The once-elusive absinthe is now commonplace in the U.S., and while that is generally a positive thing, it also means the absinthe market is saturated with low-quality versions. If you want to know if your bottle of absinthe is legit, you will want to pay close attention when you prepare it for consumption.

Louche is a French word derived from the Latin word luscus, and both loosely translate to "poor vision." However, when talking about absinthe, "louche" takes on its original meaning, referring to the physical and tangible, specifically the cloudy translucent appearance of finely prepared absinthe.

When water is slowly added to the absinthe, a chemical reaction known as the louche effect occurs, as the water separates the essential oils, bringing forth the aromatic herbs of anise, fennel, and wormwood. If your absinthe clouds after preparation, you can know it was made authentically with the proper traditional ingredients.