What is Absinthe?
Absinthe is a strong herbal liqueur distilled with a great number of flavorful herbs like anise, licorice, hyssop, veronica, fennel, lemon balm, angelica and wormwood (the flavor of anise and/or licorice, at least in contemporary forms of the liquor, tends to predominate). Wormwood, the one that's gained the most notoriety, is Artemisia absinthum, an herb that grows wild in Europe and has been cultivated in the United States as well. Much of the liquor's legendary effect is due to its extremely high alcohol content, ranging from 50% to 75% (usually around 60%), plus the contribution of the various herbs. It has been assumed by many that the so-called "active ingredient" in Absinthe is wormwood, although that is apparently not really the case. And that was really technical-sounding. Sorry. :P

What's with the glasses, spoons and sugar cubes?
It was traditionally served with ice water and a cube of sugar; the sugar cube was placed on a slotted "absinthe spoon", and the water was drizzled over the sugar into the glass of Absinthe (typically in a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio). The sugar helped take the bitter edge from the Absinthe, and when the water is drizzled into the the liquor it all turns milky greenish-white (the effect is called "louche").

I want to know more about Absinthe.
The best resource that I can recommend is La Fee Verte, the site. They have tons of information, from history and famous Absinthe drinkers to myths, recipes and reviews of different brands. Click here to visit their informative and beautiful site.

Who should join?
Anyone who's a fan. Whether you drink it, collect Absinthe art, or are a fan of a known historical Absinthe drinker or just like green fairies. ;) I'm amazed how much it's regained popularity, even if it's just enough to be shown in such films as Bram Stoker's Dracula, From Hell and most recently (and obviously) Moulin Rouge. It also made an appearance in the Nine Inch Nails video 'The Perfect Drug', and has cropped up alonside Professor Lodz in HBO's 'Carnivale'.

Do you drink Absinthe?
Yes.