Le Tourment Vert
I hate it when something comes along - a new drug - a new drink - something that I never had the chance to try when I was partying.
Okay, obviously this isn't new, but it was banned here in the United States for a long time because...
Absinthe containing wormwood has been illegal here since 1912, after a notorious legal case led to it being banned in several European countries. Absinthe, it was said, was powerful enough to cause a man to see demons, murder his family, and the like. This was blamed on thujone, a hallucinogenic compound in the wormwood.
Really???? It's that strong? Really? Powerful enough to cause a man to see demons? Hallucinogenic? Oh my god - I want to try it!
From TMZ...
Spies at the Palms Hotel and Casino tell TMZ that Paris and sis Nicky and their entourage indulged last weekend in a bottle of Le Tourment Vert, a French import, as did partymate Tommy Lee. And we're also told that Lil' Wayne liked it so much -- he's featuring it in his newest music video.
Not only that - but Moon at the Palms dedicated a whole night to this drink...
The Maloof Brothers present a special night of “MYSTERY, MYTH and MAYHEM” to celebrate the return of the great French Absinthe Le Tourment Vert at Moon Nightclub on Monday, February 25th. Le Tourment Vert, French for Green Torment, is an authentic French absinthe that is handcrafted in limited batches at Distillerie Vinet Ege. Le Tourment Vert is created by a three step process from a recipe that is over 100 years old.
So, have any of you guys tried this drink?
Is it really all it's cracked up to be? It seems to be the all the latest rage even though it's very old.
posted by CarmenSinCity at
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
13 Comments:
Haven't tried it, but I am for sure adding it to my to-do list for my next Vegas trip. That city seems to be chock full of Green Mayhem.
February 20, 2008
I haven't tried it either, but I'm guessing that it's reputation is worse than it's reality. Most of it was totally made up.
But, just in case I would love to drink it.
It was also the favorite drink of Oscar Wilde who consumed quite a bit of it through his slow decline into madness.
February 20, 2008
I think I'll stick to some fine craft beers like a strong imperial stout instead. I'd rather not drink anything other than stuff I know I'd enjoy again. Mmmmmmm, beer.
February 21, 2008
Of course I have tried this one and several others...rookies drink this stuff.
We all know the real drink of the Gods is Tequila. Trust me Carmen, it is nothing that a car bomb couldn't do to you.
You can always crave the good old corporate breakfast:
Shot of Tequila, Martini and a line.
I think the corporate breakfast is suppose to do that when they are 16not in their late 30's...but do as you wish is what I say.
February 21, 2008
I somehow doubt it actually has real wormwood in it if it's being sold in the States. Real absinthe is damned hard to find in North America.
I've watched friends freak out after drinking some, and another one describe how he thought a dragon was flying down from a display to devour him in a hotel lobby when he was in Europe... so the real stuff can work. Sometimes it does nothing but get you drunk though.
February 21, 2008
Umm...think I'll pass on dragons diving down to devour me. :)
February 21, 2008
Absynth is bad stuff... I never had any but others tell me that it will make you hallucinate...Bleh
February 21, 2008
nope and I am gonna pass I don't care to see demons that's when you lost me!
February 21, 2008
The stuff you can get these days has a lot less wormwood (some doesn't have any) than what Van Gogh was drinking. I lived in Amsterdam for a little over 2 years and tried a lot of them, and even developed a taste for it.
February 27, 2008
Le Tourment Vert (which is a bit of a torment to drink I might add) is not an authentic absinthe, it's an artificially-colored, artificially-sweetened marketing scam that tastes like mouth wash.
There are a number of legitimate absinthes available for purchase in the U.S. such as Lucid, Kubler, Sirene, and St. George.
June 04, 2008
I manage a bar in San Francisco and I serve Le Tourment Vert every day. I personally like an anise flavor - including Ouzo and Sambuca, so I am partial also the the anise flavor of absinthe.
There are posts on here questioning the authenticity of Le Tourment Vert. I by am no means an expert, but a true absinthe contains anise, fennel and grand wormwood. Check. Check Check. Regarding color, anyone who has brewed anything containing herbs would know color varies from batch to batch. Many drinks on the market today include color to ensure a consistency with their product. I would assume Le Tourment Vert have done the same. Color doesn't change the taste. Do you think cheese is really the bright orange color you buy in your local supermarket?
We sell other absinthes also, many of them differ in color and definitely taste.
If you believe what makes a real absinthe is that it needs to taste too strong to savor the subtle flavors, look unappealing and have such a high alcohol content it is only consumable if you screw up your face with the aftertaste and burn, you are missing the point about what constitutes a good absinthe.
My patrons and staff alike enjoy the flavor of Tourment.
As a bar manager I do know you can't sell products consumers don't like. You want people asking for more and with Tourment they are - by name.
Now absinthe is legal in the US market I care about 3 things. It has to be real absinthe, it has to taste good and it has to sell well. Presently in the US market Tourment meets all of these criteria and I will continue to sell it. The popularity of the Tourment mixed drinks is only increasing and many are also interested in trying the Tourment in the traditional manner (sugar and water ritual) and also as shots.
July 10, 2008
I have been to a couple bars with some of my girlfriends that serve Tourment in mixed drinks. We drank something called a Gargoyle. It was sweet and tart - we had a few of them. We all liked the drinks - maybe that is why we went back, or it could have been the cute guy behind the bar!
July 19, 2008
Tathome - I am glad you enjoyed your experience with absinthe, it truly is a wonderful drink and it is only becoming more popular here. We are serving it every night and Le Tourment Vert is walking off the shelves more so than any other absinthe - maybe it is you and your friends. It is giving some regular drinks a bit of a run for popularity at the moment.
August 14, 2008
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