Absinthe

The most popular misconception about absinthe is that it is a drug, or at least similar to a drug in effect. This is not true. The hysteria surrounding absinthe in the early 20th century fueled the misconception that absinthe was a powerful intoxicant, caused hallucinations that drove men "mad", threw them into epileptic fits, and made Van Gogh slice off his ear. The truth however, is both more interesting and less sensational:
Absinthe differs from almost all other drinks in containing a higher percentage of alcohol - up to 72% - and of course in containing extract of wormwood, or Artemisia absinthium, to give it its correct Latin name. Wormwood is a herb related to the daisy family that grows wild in many areas of Europe. From ancient times it has been prized as one of the most valuable medicinal herbs. An Egyptian papyrus from
1600BC recommends wormwood as a stimulant and tonic, an antiseptic, and a remedy for fevers and period pains. Pythagoras thought that wormwood leaves in wine would ease childbirth, and Hippocrates also recommended it for period pains, as well as anemia and rheumatism. Today, wormwood oil, the oil obtained from Artemisia absinthium, is used as a counter-irritant in many common over-the-counter pharmacy products, including Vicks Vaporub.

http://www.drinkupny.com/product_p/s0390.htm
Lucid represents a breakthrough product for the U.S. market, as it is the first true, Grande Wormwood-based Absinthe of its type available since before prohibition. Unlike imitators in the U.S. and the many so-called "Absinthe" products that litter the international markets, Lucid is crafted directly from select whole herbs, including Grande Wormwood, and never from cheaper assemblages, macerations, extracts or oils.

The Absinthe Ritual:
http://www.absinthespoon.com/absinthe_ritual.html
http://youtube.com/watch?v=40k7SkXi3Rc