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 thermometer is attached with a hydrometer. The direction of hydrometer is upright when put in liquid. When it is put in water, the water line will be at the level marked 1.When it is put in sugared water the level increases because the water becomes denser. The float moves lower with the use of hydrometer in fermenting alcohol as the sugar is eaten by the yeast. While preparing alcohol the first measurement (original gravity) is taken with the sugar before the yeast is added and then the final calculation is done after the yeast has finished fermenting.

One can detect the volume of alcohol by the following formula
A person can use the formula Original gravity – Final gravity x 131 = Alcohol by volume to calculate the alcohol content.

The EU and the United States use label for the alcohol by volume content of drinks while a few countries go on proof. Proof is around 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)
One can get 55% abv  in Sebor
The alcohol content is found to be 60% in Pere Kermanns
The alcohol content in Pernod Absinthe is 68% abv
Mari Mayans Collectors 70 contains 70% abv (140 proof) of alcohol
Tips about La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse 53% abv (106 proof)
One can get 68% abv alcohol content in La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise
Ideas about La Fee Bohemian 70% abv (140 proof)
The alcohol content is 68% abv in La Fee Parisian
Kubler 53 53% abv (106 proof)
Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or contains 65% abv of alcohol
The alcohol content is found to be 75% abv in Roquette 1797
The alcohol volume in Jade PF 1901 is 68% abv
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)
38% abv (76 proof) is there in Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila
Beer is available with 4 or 5% alcohol by volume.
Table Wine contains 9-12% alcohol by volume (18-24 proof).
The availibility of alcohol is 40% in Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch Whisky.
Everclear 95% abv (190 proof)

No other alcoholic drink seems to come close to Absinthe!

One can find differences in alcohol content of homemade Absinthes. Mix an Absinthe essence from AbsintheKit.com.One can either use Absolut vodka (40% abv) or 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. The excess intake of any drink can be a danger to health. People in Memphis have realized this and consumption of alcohol was very less in the month of 2006 when they were polled.

It is necessary to have knowledge of alcohol content in Absinthe and other alcoholic drinks.