We were delighted when we read recently that absinthe is now being manufactured under the trade name Lucid in the United States. It is true that this new concotion is legal because it has a low level of the psychoactive ingredient Thujone.
So if you just want to try absinthe, give Lucid a try, but go easy... Lucid is 62% alcohol by volume, party responsibly and select a designated driver before diving into a bottle with the Green Fairy.
To drink absinthe in the traditional French fashion, Lucid suggests:
Pour 1.25 - 1.5 oz of lucid into an appropriate glass. Place a sugar cube atop a flat, perforated spoon that rests on the rim of the glass. Using the sugar and spoon are optional. Slowly drip 4-5 oz of ice cold water on top of the sugar cube (or directly into the glass), which slowly dissolves into the Absinthe. The cold water causes lucid to louche ("loosh") into an opalescent cloud as the herbal essences emerge from the Absinthe and perfume the room. |Link|
If you really want to get your freak on and try out the high thujone Absinthe, you'll have turn to the imported market.