I can't stand it with tobacco either, and I smoke (tobacco) like a chimney. I used to smoke pot way too often as well, but have reduced it to just when I need help sleeping lately.
BACK ON TOPIC: I've been drinking Pastis for a couple of weeks. The only kinds we have here are Pernod and Ricard, which have been the same company for quite a while, but they used to be bitter rivals. Pernod-Ricard is one of those mega-conglomerates now which owns nearly everything that InBev and a few others don't own. I think most other Pastis are produced by Pernod-Ricard as well.
Anyhow, I don't really like liquorice, but really enjoy some anise-flavoured liqueurs. As far as these two brands of Pastis go, I like Ricards best for taste I think, although it's brown colour is certainly less appealing than Pernod's bright yellow, and perhaps Ricard is too sweet, although as a pastis de marseille, it's 45% ABV so you can always just add more water. Ricard also has a slightly more interesting louche effect, although, as I stated, I don't like the colour of the end result so much, but there is definitely more going on there.
Anyone else into this unreasonable absinthe facsimile? I never thought that I'd be into it by my prior, limited experience, but here I am.
