For The Adventurous Ones, Here’s Your Guide To Drinking Absinthe
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Who hasn’t been curious about trying absinthe, if you haven’t already? The Green Fairy, more commonly known as absinthe, is the English translation of La Fee Verte, which is the French nickname given to this celebrated 19th-century drink. The licorice-like green spirit has often been portrayed as a psychoactive drug and hallucinogen since it contains small amounts of a potentially poisonous chemical called thujone, which is found in the herb wormwood. Absinthe is a high-proof (we’re talking 90 to 148 proof) anise-flavored spirit made from botanicals and mixed with green anise, sweet fennel and other medicinal and culinary herbs.
In 1915, around the time of prohibition, the United States and most of Europe banned the lime green spirit because of the wormwood-derived compound called thujone, but over the years, absinthe hasn’t proved to be any more dangerous than regular spirits. It turns out that the green spirit itself was never banned, just thujone, and in small quantities, the compound is still legal. The levels of thujone in absinthe are controlled by law these days, so there’s no chance you’ll lose your sh*t quite like you might’ve hoped.
The French brand Lucid Absinthe became the first genuine absinthe — made with real Grande Wormwood — to be legally available in the United States, in 2007, after a 95-year ban.
Here’s how you should be drinking absinthe:
Choose An Absinthe That Has A High Proof
The highest quality absinthe usually has an ABV of 45 to 70 percent and a proof of 90 to 148. While that might seem high for liquor, absinthe is usually diluted with water.
Make Sure It’s Made From Natural Herbal Ingredients
The best absinthe should be made with whole, natural ground-up herbs. It shouldn’t contain artificial colors, flavors or ingredients. Absinthe gets its pale green color from the chlorophyll that’s extracted from the natural herbs.
Use An Absinthe Glass
A classic French absinthe glass has a reservoir area on the bottom so you can be aware of how much actual absinthe you’ve poured. If you’re making an absinthe cocktail at home and you don’t have access to this specific kind of glass, just be careful with how much you pour out.
Method
You’ll need a glass of absinthe for each person. Lay a flat perforated absinthe spoon across the rim of the glass and place a single sugar cube on the perforated section of the spoon. The sugar helps to balance any bitter taste that you might get from the absinthe. Slowly drip cold ice water over the sugar cube until it’s fully dissolved. Your general ratio should be about four to six parts water to one part absinthe. Here’s a list of absinthe cocktails that you can make yourself. You should sip the absinthe slowly and enjoy the subtle effects of the herbs.
A few of the more well-known absinthe brands out there are St. George Absinthe Verte, Leopold Brothers Absinthe Verte and Pernod. Don’t be afraid of the green spirit, think of it like herbal moonshine.
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