How to Make Absinthe
How to make absinthe? This is one question that is being asked by connoisseurs of alcoholic beverages more often these days as there is heightened interest in absinthe. The reason is fairly simple to understand, absinthe has made a dramatic comeback after being banned for almost a century.
There are two ways you can answer the question, how to make absinthe? One way would be explaining how to prepare an absinthe drink and the other would be how to prepare the liquor absinthe. In this article we will discuss how to prepare the liquor using traditional a recipe and herbs.
Absinthe is made using different alpine herbs including wormwood or Artemisia absinthium. Absinthe was originally used as a bitter digestive tonic. Good quality absinthe is made by soaking wormwood and other herbs in alcohol and then distilling the solution. Wormwood contains thujone which is the active ingredient in absinthe and gives absinthe its bitter taste.
The ingredients required to make absinthe are 750 ml of vodka or any neutral spirit, herbs such as wormwood, hyssop, fennel seed, anise seed, angelica root, lemon balm, veronica, sage, coriander, mint, thyme and cardamom. To prepare green absinthe coriander and mint are used while to prepare red absinthe green herbs are excluded and red herbs such as paprika are used.
Depending on the color of absinthe desired; ground all the herbs finely and place in a cup. Fine grounding of herbs results in efficient extraction of herbal constituents. The finely ground herbal mixture is added to vodka or any other neutral spirit and placed in a jar and sealed.
The bottle or jar is then stored in cold and dark place for up to two months. The longer you keep the greater is the infusion of herbs in the solution. This process is called as maceration. The duration of maceration will also influence the flavor of the final product.
After the mixture is kept for two months, it is then removed and strained. The strained liquid will be brown in color and very bitter. This liquid is then distilled to reduce the bitterness and give it a clear hue. This liquid is called as the “absinthe blanche”. Now you may add other flavoring and coloring herbs such as hyssop, mint and coriander if you want a green absinthe or paprika if you want a red absinthe. This second maceration gives the absinthe its final flavor and color.
While mixing the distillate with flavoring herbs you should further dilute the absinthe with vodka. Keep for a fortnight and your absinthe is ready.
Absinthe should be enjoyed using the traditional ritual. Absinthe is the only liquor that needs an elaborate ritual using special absinthe spoon, absinthe glass, sugar cube, ice cold water, and absinthe fountain.
You can make your own absinthe by a much easier method than the one mentioned above. Just buy genuine absinthe essence that is made using traditional absinthe recipe and mix it with vodka or any other neutral spirit, and your absinthe is ready to serve. Absinthekit.com is a very trusted name from where you can source genuine absinthe essences of various strengths.
Visit absinthekit.com for more information on absinthe essence and other absinthe accessories such as absinthe spoons, absinthe glasses and absinthe labels.