How To Serve And Drink Absinthe The Right Way

There’s a great intrigue and hype around absinthe, especially among alcohol enthusiasts. Gaining popularity in 19th-century France, this green spirit comprising wormwood, fennel, and anise was soon banned in multiple countries due to its dangerous and hallucinating properties.

Cut to today, it’s easily accessible in multiple countries again because we all love a risk and the curious ones can’t seem to get enough of its high. Though absinthe is becoming increasingly popular, there’s a right way to enjoy it. Why? If not made and drank right, it can taste quite abysmal.

Yet, only a few have managed to drink absinthe correctly. Hey, no need to get all paranoid because luckily, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll be covering everything you need to know about absinthe, especially how to serve and drink absinthe the right way.

The Must Have’s With A Bottle Of Absinthe

Drinking absinthe is a creative process and the best outcome comes when it’s done in a step-by-step process. You’ll require other ingredients throughout your process of consuming it, which are mentioned below:

• A bottle of absinthe (Duh!)
• Absinthe spoon or a large fork
• Absinthe glass
• Absinthe fountain or carafe
• Ice cold water
• Sugar cube

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How To Serve Absinthe The Right Way

Thanks to its green color which comes from the anise, absinthe is known as the Green Fairy. And as they say about mystical creatures, they need to be treated right in order for you to get the best out of them. Start off by diluting the absinthe, which is the first and most important step.

There are simple methods of diluting absinthe but if you want to go all out, using the absinthe fountain should be your go-to method. To describe it simply, an absinthe fountain is an ornate vessel with multiple taps around its central water container. The multiple taps allow a number of drinkers to consume their absinthe at the same time.

If you do not want to spend a handsome amount on the gorgeous absinthe fountain, don’t worry! You can still serve your absinthe with a carafe filled with icy water. Just follow these simple steps and you shall be great:

• Press your absinthe spoon over the glass of absinthe with a sugar cube on it. If you don’t have an absinthe spoon, even a long fork will work.
• Place your glass under the fountain and let the water slowly pour from the carafe.
• Enjoy the beauty of the process as the slow falling water melts the sugar cube in the glass of your absinthe.
• As the sugar cube melts, your dark green color of Absinthe will turn into a light green or slightly yellow shade (almost a cloudy milky shade).
• Stir your drink well to mix any undissolved sugar. Add ice cubes if you like your drinks colder.

Ideally, for one part of absinthe, you should mix 3 to 4 parts of water to dilute it well. In case you are adding additional ice, you can slightly increase the amount of absinthe.

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How To Drink Absinthe So Your Insides Don’t Burn

Now that you are all caught up with the art of serving absinthe, here comes the most important part, which, of course, is to consume it. Yes, we understand the curiosity to simply try it neat but trust us, the pretty green liquid is not the most palette-friendly and the high alcohol percentage (an astounding 68% ABV!) makes it even more bitter.

In order to enjoy absinthe, it demands to be drunk respectfully. The French methods mentioned above are traditional absinthe drinking methods that work as a serving and drinking ritual. There are also some popular, simpler, and more modern methods you can follow to drink absinthe; we’re pretty sure your taste buds will thank you and your bar shelf will have a new favorite.

Absinthe Drip

Pretty similar to the French ritual, absinthe drip is just a bit more forgiving in its approach. Here’s how to do it:

• Pour 1 ounce of absinthe into a half-filled glass of crushed ice.
• You can skip the spoon and place the sugar cube directly on top of the ice.
• Pour club soda very slowly on the top of the sugar cube.
• Keep pouring the soda till the sugar cube dissolves nicely.
• Stir it well and you have a heavenly drink in your hand.

Flaming Absinthe

Now, this is one hot way of having your absinthe (if you forgive the pun). Nothing like having a red-hot flame to counteract the burn of absinthe, right? Here’s how you do it!

• Place the sugar cube in the absinthe spoon like in the French ritual.
• Pour the absinthe on your sugar cube and light it aflame!
• Wait for the sugar cube to melt well into the absinthe.
• You can extinguish the flame with the help of water or soda; just make sure to be careful and do it quickly as the glass may shatter.
• Stir it well, and your drink is ready to be relished.

The Modern Lazy Way

See, we get it, even the simple steps of drinking absinthe can seem like a lot of work. If you’re someone who doesn’t like all the jazz and simply wants to have a good drink, you can still try absinthe. Mix absinthe and water in 1:3 or 1:5 portions.

Just remember to add your water slowly. Instead of the sugar cube, you can simply add any sweet syrup to balance the taste and add the needed sweetness to the Green Fairy.

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Things To Keep In Mind Before The Absinthe High Takes Over

• The first and the most obvious one is to avoid overdrinking. Yes, we understand that deliciousness and intoxication can sway anyone but know that it isn’t your regular beer. The alcohol percentage is very high so be mindful.
• If you’re trying absinthe for the first time, make sure to do that around people you trust and are comfortable with because it can cause get you drunk pretty quickly and you would want someone comforting.
• Do not try the Flaming Absinthe method when you’re already drunk. No one likes drunk stories that end with accidental fires!
• You can potentially get physically sick with Absinthe because come on we are talking about 75% ABV here! So don’t do it on a Sunday night when you need to work on a Monday morning.

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Some Interesting Facts  About Absinthe

• The name of Absinthe was taken from  Artemisia absinthium which basically means ‘grand wormwood’. Absinthe has some of the highest alcohol percentages among spirits and has digestive and stimulating properties because of the presence of thuyone, a neurotoxin.
• Absinthe was banned in many countries by the 20th century because of its deadly hallucinogenic properties. It was also rumored that it was a prime cause behind the madness and eventual death of great artists such as Picasso and Van Gogh.
• Absinthe used to have hallucinogenic and neurotic properties but now everything is controlled by law. You can consume it mindfully without worrying about the drastic effects.
• Now, absinthe or the Green Fairy can be described as a beautifully layered spirit with strong flavors of anise. You will also taste herbs like melissa, hyssop, coriander, and fennel.
• If you are familiar with the taste of black licorice, you might find some similarities in the way absinthe tastes.

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To Conclude

We’re sure we have satiated your curiosity about absinthe, so now you’ll be the informed one among your peers. From the verses of Oscar Wilde to the brilliant stroke of Vincent Van Gogh, absinthe was always present somewhere. While you’re not guaranteed the fame these artists got simply by drinking absinthe, we can guarantee you’ll have a great time as you’re sipping it!