Absinth....

[Galahad]

Tried it, didn't do anything for me.

Here's the link to the Toronto Star article:

Absinth

Of the 6 bars mentioned, I believe Frank at Ciro's is also a distributor of the product. They also have a surprisingly large selection of beers. However, the bar is not located in the best part of town.

 

[Sexyoungthang]

Try Absynthe Niteclub in Hamilton on King Street

 

[because]

Without the Thujole of Wormwood, it's just a flavored drink, like a mint julep only nastier and stronger. No pink animals or green fairies.

 

[Berlin]

Mmmm, the oil bar. I must check this place out.

To update: unfortunately The OIL Bar is no more and has turned into some Cafe.

 

[backflush]

Absinthe

The absinthe available in Canada is not worth even trying. Currently the brand available that contains thujone is Hill's, but the level is so low at 1.5mg/Kg that you will hardly get any effect or no effect at all. The best absinthe is the european brands that contain up to 30mg/Kg. I have tried some of these, but even with the higher thujone levels I had to drink about 3 shots before I felt anything. It had an interesting effect of making room feel bigger and made the white trim on the windows pop out.

I noticed it had a side effect of insomnia. Could not sleep for a couple of days after.

Not all absinthe tastes like liquorish which comes from the use of anise seeds and not all are green. Some are as clear as water and one wonderful brand tasted like cinnamon.

Thujone is a poison. So drinking a pure distilate would kill you. The thojone in the commercially available absinthe is really low and you would get alcohol poisoning before consuming a toxic amount.

Absinthe has bad reputation, but it was not the fault of the thujone. Many disreputable manufactures used to put nasty stuff to colour the absinthe such as antimony trichloride and cupric acetate.

 

[WhOiSyOdAdDy?]

I guess I would have to drink quite a few shots of it to experience what happend in the movie Euro Trip

 

[MRMARCUS]

The North American version that everyone is talking about is not the same as the czech brand. I have a friend in the UK who drank some and was out of it for a couple of days, we are talking someone that can drink like a fish. I saw it for sale in SOHO(london) and was tempted to buy some, maybe i will in Jan. But i understand it is illegal in North America.
I would be to afraid to try it.

 

[backflush]

It is illegal in the United States, but it was never made illegal in Canada.