Absinthe

I am an alcoholic drink made from an extract from various herbs including wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), emerald green in hue and like most women, extremely bitter . I am therefore traditionally poured over a perforated spoonful of sugar into a glass of water, because I am all about the ritual. I louche easily. I am also terribly misunderstood with mysteries and downright falsehoods being attributed to my content. One very dangerous misalignment is that the more Thujone I contain, the better. Anyone who believes that nonsense knoweth me not at all.
I enjoyed my golden days in France where most days started and ended with a drink of me (l'heure verte!). I am known for my aphrodisiac and narcotic properties. Authors and artists have used me to induce creativity, and I have had many lovers, Van Gogh, Baudelaire, Crowley and Verlaine, to name a few.
Although banned in most of the free world earlier in the century, recent developments in the UK have returned me to my former state where I am now legal in most parts of Europe. I am still shunned in America and don't expect to be redeemed anytime soon. In the meantime, the internet has opened new horizons and those who desire me surely will find me.
Indulge!