Absinthe (also absinth, absynthe, absenta) (English: IPA: /ˈæbsɪnθ/; French: IPA: [apsɛ̃t]) is a distilled, highly alcoholic (usually 68 to 80 percent) anise-flavored spirit derived from herbs including the flowers and leaves of the medicinal plant Artemisia absinthium, also called Grand Wormwood or Absinth Wormwood. Absinthe is typically green (either naturally or with added color) or clear and is often referred to as la Fée Verte ('The Green Fairy'). Although it is sometimes mistakenly called a liqueur, absinthe is not bottled with added sugar and is therefore classified as a liquor or spirit. Absinthe is uncommon among spirits in that it is bottled at a high proof but consumed diluted with water to the strength of wine (see Drink Preparation/Ritual). Absinthe originated in Val-de-Travers, Switzerland as an elixir/tincture. However, it is better known for its popularity in late 19th and early 20th century France, particularly among Parisian artists and writers whose romantic associations with the drink still linger in popular culture. At the peak of its popularity, over 2 million litres of absinthe were consumed annually in France alone. Further, absinthe was portrayed as a dangerously addictive, psychoactive drug; the chemical thujone was blamed for most of its deleterious effects. The Lanfray murders of 1906 caused a petition to the Swiss government leading to its prohibition in Switzerland, and subsequently other countries. By 1915, it was prohibited in a number of European countries and the United States. Though it was vilified, no evidence shows it to be any more dangerous or psychoactive than ordinary alcohol.A modern absinthe revival began in the 1990s, as countries in the European Union began to reauthorize its manufacture and sale. As of August 2007 over 100 brands in a dozen countries are produced. http://tinyurl.com/8hdj7

Very highly alcoholic drink that tastes like licorice. Below is wiki's definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinthe

It's that very alcoholic drink that you have to put an ice cube in to dilute!

This toxic, bitter, green or yellow drink flavoured with wormwood was banned at the start of the 20th century and was changed to a more mild form called Pastis. Source: http://drinks.glowport.com/dica.html

I had never heard of it before but someone gave me a 4cl (which is tiny) bottle the other day, I poured it into a glass and it tasted of liquorice aniseed and on top of my beer it gave me a heck of a hangover, when I looked at the bottle it was 60% proof and suggested you take it with water added. Never again :o(

Here is an excellent article with the meaning, history and myths associated with absinthe, a very high alcohol content liquor made from a plant. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinthe

Absinthe is a beverage that is made of high grade spirits distilled with natural herbs and plants some of which have a halucinogenic property such as Wormwood and Cassis. The liquid is fermented and then distilled and the vapors that are collected after filtration are raw absinthe which is very bitter due to the wormwood. It is almost always watered down and poured traditionally over a heated sugar cube to both sweeten it and to cause the chemical reaction that turns the final product its famous green color.

I think you got some good answers. I just wanna add it taste like black licorice!