Absinthe has once again become a popular drink and, with the legalization of a few brands of Absinthe in 2007 in the United States, it can even be said that we are experiencing an Absinthe revival. Yet, some people don’t really know how to use Absinthe correctly or even what Absinthe is.
What is Absinthe
Absinthe is not a hallucinogen or a drug. It is a strong alcoholic beverage with an alcohol by volume of up to 75% and an anise flavor.
Dr Pierre Ordinaire prepared Absinthe as an elixir in Couvet, Switzerland in the 18th century. Henri-Louis Pernod used to distill Absinthe and sell it commercially by the turn of the 19th century. A wine alcohol base distilled with different types of natural herbs including wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), fennel, aniseed, star anise, hyssop, lemon balm, angelica, juniper, dittany, nutmeg and melissa was used by Pernod.
The popularity of wine decreased in France in comparison to Absinthe. As the Absinthe bars became famous the “Ritual” or traditional method of using and preparing Absinthe was born.
Absinthe was banned in France in 1915 after it was claimed that Absinthe contained psychoactive chemicals and cause hallucinations, convulsions, insanity and death. It is now known that these claims were false. Absinthe is not responsible for such effects. Absinthe was legalized in many countries in the 1990s.
How to Use Absinthe the Traditional Way
To prepare Absinthe in the traditional way is to use the “Ritual”.
A person will need:-
– A large glass or Absinthe glass.
– Absinthe
– An Absinthe spoon– replica glasses and spoons can be purchased online at AbsintheKit.AbsintheKit.com makes a person available with top-quality Absinthe essences which he can use to prepare his own Absinthe. To prepare own Absinthe a person will require top-quality Absinthe essences.
– A Big sugar cube.
– Sufficient amount of carafe of iced water.
Pour a small quantity of Absinthe into the glass.
One has to rest the spoon on the rim of the glass and then put the sugar cube on it.
Slowly drip, rather than pour, the iced water over the sugar to dissolve it.
The Absinthe louche appears when the water is mixed into the Absinthe. The essential oils in the Absinthe are not soluble in water so cause the mixture to louche or go cloudy.
After stirring the Absinthe an individual can experience the taste of the Green Fairy.
Remember that although Absinthe will not give you hallucinations, it is a strong drink and it is very easy to get drunk on Absinthe. The herbs used in the preparation of Absinthe are sedative in nature and stimulants. The drunkness caused by this blend of herbs are different than that caused by other drinks. It is also described as a “clear headed” drunkenness.
The Czech or Bohemian Method
With this method, once you have poured the shot of Absinthe into the glass you dip the sugar cube into the alcohol and then set it alight on the spoon with a match. After the caramelization and melting of sugar the iced water van be added into the Absinthe.
There is a bit of enjoyment with the Bohemian method of drinking Absinthe. It can be risky as the whole glass of Absinthe can catch fire, a bit of a waste of Absinthe! Take care.
Though the Ritual is the most popular way of using Absinthe but it can also be used in cocktails.