Absinthe: Sip of Seduction: A Contemporary Guide (Paperback)

~ Betina Wittels (Author), Robert Hermesch (Author), Ed. T. A. Breaux (Editor) "Dr. Pierre Ordinaire, a French expatriate living in Switzerland, invented absinthe near the end of the eighteenth century..." (more)
Key Phrases: percent alc, absinthe fountains, true absinthe, Pernod Fils, Czech Republic, Paul Verlaine (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Take an intimate look into the contemporary world of absinthe. International in scope, Absinthe: Sip of Seduction is a visually rich journey into an alluring subculture. Punctuated with color reproductions of classic and current lithographs, posters, postcards, cartoons, antiques, glassware, bottles, and other tools of the absinthe drinker, this new and thorough study explains and illustrates the history, culture, and mystique of the drink known as the Green Fairy.

Absinthe bars have popped up all over the globe in recent years. Festivals in Switzerland and France celebrate the many distilleries and varieties of absinthe available on the market today. Museums, films, collectors, and -reviews of existing brands all set this title apart from the historically based volumes currently on the English language market. Absinthe: Sip of Seduction explores absinthe’s contemporary absinthe and ritual.

The focus is unique; in addition to the customary glimpses of history, the authors provide insights into the controversy and effects of the Green Fairy through the stories of famous connoisseurs such as Vincent Van Gogh, Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway, and Pablo Picasso. However, consumption and enjoyment of absinthe is not just relegated to history; contemporary drinkers include Johnny Depp and Marilyn Manson. Explained are sipping instructions, variations including French, Czech, and German methods, cocktail and drink recipes, and even suggestions for culinary accompaniments.

Confirmed absinthe drinkers, neophytes, the curious, and collectors will all find this book equally intriguing and seductive.

About the Author

T.A. Breaux is a chemist and one of the leading experts on absinthe's chemical makeup.

Betina Wittels is a psychotherapist in Tucson, Arizona. She is one of the leading vendors of absinthe antiques in the U. S. and is a broker for absinthe vendors worldwide.

Robert Hermesch is a former book editor and teacher. He lives in Boston, Massachussets.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Speck Press (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972577610
• ISBN-13: 978-0972577618
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #812,164 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Style and Substance: The best absinthe book on the market, December 4, 2003

By	Joe Termini (Philadelphia, Pa USA) - See all my reviews

If you are asking yourself, what is absinthe? Why are people talking about it? What makes it so special? Can I try some? What brands should I chose? This is the book for you. Other books on the subject delve further into the history; but Sip of Seduction gives you the full picture of what absinthe is all about, yesterday and today. Looking through the wonderful collection of original poster art and photographs, you get the sense that in its heyday, the absinthe scene was stylish and intense; and this book reflects that in the beauty of its production. But you'll also see that a new scene, perhaps less stylish but equally cool is beginning to take root, mostly in Europe but increasingly in the US as well. While I use the book to try different brands and learn about antique absinthe stuff I can buy, usually I just lose myself in the images. I can't recommend it enough.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A welcome addition!, September 16, 2005

By	S. J. Decker (Hollywood, California United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I disagree with the previous reviewers' statement of `if you already have Conrad(`s book "Absinthe - History in a Bottle") there's no reason to buy Wittels's book as well.' On the contrary, anyone seriously interested in not only the history of absinthe, but also it's modern use and cultural impact, should own both.

While `Sip of Seduction' may not be as erudite as Conrad's work, I would venture to guess that such wasn't Wittel's aim.

`Sip of Seduction,' while serving as an engaging introduction to the fairy, provides information (i.e., culinary delicacies to accompany the ritual, reviews of currently available absinthes, lists of modern suppliers) that other publications on the subject do not. Add to that the myriad engaging reprints of classic absinthe advertisements, related paintings, photography of absinthiana (spoons, fountains, bonques) modern absinthes (and reviews), as well as an enthusiastic and breezy writing style, and you have a book that is a welcome addition to any absintheur's library.

20 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money, March 31, 2004

By A Customer

Essentially this is a beginner's guide by an author who substitutes enthusiasm and a gushing prose style for any real erudition. It's rescued from unreadability by the expert editing of Mr Breaux, one of the few real experts in the field. But there's nothing new here, and the book reads like the kind of frothy puff piece you'd read in an airline in flight magazine. New readers would be well advised to purchase instead Barnaby Conrad's book "Absinthe - History in a Bottle", also available from Amazon. Conrad is a masterful writer, who's consulted widely and read all the primary sources. His book is unequalled in English, and superbly produced and illustrated as well. If you already have Conrad, there's no reason to buy Wittels's book as well.