If you're here because of the recent flood of news pieces on the "legalization" of absinthe, please start with our Frequently Asked Questions.
A lot has changed in the last year. This is an exciting and turbulent time in the world of absinthe, and we're trying to catch up. As new information comes to light, we'll update articles as we can.
What is the Wormwood Society? We are a private organization dedicated to helping promote accurate, current information about absinthe; to aid in reforming the laws and regulations impacting absinthe in the United States and encouraging the healthy enjoyment of a safe, rewarding and historically interesting beverage.
Founded in early 2004, the Wormwood Society is the only such organization in the United States. We do not sell absinthe and are not affiliated with any vendor or manufacturer of absinthe.
We hope you find the information presented on this web site useful,
Cheers!
Absinthe in the US - Which Are Real?
As the media continues to make hash of absinthe's return to the US and erroneously report overturned rules and repealed bans, we hope to help clarify just what's going on and help you make an informed decision.
Which ones are authentic absinthe and how can you tell?
While journalists have had fun with the same tired old
puns and the standard litany of famous absinthe drinking artists and
writers, they have also reported as many
as five new absinthes. Not all of these products are made with Grand Wormwood
(Artemisia absinthium), the defining ingredient of absinthe.
It's true. After 95 years, real absinthe is now legally available and being sold inside the United States in bars and liquor stores.
We don't say "legalized" because nothing has changed—it appears absinthe may have been technically legal since 1972, possibly much earlier. What happened?