Back in March my colleague Deidre Woollard wrote about the absinthe craze ushered in by the end of a longstanding ban against the supposedly dangerous spirit. The hype has died down somewhat, and while faddists move on to other obsessions leaving true enthusiasts to enjoy themselves, the original absinthe maker, Pernod, has finally re-introduced their famous original.

Pernod Absinthe (right) is a revival of Pernod Fils, arguably the most authentic absinthe ever produced with a recipe that's over 200 years old. The company stopped making it in 1915 when the French government banned absinthe, later coming out with a wormwood-free version. The original is a high-proof sprit distilled from Grand Wormwood, fennel and anise - exactly the same as consumed by the likes of Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, and now, us.

The news that absinthe would finally be available in the U.S. was greeted with great enthusiasm by those who had been denied the experience but after the hype dies down will the "green fairy" have legs? The San Francisco Chronicle covers the rise of the spirit and of Lance Winters, the distiller behind St. George Spirits, the first American distillery to legally sell a bottle of absinthe in the United States, after the 1912 ban was lifted. Winters s a hot property right now with everyone wanting him and his pale green liqueur. He sold out of 3,600 bottles in the first six hours the spirit was available at $75 a pop.

The drink, which has a licorice-heavy taste that is similar to ouzo is popular now due to the novelty and the high alcohol content (and the cute little absinthe glasses make it pretty fun too). But after everyone tries it once will there be a large continuing market for the drink? The distilled wisdom from the article seems to be that it is a hot trend now bu one that will fade. Even Winters believes that the interest in absinthe will wane although he believes that his St. George Absinthe Verte will have a niche fan base. Its association with Victorian writers and artists continues to lend it romantic infamy.

There is some danger of the absinthe market getting flooded. There are a couple of brands currently being sold in the U.S. now and many more in the pipeline including Marilyn Manson's Mansinthe. As with any hot trend everyone wants in and then once the market fades in a year or two some of the new labels will disappear too but absinthe will always have its fans and a place on the bar shelf.

There are as many different kinds of Valentines as there are ways to celebrate. While candy is dandy, we all know that liquor is quicker, and if you are creative, it can be pretty romantic. The act of mixing a cocktail, the measuring and shaking and combining,pouring it into the perfect glass and garnishing with just the right touch can show more care than just picking up a bouquet or a box of candy.

Everyone has their favorite tastes and so knowing what your Valentine, even if it's just a friend you are celebrating with, enjoys is key. Just as red roses are not everyone's favorite flower, not everyone swoons for a chocolate martini. And yet showing up with the same old bottle is no fun either. Showing up with something new gives you a chance to play and experiment. And it's easier than trying to bake something. It can even be lower calorie. For example, one ounce of the tempting new Cafe Boheme, a creme liqueur made with coffee French vodka with creme and vanilla has 75 calories. The liqueur, which is sweet without being cloying and doesn't have that oddly chalky taste I've noticed in some other creme liqueurs, can be used to make an espresso martini with vodka, a dollop of whipped cream and a garnish of chocolate covered coffee beans.

For wine pairing ideas for Valentine's Day check out the picks from Natalie MacLean here.

The gallery below includes ideas of liquors to choose for all kinds of evenings for the sweet and romantic, to the girls night in to the hot and spicy and even the right drink to bring your Gothic valentine.

We've written about the Absinthe before for her extensive charter past as a pricey adventure yacht used for extended cruising anywhere from remote tropical waters to icy cold seas. The 201-foot yacht yacht was built in 1973 but went through a massive refit a few years ago. The yacht has an outdoor hot tub, a helipad, tenders, waverunners and kayaks. The yacht can cruise at 12 knots and can accommodate 12 guests and a crew of 18. The yacht is listed at $15.95 million through Edmiston. Pictures of the beautiful contemporary interior are in the gallery below.

What does Marilyn Manson drink? Believe it or not the answer just might be Mansinthe his new absinthe which is set to debut in Europe in August. Liquor Snob reports that the distiller, Matter-Luginbuhl, is a famed maker of high-end absinthes in Switzerland. Manson is a noted lover of absinthe and the project has been in the works for several years. The absinthe is made from herbs such as grand wormwood, fennel and anise and is not sugared and the label artwork is by Manson. There are two pricey prereleases: a limited edition for 300 euros and a special signed edition with a different label available from Gallery Schenk in Cologne that sells for 500 euros. There are some more pictures on the Mansinthe website.

[via Liquor Snob]

The lure of absinthe is legendary. Oscar Wilde, Toulouse-Lautrec and Degas are just some who surrendered to the spell of the unique green liqueur. Absinthe has been banned in the United States since 1915 but  Absente is a modern version of the original Absinthe recipe only without the ban-inducing and hallucinogenic wormwood. The wormwood has been replaced with Southern Wormwood, a legal and similar-tasting substance. At 110 proof if you have more than a glass or two you might not miss the wormwood one bit. It's a bit bitter so the traditional method of adding in water and sugar via a slotted spoon is advised. it sells for around $40 and would add a Bohemian touch to any Valentine's Day plans.