Absinthe by Wittels and Breaux was a visual homage to one of the distillery world’s most mysterious drinks. Beautiful photos alongside stories, explanations and history gives a robust look for beginners to wet their whistle. Drinking the once forbidden spirit is an experience in itself. Doing it correctly gives a whole new meaning to “hair of the dog.” This book gives you everything for all of this, including where to go for the best locales to enjoy the beverage. There is a lot of misinformation regarding this fascinating pour out there but you won’t find any of that In this book, only a real good time.

Thanks to Netgalley for sending a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

What an amazing journey into the story of Absinthe. the book is filled with color reproductions of classic and current lithographs, posters, cartoons, as well as photos of antiques, glassware, and other tools of the absinthe drinker, this new and comprehensive guide explains and illustrates the history, culture, and mystique of the drink known as the Green Fairy.

This book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. It was a fascinating book and one I highly recommend.

My thanks to Fulcrum Press for a review copy via NetGalley of ‘Absinthe: The Exquisite Elixir’ by Betina J. Wittels and T.A. Breaux in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the late feedback.

Absinthe is a spirit with a fascinating history, notorious for being banned in a number of countries for over a hundred years including Switzerland and France, where the chief distilleries were located. The ban was lifted in the early years of the 21st Century and now previously illegal distillers have obtained licences and those that had abandoned distilling absinthe have resurrected it, recreating traditional recipes.

This fascinating book presents an overview of this history, including insights into the controversy that led to the ban and those cultural changes that saw its revival.

The book is filled with colour reproductions of classic lithographs, posters, advertisements, and cartoons as well as famous works of art depicting absinthe drinkers. It also contains short accounts of its famous (or infamous) connoisseurs, including Vincent van Gogh, Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway, and Pablo Picasso. The drink known as the Green Fairy certainly has a mystique.

The authors also have included details and photos of the accessories associated with absinthe: antique glassware, spoons, and serving fountains. They also provide guidance on purchasing antiques as well as modern reproductions.

The final part of the book includes a variety of cocktail recipes and reviews of existing absinthe brands, as well as absinthe’s contemporary culture and ritual. It is a book intended for confirmed absinthe drinkers and collectors; as well as guidance for neophytes and the curious.

I am definitely in the neophyte category and found the book very helpful in terms of increasing my knowledge of the history of absinthe and a greater understanding of its cultural aspects. The reviews aided me in selecting a good quality brand for my first experience of absinthe.

Highly recommended for those looking for a comprehensive history and guide to this exquisite elixir.

An interesting review of the history of absinthe, famous makers and drinkers, famous crazy people (absinthists), advertising, cultural impact, and present day information. I think I may need one of those advertising posters....

This beautiful cover has much more than your typical coffee table book content. Richly descriptive and illustrated Absinthe by Betina J. Wittels will appeal to craft cocktail enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

Beautifully designed book. As someone who loves history, it was a pleasure to read about Absinthe, what it was made from and how it affected the people who used it.

I just reviewed Absinthe by Betina J. Wittels and T.A. Breaux. #Absinthe #NetGalley

One interesting book about one rarely mentioned, and loved, beverage, Absinthe. With so many references from famous people who tasted and appreciated this drink, this book clearly broaden my universe.

Such a fun idea! I'm an absinthe fan, and this book was so fun to flip through. Love the cover as well.

This little book would be a perfect compendium for any beginner who wants to become a connoisseur of absinthe or a collector of antique paraphernalia associated with its use. Absinthe was illegal just about everywhere in the world for nearly a century, but in many countries the ban has been lifted in recent years. It became legal again in the U.S. in 2007.

The first two-thirds or so of the book covers the history of absinthe. Then there are chapters dealing with the collecting of historic absinthe accoutrements, recipes for cocktails and food dishes using absinthe, and a section with reviews of currently available varieties of absinthe to help you get started enjoying products of good quality.

I was primarily interested in the history of absinthe. I wanted to find out what was true and what was myth about its effects. Why was it banned? Was it dangerous? Did it really make people go blind, or go mad, or die? This book gave me just the right amount of history to satisfy my curiosity and help me understand how authentic absinthe was and is distilled.

The paintings and photos and advertising art throughout the book made this a delightful reading experience.

This was a fantastic brief guide written for nearly everyone, from individuals who are present day imbibers to those curious souls who are wondering what absinthe is and why it has the reputation it has. I fall into the second group with very little knowledge about this mysterious and unique liquor that has entices and enthralls many throughout history. This book explores how absinthe is part of creating wondrous art, literature and music, to becoming the ruin of lives therefore becoming itself banned.
It was interesting to see how absinthe could inspire (or become obsessed for) many people of the literature and the art world. A few I found really exciting were Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway, Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso. This pretty booklet had sections of important facts marked through-out, along with artwork to illustrate the history of absinthe, from the beginning of it's creation to present day. I highly enjoyed it, and marked a few interesting facts to look up at a later date.

A big thank-you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for giving me a copy of this book for an unbiased review.

3/5 - Liked it.

This is the book to read if you want to learn absolutely everything there is to know about absinthe. The topics range from the culture of La Belle Époque during which absinthe gained cultural relevance, the ways in which absinthe inspired art and writing from this era, the history of absinthe production, the bans on absinthe which were lifted only recently, and even the pricing of antiques related to absinthe.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the information it offered. Some parts were a little repetitive and I found some information excessive - the antiques chapter stands out in this category. But this is a great book to read and to own if you would like to learn more about this liqueur or if you are curious about Bohemian culture and history. The illustrations are quite beautiful and add charm to the presentation.

What a deep and winding, rich, roller coaster history! Absinth as the inspiration behind the Impressionist art movement, you don’t learn that in Art History! Hemingway, too, enjoyed a good nip. Unfortunately, he was in Florida during Prohibition, but, thankfully, Cuba is a short hop!

My absolute favorite part of the book follows the names and faces of history who enjoyed absinthe throughout the ages. The above is only a snippet of what, or who, you will learn about. It is certainly entertaining and interesting. The book keeps the readers attention, who knew there was so much to know about the history of this green elixir?!

Following the history of absinthe the author will lead you from Europe to the US, providing context throughout. From where and why absinthe thrived and spread, to the historical origination and buildup leading to the stigma and acts of prohibition and ban. The history continues on to the describe abstinthe’s evolution and laws throughout time and the research and events that pushed for legalization. While much of the known history focuses on France, absinthe was popular and widely used in ancient Egypt, Greece and Italy, commonly used as medicine and a digestive aid.

Interestingly, I was gifted silverware by a friend a few years back and had an “interesting” spoon with holes in it, I assumed it was used for straining tea bags and a “shaker” method for adding sugar...after reading Absinthe I suppose I was 50% correct in each of my assumptions. While the artwork and descriptions of the book will show you how diverse and decorative these unique spoons can be they ultimately serve the same purpose - to hold the sugar cube while allowing the sugar cube and water to strain through it when adding to the absinthe glass.

I thoroughly enjoyed the artwork throughout the book. Pictures are complimentary and relevant to the time period throughout or within context of the theme. Further, a picture is worth 1000 words, and seeing the evolution of preparing, serving, and bottling of Absinthe is very interesting and the artwork and photos are a great addition. Of course it is also interesting to see the interpretations, representations and advertising of absinthe over the years.

There is a lot of history and interesting facts contained within Absinth. From the absinthe and spirits connoisseur to the weekend distiller, from the history buff to the trivia king, you do not need to enjoy alcohol to appreciate this unique and engaging past and the exciting opportunities of today. Learning about the author and location in NY not far from where I live I am intrigued and inspired to visit, learn more, and try a few varieties of absinthe for myself!

What an incredibly fascinating book! This is one of the most well-researched and well-written books I have read in awhile. I absolutely loved it!

I have always been fascinated with absinthe. The mystery behind the Green Fairy has intrigued me, especially its influence on writers like Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. I was also surprised to read that so many other writers and artists like Pablo Picasso were seduced by the green elixir.

My only knowledge of absinthe before reading this book was that you drink it with a flaming sugar cube and it makes people go crazy. I’m so glad to learn that these myths are untrue. Many of the lovers of absinthe were also lovers of other alcohol and drugs, which combined made many act crazy. And as for the flaming sugar cube, as seen is many movies like From Hell where Johnny Depp burns a sugar cube over a green drink, it is simply not true.

One of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much was the authors’ writing style. Their writing is almost poetic, drawing you into the dark world of absinthe and its connoisseurs. From the early 1800’s in Paris, France to the roaring 1920’s of New Orleans, Louisiana, this book takes you through absinthe’s short, but exciting and mysterious life.

The cover and photos are also breathtaking. I love the mysterious and almost spooky looking green, black, and gold cover. Those colors continue throughout the book, along with color photos of the people, places, and paintings associated with absinthe.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book to lovers of food and drink and anyone who wants to learn more about the “Exquisite Elixir.”

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review!

Lots of great information about Absinthe....and it's immitators/pretenders. Richly researched and presented this was an interesting book with a good focus on the topic at hand, and at no point did it feel padded.

I really enjoyed this book and think it would make an excellent gift for a few of my friends. The illustrations were lovely and my favorite parts, the history and biographical sketches were fascinating.

Absinthe: The Exquisite Elixir by Betina J Wittels and edited by T.A. Breaux is both a history of and a tribute to absinthe.

Just looking at this book makes me feel like I am ready to enjoy some good company and some absinthe, and make no mistake, absinthe is best shared with good company. It is tempting to say that the pictures are beautiful, which many are (even, or maybe especially, those of equipment for the making of absinthe), but that is just part of the appeal. The pictures are chosen and displayed to accompany the text wonderfully with historical pictures displayed strategically.

The history covers the basic story with an eye toward correcting myths and misunderstandings about the drink. The story of absinthe is fascinating, both in itself and with its reception by so many famous people.

There are also some wonderful recipes, both cocktail and food. I am eager to try the Absinthe Vegetarian Linguini. Finally, there is a review section that reviews many of the brands available, how best to enjoy each and what to expect from each.

I would recommend this to people who enjoy books about food and spirits, as well as anyone curious about absinthe in particular. It would make a great coffee table book. All in all this book is a great resource as well as a nice looking book.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

I really found this book to be an interesting look through the history of Absinthe, and through its informative side of dispelling old myths, etc. I loved that Wittels and Breaux took the time to explain their relationships with Absinthe so that you knew in advance where their views and interest was coming from, but also because it showed that there was a hands on background (it's hard to take a history lesson from someone with no past).

"Absinthe: The Exquisite Elixir" by Betina J. Wittels and T.A. Breaux offers a fascinating glimpse into the decadent world of absinthe.

Let’s make it clear, that I have never tried absinthe, but I was always fascinated by the green fairy and her magical presence in the lives of famous Impressionists and Expressionists. A glass or bottle of absinthe is a common theme on many famous paintings, for example "L'Absinthe" by Edgar Degas.

Absinthe was a drink of artists, poets, painters and in general tortured souls and there was a certain ceremony connected with it and special utensils used for preparing it. The book shares beautiful pictures of antique grille style absinthe spoons, balanciers and other artefacts linked to absinthe drinking.

I was well aware of absinthe’s bad reputation and its troubled history. Absinthe was banned until fairly recently in many countries. There was a certain stigma connected with drinking absinthe. It was supposed to cause madness and murderous fury. In 2001 the absinth legally returned, when François Guy launched a brand of absinthe, that was the first legally produced absinthe sold in France in almost a century.

Through the whole book you can feel the authors’ passion towards absinthe. They want to make the elitist drink more available. They share the history of absinthe, different cocktails’ recipes and reviews of different kinds of absinthe available on the market. They also share tips how to drink absinthe and how to recognise absinthe of fine quality. Basically, what you need to know about absinthe is that it is supposed to louche (cloud) upon the addition of ice water. This only happens with absinthe of fine quality.

I am still not sure if absinthe is to my taste, but this book was interesting and beautifully illustrated. It also explained a lot about this famous drink.

I received "Absinthe: The Exquisite Elixir" from the publisher via NetGalley. I would like to thank the authors and the publisher for providing me with the advance reader copy of the book.

Apart from the nice cover, I wanted to read this book because having read the blurb I immediately thought: true, what do I really know about absinthe? I mean, apart from the fact that anyone who'd dared to drink it when I was in my late teens was a badass?

This book was way more than I thought it would be, though. It doesn't only contain a detailed description of the drink and its history, but also many stories about people who either drank or produced it. People completely unknown by me, but more who were/are famous, and I've heard a lot about. Not these absinthe-related stories, though.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about absinthe, but would also enjoy a feel of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century through it!

I wanted to read this book since I’m studying herbalism (and there’s herbs in absinthe), and as a certified aromatherapist, I’m always interested in distilling processes (and good absinthe is distilled). Plus I’ve always wanted to try it, and thought reading up on it first would be good to see what might be in store for me if I were to drink it.

This book was laid out perfectly. You begin by getting more aquainted with famous people who imbibed, a lot, not only in absinthe, but other alcohol, drugs, and sex. They were rock ‘n roll cool, before that was even a thing.

The sexism ran rampant in regards to only men being writing about in regards to what they were doing, and the ladies were used in advertisements to sell the absinthe. But that is because of the times, and unfortunately, not a lot has changed in that regard. The other thing that really stood out was that almost all of the men died before they were in their fifties, due to their excessive lifestyles… I’m sure we would have found that to be the case with the ladies too, if history deemed them worthy of being written about.

After being introduced to the people, we get a lot of history about absinthe that was actually very interesting to read about. It was intersperced with photos, paintings and ads, which helped the history to read even smoother. The author shared that in the past absinthe was not set on fire, which is a great thing to know, so you don’t look like an ass and request it this way. It was also interesting, but not suprising, to see it was banned due to what basically comes down to money. The absinthe makers having it, and the winemakers wanting it.

If you are interested in collecting the bar war, there is a good section on the various pieces and the prices they have been known to go for. I really enjoyed seeing pictures of the items, and perhaps if I start drinking absinthe, I’ll look into getting some.

There is also a wonderful section with cocktail recipes and food recipes. It completely makes sense to me that absinthe was marketed as a stomach remedy since the herbs in it are still used today for that purpose. And if you are to look at what food recipes the abisnthe is added to you can recognize how this would be bitters added to your food in order to help digestion. That part I really enjoyed, and I don’t usually make recipes out of books, but I might give some of these a try to increase my herbal education.

A bunch of reviews for absinthe are also included, and the way they are written are informative not only for a novice, but someone who has been drinking it for awhile. They are well detailed, and have some great descriptions.

The book ends discussing the various places that had absinthe banned and no longer do. Some of it because of the research and effort that T.A. Breaux has put into the cause. It also takes a look at the future of absinthe and what they hope becomes of it.

What started out as wanting to do more research for my herbal training, led me to discover a rich history of absinthe, not only in the U.S. but around the world. And with all the great reviews of various absinthes included in the book, it has given me more confidence to finally try it.