Richard Wright a écrit :
As the OP, let me say (4.5 years later) that I never did get an answer
to my original question. Is the Serbian/Croatian drink 'Travarica'
within the range of variation of other European drinks called
'Absinthe'?

Looks like some Travarica could resemble in some ways Absinthe, but
AFAIK Travarica are a whole range of brandies infused with herbs.

From http://www.johnjgoddard.com/2008/01/13/travarica/ :
In Dalmatia, the king of all rakijas is travarica (TRA-va-ree-tsa), a
sophisticated spirit acclaimed as a superb digestive aid and tonic. It
is quite simply an infusion of grape brandy and a variety of herbs, and
there are as many recipes for travarica as there are people producing
it. Some contain as few as 10 herbs, while others can contain 20 or
more. Travarica often contains rosemary, chamomile, lavender, rose hips,
matgrass, juniper, thyme, currants, mint or sage, but the list of
possible additions is practically endless.


No special mention of wormwood, the essential ingredient of absinthe,
and that seems corroborated from other sources all around the web.

HTH
--
Greetings, Salutations,
Guiraud Belissen, Château du Ciel, Drachenwald,
Chris CII, Rennes, France