The Tasting Panel magazine

July 2016

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98  /  the tasting panel  /  july 2016 COMPETITIONS COMPETITORS FACE OFF IN A LUCID ABSINTHE CLASSIQUE VERSUS NOUVEAU COCKTAIL SHOWDOWN by Jesse Hom-Dawson / photos by Brent Campanelli ew spirits are so steeped in history and controversy as absinthe. While once inaccurately considered to have dangerous halluci- nogenic properties, it was banned in the United States and many other countries by 1915. Although the ban was lifted in most countries in the 1990s, only half-hearted attempts had been made at legalization in the United States. It wasn't until Lucid Absinthe's Master Distiller T.A. Breaux stepped up to the plate that a serious campaign for absinthe's legalization began. "I've been distilling since 2004 in France, and it was crazy to me that I couldn't see my product in my own country," Breaux explains. "I was approached by New York lawyer Jared Gurfein about contacting the U.S. government to lift the ban. I had the science and data to support a compelling argument, which we presented to the TTB [Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau]. I think the TTB initially hoped we'd go away, but we were intent on getting to the heart of the matter." It was this long and difficult debate that led to Lucid Absinthe becoming available in the U.S. On March 5, 2007, Breaux and Gurfein were able to get the ban lifted and make absinthe legal in the U.S. That day became known as National Absinthe Day. Parlez-Vous Absinthe? Lucid Master Distiller and founder T.A. Breaux and Absinthe Portfolio Brand Master Milo Rodriguez. c Absinthe? COMPETITORS LUCID ABSINTHE NOUVEAU approached by New by New by ban. I had presented to the hoped we'd this long and On March absinthe legal Absinthe? Distiller and founder Brand Master c COMPETITORS LUCID NOUVEAU approached to lift the lift the lift ban. we presented initially hoped initially hoped initially It was this in the U.S. On make absinthe Absinthe? Lucid Master Distiller Absinthe Portfolio Brand c

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