Purchase Absinthe FAQ's

These are the most common absinthe questions we have been asked by our customers. If you do not find the answer to your question here, please don't hesitate to contact us at support@absinthe.bz .

What is Absinthe?

Absinthe is a liquor made with wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). Absinthe is a deep green drink with a very bitter taste. Absinthe was very popular with 19th century intellectuals, poets and artists like Oscar Wilde and Vincent Van Gogh. Besides having a very high alcohol content (120 to 160 proof), Absinthe was also said to induce a dreamlike state, enhance creativity and facilitate artistic expression.

What is the history of Absinthe?

Absinthe in some form or another has been used for centuries. Ancient texts mention an early sort of Absinthe, wine soaked wormwood as a vermipurge. In the middle ages, it took on many uses, including superstitious claims that Absinthe warded off the plague. Modern Absinthe's commercial origins date back to 1797, when Major Henri Dubied began marketing a bottled Absinthe in France which eventually came to be known as today's familiar Pernod recipe. Originally a medicine, Pernod's Absinthe began growing in popularity with the artists, writers and intellectuals of the day, attributing some of their finest works to absinthe's creativity-enhancing effect. However, by 1905 a strong anti-Absinthe movement emerged, convinced of the danger Absinthe provided through a few well-publicized incidents of violence and atrocities committed by absinthe imbibers. By 1908, Switzerland was the first to ban it, by 1923, nearly every country worldwide had a  ban to purchase Absinthe in place. These days, the Pernod brand continues to be sold but without any thujone in it, the chemical that gives Absinthe its special effects.

What is the active ingredient in Absinthe?

One of the constituents of wormwood, thujone is considered the culprit of Absinthe's "added effect". Naturally occurring in many plants and flowers, thujone is found in large amounts in wormwood. A-thujone has a structure very similar to THC (tetrahyrdacannaboid). This similarity has lead some to believe that the two substances work similarly upon the brain. New research indicates, however that thujone blocks GABA-A receptors in the brain which inhibit the firing of brain cells, once these receptors are blocked, the brain is free to fire at will. This is why despite the very high alcohol content, Absinthe drinkers report being clear headed, even after consuming amounts of alcohol that would usually put them into a stupor. The bulk, however of Absinthe's effects is caused by the very high alcohol content.

What about those websites promoting "homemade Absinthe kits?"

Do-it-yourself Absinthe kits are gaining popularity, being sold on websites and on ebay. Many of these revolve around the use of essential oil of wormwood or harsh solvents. These are not absinthe. These are poison. Besides being a rather unpleasant, pale impersonation of real Absinthe, drinking essential oils is not a great way to get "high" but an excellent excuse to visit the emergency room. Pure essential oil of wormwood can cause renal failure and death due to the excessive amounts of thujone and neurotoxins found in it. We highly recommend that you do not purchase any of these homemade absinthe kits when looking where to buy absinthe.

How do you serve Absinthe?

There are two popular methods for serving Absinthe, both require the use of an Absinthe spoon. This is a large spoon with open slots in it, allowing liquid to pass through. In a pinch, a large fork can work as well. We also have some great absinthe recipes to use.

Method One: Louching

• Pour a shot of Absinthe into a glass, place spoon over the top and place sugar cube on spoon
• Slowly pour cold water over sugar cube, when the water hits the Absinthe, it releases oils that turn the drink a milky white.
• Be sure to be sitting down when drinking.

Method Two: Flame method

• Take a reasonably sized spoonful of sugar, or sugar cube and briefly dunk it in your glass of absinthe.
• Light Absinthe laced sugar on fire and hold over glass, the burning alcohol will melt the sugar into the glass.
• When the fire gets low, stir the remaining sugar into the Absinthe and drink.

Is Absinthe legal?

It really depends where you are to buy absinthe. Currently, absinthe containing thujone for human consumption is illegal in some countries including Switzerland. In the United States, Absinthe is not a controlled substance but to purchase Absinthe in bars and liquor stores is banned. Absinthe is still however legal to purchase and possess in the United States. In most of the European Union, absinthe may be sold as long as it stays at 10 mg of thujone. In Canada, Absinthe is completely legal, and you can buy Absinthe in some liquor stores.

Is Absinthe safe?

The thujone content of all commercial Absinthes is low enough to cause no harm to the human body. Homemade Absinthe however can be potentially fatal. Be aware that although the thujone content of Absinthe may not be harmful, its high alcoholic content can be. As always, practice moderation when enjoying Absinthe.

Placing Your Order

We strive to make your absinthe purchase at Absinthe.bz as quick and easy as possible. Use the tabs at the top if you need information about products or ordering. To browse absinthe online product line, use the links in the left column. Once you have made your selections follow these simple steps to order:

1) Select your products

Once you've browsed our absinthe for sale, add your choices to your cart. In your cart view you can change the quantity of items, add more items and remove items from your cart. When you are finished shopping simply click the Checkout button.

2) Log in

You will be taken to the Customer Login page where you can register to become a member of Absinthe.bz. If you already have a login, please enter it here. If you do not, you can create one here. By registering with Absinthe.bz, you can save time, and typing, because we have all your shipping information saved for you. If you prefer to skip this step, click the Checkout button.

3) Check out

You are now on the Checkout page. Here, you will be asked to enter your billing and shipping information. If you are shipping to an address other than your credit card billing address, please check the box on the lower left and insert your billing information into the fields. If you logged in, this information will already be filled out for you. Also, you can choose to continue shopping by clicking the Continue Shopping button, or finish your checkout by clicking the Checkout button.

4) Process order

You are now on the Order Summary page. Here, you can review your order for accuracy and see your total including shipping. Please select your payment method from the drop down box. If you are paying by credit card, enter your information and CVV number. The CVV number is the last 3 digits on the signature strip on the back of your credit card. When you are finished, click the Checkout button.

5) Order Summary

You are now on the Order Summary page. This page gives you a summary of your order, including your order number and order details. If you wish to print out the page, you can use the print link at the bottom of the page.

Telephone Orders

We encourage you to purchase absinthe online for the fastest possible service, but please feel free to call in and have one of our customer service specialists take your order. Call us toll-free at 1-800-581-1676 7am-6pm Monday to Friday.

International Orders

We do accept orders from international customers from all countries, with the exception of Norway and Sweden where to buy absinthe is prohibited. International orders may be subject to duties or customs charges. Please contact your local customs office to determine the rates in your country.

Payment Options

At Absinthe.bz, we provide a range of payment options for your convenience. You can pay for your absinthe purchase with credit cards, money orders and Western Union wire transfers. Rest assured, whichever method you choose, your purchase details will be safe and secure!

Credit Cards

We accept MasterCard, Visa and American Express. For your protection, all credit card information submitted is encrypted on our secure server and is erased from our systems as soon as your order is shipped.

Money Orders

If you wish to pay by money order, simply select money order as the payment option on the Process Order page from the drop down box. Then mail your money order to the address provided making sure to include your order number and address with your payment. Your order will be shipped when your money order payment is received. All prices are in USD and as such, we only accept payment in USD.

Western Union Wire Transfers

If you wish to pay by Western Union wire transfer please send the transfer and call us toll-free at 1-800-581-1676 to provide the Money Transfer Control No. on the Western Union transfer form. Your payment will be picked up immediately and your order shipped out.

Do you charge my card when I order, or when you ship?

When you order, your card is verified to be working and to have enough credit available for your purchase, but is not charged. An authorization is requested from the card and the amount of your order of Absinthe is held for us to remove when we ship your Absinthe out.

Is your site secure for credit cards?

We go to great efforts to ensure our site, and your information is secure. In addition to using 128 bit encryption to communicate with the bank, all customer contact information is stored in an encrypted database that no unauthorized person can read. For security reasons, once a card has been charged, the credit card information is no longer kept.

Credit Card Error Messages

If you are having trouble processing your credit card while ordering absinthe online or are receiving error messages, please read the following reasons.

AVS Mismatch

This error message occurs when the address in the order does not match the billing address of the credit card. If your billing address is different from your shipping address, simply insert your billing address into the billing address fields in the online order form and resubmit your order. Your billing address is the address where your monthly statements are sent to.

Card Verification Number incorrect

You may be unable to register your credit card if you did not correctly enter the card verification number. The verification number is a 3-digit number printed on the back of your card on the signature strip. It appears after and to the right of your card number. If a card verification number is not available, please try using a different card.

Declined

If you are still having trouble with order, please call 1-800-581-1676 and one of our friendly customer service representatives will gladly help you place your order.

It doesn't accept my credit card, how can I order?

There are a variety of reasons why your credit card would not be accepted including a billing information mismatch, insufficient funds or a hold placed on your card. We would suggest that you verify that sufficient funds are in your card for your order and that the billing information is exactly as per your invoice. If you still have difficulty, call or e-mail us and we will be happy to put your order through.

I don't have a credit card, how do I order Absinthe?

Many of our customers choose to pay by money order or bank draft. These can easily be obtained from your local bank or post office. Simply call us at 1 800 581 1676.

I sent a money order, how will I know you received it?

When sending a money order or bank draft to us, we always suggest you either send it priority courier or by registered mail. In this way you are able to know that we received it and are able to track it if lost.

If I pay by money order, how will I know how much to pay for shipping?

Very simple. We charge a flat rate of US$25 for all retail orders. That means, no matter how many bottles of Absinthe you purchase, you will only be charged US$25 for shipping total.

How is my Absinthe shipped?

All orders are packaged in plain brown boxes and shipped via Registered International Post.

How long does it take you to ship?

It normally takes between 2-7 business days to process an order. Shipping time takes between 1-3 weeks depending on your location from our shipping facility in the Czech Republic.

Does shipping cost extra?

Shipping is additional to the price of our items and is highly reasonable at US$25. As shipping is a cost that every online business incurs, it is something that must be charged in one way or another. Rather than increasing the price of our products 2 or 3 times, and giving the illusion of free shipping, we offer our products and shipping at the lowest price on the market.

If I order multiple products, is the shipping extra?

None at all. We commit to a US$25 flat shipping rate for all retail orders no matter how many bottles of absinthe or cannabis vodka you order.

How long does it take to receive an order?

The average shipment time is 3 weeks for an order to arrive at a customer's shipping address. Our products are shipped directly from our brewery in the Czech Republic. If you have a more specific question on shipping information please contact one of our support representatives via email at support@absinthe.bz

Returns and Refunds

Return Policy

Absinthe.bz will be happy to exchange your order or refund your payment, less shipping costs, if you are not completely satisfied with your purchase. The product must be unopened and shipped back to us before the refund is applied. The refund amount will be the product cost only as shipping fees go to the shipping carrier. The refund will be in the same form of payment that was used in the original transaction.

How to Return an Order

Simply call us at 1-800-581-1676 within 7 days of receiving your order and speak to a customer service specialist to obtain a return number. Then, send your purchase back to us and your refund will be processed when your item is received. If you are exchanging your item, speak to a customer service specialist and specify which product you would like to exchange for.

Using Coupons

If you have a promotional coupon code you can receive a discount or rebate on your order. To use your coupon, simply insert the coupon code into the coupon code box, just below your cart on the view cart page, and click the Add Coupon button. Your discount will then be added to your order. After you are done, click the Checkout button.

Creating an Account

Welcome to Absinthe.bz. We thank you for taking the time to view our products and browse our site. Our mission is to spread the legacy and allure of absinthe online. With that in mind, we continuously search for absinthe related information to share with you. Our site extends past where most other sites leave off in terms of informational value.

Why Register with Absinthe.bz

Registering with Absinthe.bz takes just a minute, but it will save you plenty of time, and typing, on your future shopping visits. You will also receive some pretty nifty perks such as:

• Your billing information will be saved and automatically entered for you each time you place an order. Handy services like email newsletters, early sale notification and special discounts.

Absinthe.bz cares and is committed to protecting the privacy of our customers. For more information about how your personal information is protected, please visit our Privacy section. If you want to register now, click here.