No spirit in history has been shrouded in more controversy, myth, and misunderstanding than absinthe, “the green fairy.” The potent spirit was developed in the late 17th century as a medicinal elixir, but it reached a peak of popularity in Belle Epoque Paris, where it was extolled by bohemian artists as a muse then blamed for a wealth of societal ills. By the early 1900s, it was banned in virtually every nation, including the U.S. in 1912. Following prohibition, two world wars, the cold war, and many decades of social change, what was once the most lauded and hated spirit in existence had been reduced to a fairy tale that lingered in artistic and cultural circles before experiencing a global renaissance.
T. A. Breaux is a native New Orleanian and a research scientist who has dedicated more than 30 years of research into the mysteries and myths associated with absinthe. He has painstakingly reconstructed historically accurate examples of the controversial spirit, and he codirected the effort to lift the United States’ 95-year ban on absinthe. His work has been featured in various media in the US and abroad, including numerous television appearances. He is the coauthor of the book Absinthe: The Exquisite Elixir (Chicago Review Press—Fulcrum, 2017).
6:30 pm Reception. This program will include a tasting of absinthe. Guests must 21 and over to participate in the tasting.
7:00 pm Talk
7:45 pm Q & A
Location: Institute of Culinary Education, 225 Liberty Street, Third Floor, New York, NY 10281. Detailed directions will be provided. Advance registration is required, and attendees must show identification for check-in at security on the second floor. The event is on the third floor.
Register through Eventbrite at https://absinthe.eventbrite.com
CHNY members $25
Nonmembers and guests $40