 68% abv (136 proof)
Kuber 53 is 53% alcohol by volume (106 proof)
Pere Kermanns is 60% abv or 120 proof
Jade PF 1901 68% alcohol by volume is 136 proof
La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse 53% alcohol by volume (106 proof)
Roquette 1797 75% abv (150 proof)
La Fee Bohemian 70% abv which is 140 proof
Let’s compare Absinthe to other beverages:-
Whisky – Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch 40% alcohol by volume is 80 proof
Absinthe can be up to 75% alcohol by volume (150 proof)
Table Wine 9-12% alcohol by volume (18-24 proof)
Beer is only 4 or 5% alcohol by volume or 8-10 proof
Now, the alcohol-information.com website reports that if you drink 1 shot of Everclear (190 proof) to drinking 2.85 beers and about 3 brandies. With this information we establish that 1 shot of Absinthe is equivalent to 2.25 cans of beer. So, the twenty-two shots of Absinthe is equivalent to 49.5 beers!
As you can see, Absinthe is much stronger than types of fermented drinks such as wine and beer and even stronger than whisky. Care needs to be used when consuming Absinthe 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 like Green Devil then you are simply steeping herbs in a neutral alcohol such as Everclear or vodka. Everclear has alcohol by volume of 95% and a proof of 190 so it is much stronger than commercial Absinthe. When you purchase the Absinthekit there are essences from Absinthe.some 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 used.
What is the percent in Absinthe? For commercial Absinthe 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.