Absinthe "Tunnel" is available since 1898. According to the recipe, it was not much different from classic absinthe. However, Antonio Nadal Mutaner patented the Absinthe Tunnel brand name. The label of the bottle with this alcoholic beverage depicted a tunnel with a train leaving it. The train symbolized scientific and technological progress. At that time, the absinthe Tunnel had not yet gained such popularity as in the following years, it was produced in very small batches.
The composition of absinthe and its properties
Absinthe is a very strong, up to 80 degrees, alcohol tincture of bitter wormwood. Initially, it was used for medicinal purposes, as wormwood very effectively fights against parasites of the gastrointestinal tract. Absinthe was widely used (as drinking alcohol) with the start of the French campaign for the colonization of Algeria. Absinthe was given to soldiers to raise their tone and maintain strength. Many are so accustomed to this exciting remedy that even after the end of the war, returning to France, they continued to maintain their pep spirit with this remedy.
Initially, absinthe consisted of grape spirit and wormwood infused on it. This grass gave it a characteristic bitterness and a beautiful green tint. Subsequently, manufacturers of absinthe, starting with Henri-Louis Pernot, began to add it anise, lemon balm, hyssop, juniper, fennel and other herbs. The secret of each manufacturer is protected by copyright, so the exact recipe is kept secret.
Bohemian drink
Absinthe was considered a drink of bohemia. He was credited with miraculous properties to arouse creative imagination. The famous poets Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine composed their divine verses under the influence of this dope. Victor Hugo and Emil Zola also boosted their performance with this magical elixir. The passion for absinthe and famous artists of that time did not pass by. He was even given the name "green fairy", which further emphasized the magical properties of the drink. Modigliani and Vincent van Gogh were famous absentists. Toulouse-Lautrec did not part with a cane, in which there was a cavity, where he poured wormwood and sipped it during the day to stimulate vitality. Picasso, Eduard Manet, Degas and other artists captured absinthe lovers on their canvases. In the 80s of the nineteenth century, doctors began to sound the alarm, fearing for the health of the French people, and in 1905 absinthe was officially banned for release and use. However, later it became known that addiction to this drink is a common alcoholism. Thujone contained in wormwood juice does not have narcotic properties and is not addictive of this kind. Absinthe simply was cheaper compared to other alcoholic drinks. Its distribution, in particular, was the rise in price of wine as a result of the death of vineyards.
Absinthe Rehabilitation
The second half of the 20th century is a period of gradual rehabilitation of the drink. He again began to be released legally. Old brands have revived, and new ones have appeared. Absinthe "Tunnel" black has an amazing currant color, as it is insisted on wormwood roots and black acacia berries. I must say that the content of thujone, the question of the properties of which has not yet been precisely determined, is strictly controlled. Now wormwood does not insist on alcohol. Very often, food colorings are added to absinthe for color . But this is the subject of trade secrets of the manufacturer. Produce absinthe "Tunnel" red with pomegranate juice and the corresponding original taste. Everyone can choose a drink to their own taste. Absinthe "Tunnel" green is bottled in green glass bottles, since in the light chlorophyll from wormwood leaves is destroyed.
Absinthe Culture
There is a whole culture of absinthe consumption. Sometimes the bitter taste of a drink is drowned out with a slice of lemon, but most often they use sugar or sugar syrup to improve the taste and soften bitterness. Fans of absinthe always have in their arsenal, in addition to thick glass glasses, also special spoons or shovels with slots. These devices make the most diverse and bizarre design. A spoon with a piece of sugar is placed on a glass with a small amount of absinthe, and on top, pour water in small portions. The resulting syrup is mixed with absinthe and the drink becomes cloudy.
Absinthe is sometimes set on fire to reduce degrees. It burns with a wonderful blue-green flame. The high strength of the drink allows you to do such tricks. Now absinthe has ceased to be a drink of soldiers in the trenches to raise morale, a poor bohemia to increase efficiency, the urban poor for hangover. It is popular with people with high incomes. Absentism as a mental illness has sunk into oblivion. Now absinthe, in particular the famous Spanish absinthe "Tunnel", receives reviews as a noble drink that has the right to occupy a place in the luxurious bars of wealthy people with a good aesthetic taste.