Who really invented absinthe?

Topic created by Old Nick
on Tue, 2 Dec 2008 at 05:17

Old Nick said on Tue, 2 Dec 2008 at 05:17...

It is often claimed that Dr Pierre Ordinaire invented absinthe in the Swiss mountains in 1792.....errrr...maybe not:

“An essence of infusions anise and wormwood infusions, together with other medicinal extracts, it is exquisite. It takes just a few drops to turn a simple glass of water into a kind of heavenly opaline." (G. D’Annunzio) Brother Eutimio (1766)

Cabu said on Wed, 3 Dec 2008 at 17:49...

Messieurs,

Dr. Pierre was French and not Swiss.....L'absinthe rend fou...l'absinthe c'est Francais

Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé !

Vive la France!

Old Nick said on Thu, 4 Dec 2008 at 09:13...

I doubt that, Messieur. This source, which dates to the early 20th century, mentions absinthe being made around the 1460's

LIQUEURS such as " Absinthe/' which was made of dried leaves of wormwood in equal parts of Malmsey and of " burning water thrice distilled/' Most of them, however, were as complicated as the wildest imagination could devise, and some of the ingredients used were only little less remarkable than the cures they were said to have effected. There were cordials which would bring him back to reason who was " wholly mad," whilst others restored the sight of blind folks, or prevented " evyl cogitations comming to minde," or else " strengtheneth any weake member of man's body."

To prevent "evyl cogitations" drink absinthe! Also absinthe was known about in France in 1679:

"Si je n’avais trouvé notre petit Livry tout à propos, j’aurais été malade. J’avalai là tout doucement mon absinthe ; M. de Pomponne et sa famille, et Mme de Vins, font tout de même"