3 Must Mix Absinthe Cocktails Too Cool Not to Mix

Banned in many countries, including the United States in 1912 due to its high alcohol content and purported hallucinogenic properties, absinthe had attained a reputation for being dangerous.

 

But, of course, like all contraband, absinthe never completely went away. “In Europe, and probably in the states too, some bars kept on serving absinthe illegally long after it was forbidden,” says Alain Robert, owner of Distilleries et Domaines de Provence. “One of the reasons is that many artists were convinced they would lose their creativity if they couldn’t enjoy absinthe and its supposed narcotic powers.”

 

Thanks to misrepresentations in popular culture and its past illegality, absinthe continues to have its own mythology. Let’s get the misconceptions out of the way. No, Van Gogh did not go crazy on absinthe. No, the amount of wormwood in absinthe is not nearly high enough to create a hallucinogenic experience. Absinthe’s bad reputation is more likely the result of its high alcohol level. Yes, absinthe can be enjoyed with a spoon, water, and sugar cube, but it also can play a supporting role in a wide range of cocktails by bringing notes of bitterness and herbaceousness to drinks.

 

Take the Sazerac, the signature drink of New Orleans and widely regarded as the world’s oldest cocktail. Created in 1838 by Antoine Peychaud, the drink was forever changed by the worldwide absinthe craze when in 1873—or thereabouts, the date is up for debate—bartender Leon Lamothe added a dash to the drink. Today, the recipe calls for an absinthe rinse and most bartenders would not make the Sazerac any other way.

 

Here are 3 cool cocktails made with Absinthe Absente that are a definite must mix!

 

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Fairy Crush

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Harridan Vodka
• 1/2 oz Lillet Blanc
• 1/4 oz Absinthe Absente Refined 110
• 1/4 oz Strawberry fennel syrup
• 1 barspoon Strawberry Jam
• 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
• Top with Aromatic tonic

Preparation: Combine all ingredients except the tonic water in a shaking tin over ice and shake vigorously. Double strain into a highball filled with crushed ice and top with aromatic bitters and sprinkle with fairy orchid edible flower mix.

NOTE: aromatic tonic has aromatic bitters in it, but regular tonic can be used, preferably Fever-Tree.

 

 

The Green Fairy

Ingredients:

• 1/2 oz Absente Refined 110
• 1 oz Elderflower Liqueur
• 3/4 oz Lillet Blanc
• 1/4 oz Gin
• 1/4 oz Lemon Juice

Preparation: Stir over ice, strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with lemon peel.

 

 

Van Gogh’s Flame

Ingredients:

• 1/2 oz Absente Refined 110
• 1 1/4 Mezcal
• 1/4 oz Passion Fruit Liqueur
• 1/4 oz Orgeat

Preparation: Whip shake. Top with pebble ice in Julep glass. Garnish with a lime peel cup holding 1/4 oz absinthe. Light absinthe and shake ground cinnamon over flame.