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 to show their alcohol content which makes easy for people to decide about the drink and also the quantity of intaking them.

Alcohol content is measured by using a hydrometer. A thermometer is attached with a hydrometer. The hydrometer floats upright in the liquid. One can see the water line to be moving at the level marked 1 after putting it in water.When it is put in sugared water the level increases because the water becomes denser. When the hydrometer is used in fermenting alcohol the float moves lower. There is done two measurements of alcohol, one is taken with the sugar but before the yeast is added and then the final reading is taken after the fermentation of yeast.

Alcohol by volume can be checked by this formula
Original gravity – Final gravity x 131 = Alcohol by volume.

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)
One can get 53% abv (106 proof) in La Clandestine Absinthe
Sebor 55% abv (110 proof)
Pere Kermanns contains about 60% abv
The alcohol content is found to be 68% abv in Pernod Absinthe
Mari Mayans Collectors 70 70% abv (140 proof)
Suggestions For La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse 53% abv (106 proof)
La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise contains 68% abv (136 proof) of alcohol
Knowledge of La Fee Bohemian 70% abv (140 proof)
La Fee Parisian 68% abv (136 proof)
The alcohol content is found to be 53% abv in Carte D’Or Kubler 53
The alcohol content is found to be 65% abv in Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or
It is proved that Roquette 1797 contains 75% abv of alcohol
The volume of alcohol in Jade PF 1901 is 68% abv
Jade Edouard 72% abv (144 proof)
Going through 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)
The abv percentage is 38 in Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila
The volume of alcohol in beer is about 4 to 5%.
There is 9-12% alcohol by volume in Table Wine.
One can get 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof) in Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch Whisky.
Everclear 95% abv (190 proof)

No other alcoholic drink seems to come close to Absinthe!

Homemade Absinthes can also vary in alcohol content. 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. We now know that claims that Absinthe is an hallucinogen are completely false but we do need to remember that any liquor can be harmful to our health if we consume too much. People in Memphis have realized this and, in 2006, Memphis was the city that drank the least alcohol in the USA – more than 6/10 Memphis citizens had not even consumed a sip of alcohol in at least a month when they were polled.

However alcohol is not harmful when drunk in moderation but it is necessary to have know about alcohol content in Absinthe and other alcoholic drinks.