Neues Jahrbuch fuer Pharmacie, "Preparation of Absinthe"

The Pharmacist: published by the Chicago College of Pharmacy

Albert E. Ebert, Editor 1878

PREPARATION OF ABSINTHE

Liquors of wormwood are divided at present into five different kinds: Absinthe créme, A. ordinare, A. demi-fine, A. fine, and A. suisse. The first is only used at table. They are prepared either by distillation, or in the cold way, by means of the wormwood essence. The fresh plants cut are macerated previous to distillation, for 24 hours in a mixture of 15 litr. alcohol, at 85°, and 15 litr. of water; 15 litres are drawn off, to which are added 4 litr. of alcohol, at 80°, and 45 litr. of water. Color is given by some liquor-coloring, or by maceration with wormwood herb. The formula for "Absinthe fine" is as follows:

By Distillation

Absinth. vulg...............2500 Absinth. pontic.............500 Herba Hysopi..............1000 Herba Melliss citr.,......1000 Sem. Anisi v.(green)....5000 Sem. Anisi stell..........1000 Sem. Foeniculi............2000 Sem. Coriandri............1000 Alcohol of 85°.........80 litres. Aq. Com................20 litres.

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By Mixture

Essence de grande absinthe.... 30 Essence de petit absinthe........10 Essence d'hysope.....................6 Essence de melisse..................6 Essence d'anis......................100 Essence de badiane..............100 Essence de fenouil..................30 Essence de coriandre................2 Alcohol of 85°..................80 litres. Aq. com.........................20 litres.

The different kinds of absinthe vary considerably among each other in their quality of alcohol and oil of wormwood. A small glass, (30 ll.) contains:

Absinthe Ordinaire: Alcohol: 14.3 Various Oils: 0.030 Oil of Wormwood: 0.0005

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Absinthe demi-fine: Alcohol: 15 Various Oils: 0.046 Oil of Wormwood: 0.0010

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Absinthe fine: Alcohol: 20.4 Various Oils: 0.085 Oil of Wormwood: 0.0010

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Absinthe suisse: Alcohol: 24.2 Various Oils: 0.085 Oil of Wormwood: 0.0010

--Neues Jahrbuch fuer Pharmacie