How To Drink Absinthe
How to drink Absinthe correctly is the issue many people have once they have managed to get hold of a bottle of the Green Fairy. In La Belle Epoque in France everyone knew how to serve and drink Absinthe, it was part of the culture and was even more popular than wine.
The knowledge of how to drink Absinthe was lost until recent times because of the ban on Absinthe in most countries for many decades. In the United States it was banned in 1912 and Absinthes such as the “Lucid” brand have only just gone on sale in the US in 2007.
How To Drink Absinthe Using The Traditional “Ritual”
This is the original method of preparing Absinthe used in pre ban times in the 19th century in France and Switzerland. There is an art to using this method and it lies in the use of a steady hand.
– Pour a shot of Absinthe into an Absinthe glass or large glass.
– Rest a slotted Absinthe spoon over the top of the glass and place a cube of sugar on the spoon.
– Slowly drip iced water over the sugar so that the sugar dissolves and drips through the slots into the Absinthe. Either use an Absinthe fountain or dripper to control the dripping or use a very steady hand to pour the water from a carafe.
– Watch the Absinthe louche (turn cloudy) as the water mixes into the alcohol.
– Enjoy your Absinthe.
How To Drink Absinthe Using The Modern Bohemian or Czech Method
This is a more modern method which is a bit of fun and is scorned by many Absinthe drinkers. It is often used with cheaper Czech Absinthes and Absinthes that have a lower alcohol content. Care must be taken when setting alcohol alight.
– Pour a shot of Absinthe into an Absinthe glass.
– Soak the sugar cube in the Absinthe and then place on an Absinthe spoon resting on the rim of the glass.
– Using a lighter or match, set the sugar on fire and watch it as it caramelizes , melts and drips into the Absinthe, it may set the Absinthe on fire too.
– Slowly pour iced water into the Absinthe to put out the flames and to make the Absinthe louche.
– Drink your Absinthe.
Ratios of water to Absinthe depend on taste but a ratio of between 3:1 and 5:1 water to Absinthe is the recommended dilution.
How To Drink Absinthe in Cocktails
Ernest Hemingway famously created “Death in the Afternoon” – a cocktail of Absinthe and champagne, but there are many other cocktail recipes for Absinthe. You do need to remember that Absinthe is a very strong Alcoholic beverage and is approximately twice the strength of other spirits such as vodka and whisky.
Cocktail ideas:-
Absinthe and Vodka – Mix 3 parts Absinthe with one part good quality vodka in an iced glass (out of the freezer) and garnish with a sprig of mint.
Absinthe Explosion – Mix 3 parts Tequila, 4 parts vodka, 3 parts whisky and 7 parts Absinthe. Add ice and stir.
Absinthe Bloody Mary – Put 1 shot of Absinthe into a cocktail glass with ice and top up with tomato juice. Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce and season with salt and pepper.
There are many other ways of how to drink Absinthe and you can even invent your own cocktails.