Lucid Absinthe Supérieure: Almost the Real Deal; Update: Perhaps the Real Deal!

The Times showcases “Lucid,” a new almost-nearly-but-not-quite absinthe clone made that omits thujone, the supposedly hallucinogenic ingredient that was the toehold used by prohibitionists to prevent the sale of the green tincture in 1912:

In May, Viridian Spirits of Manhasset, N.Y., introduced in New York a product called Lucid, which it says is the first legal and authentic absinthe in the country since the ban. Viridian was able to skirt the regulations by omitting (or almost omitting) thujone, the chemical compound cited in the law. Unlike the absinthe substitutes, Lucid is produced from the plant Artemesia absinthium, or grand wormwood, making it the genuine article. Or at least as genuine as the law allows.

A Dethroner serving suggestion: Drink as much absinthe as you like while not being a twat about it.

A Fond Hello [NYTimes.com]
Product Page [DrinkLucid.com]

Reviews: First Sip: Lucid Absinthe [FoodAndWine.com]
Lucid Absinthe, Taste Test [LouchedLounge.com]
Absinthe Arrives in New York, and We Start Drinking It Immediately [Grub Street]

Bonus Link: Korres Absinthe Shave Cream (U.K. Only) [Brandish]

Update: Jared Gurfein, president of Virdian Spirits, chimes in below in the comments. In part:

Lucid contains some, but less than 10 ppm thujone. This is required under US law which considers less than 10 ppm to be ‘thujone free’. This is also the law in many other countries as well. Any absinthe that comes to the US will have to meet this requirement. However, according to extensive research conducted by T.A. Breaux, who is our distiller and the world’s foremost expert on absinthe, as well as a chemist by training, Absinthe from the Belle Epoqué period also typically contained less than 10 ppm thujone.