In 2003, a company called St. George Spirits decided to clown on the US government. They reformulated absinthe using Grand Wormwood but with thujone levels below the FDA’s invisible magic number (10 parts per million). The kicker? They labeled it “spiritueux à base de plantes” (plant-based spirit) to avoid the A-word.
The ATF (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) was like, “Wait, is this legal? Uh, sure, we guess.” Suddenly, absinthe was back, wearing a technicality like a cheap Halloween costume.
