Tried a few shots of Absinthe several years ago, and thought it was rather interesting. It was at a bar in London, and I wasn't paying close attention to the process, so I don't recall exactly how it was prepared. The three day jaunt to London was also in the middle of a 10 day trip to Amsterdam, so that didn't exactly help to remember either Anyway, the fiancee is in one of her experimental phases, and along with trying out hookah smoking (going quite well), she would like to try absinthe. I did a bit of research, and I *believe* that if it's the true "absinthe" effect she is after, this "Strong68" is a decently priced example: http://www.alandia.de/absinthe/product_info.php/language/en/info/p1_Absinthe-ALANDIA-Strong68.html Now, I've search the board, and it seems like there are a few absinthe drinkers on the board. I have a few questions, if you folks would indulge me: 1) What do you think of the brand I found? Are there better (strong) brands to be had inside the U.S.? The idea of spending more on shipping than on the bottle isn't very appealing... 2) I understand the general process of preparing a glass of absinthe (pour a shot of absinthe into a glass, suspend a sugar cube over it on an absinthe spoon, pour water over sugar to dissolve sugar into absinthe and create the louche), but how do I know when I've added enough water? Does the speed I add it matter? What am I looking for to tell me "it's ready" 3) Are there any things I need to be wary of for my first time preparing / drinking it? Thanks in advance - Matt
That is rotgut stuff that I wouldn't let anyone I know drink. That website is one that absinthe purists have been railing against for years. First of all the "strong" absinth's are myths that frat boys have been trippin' balz on for never. Secondly there is no such thing as absinthe without anise, it doesn't exist, absinthe has anise. Yes there are many great brands available in the USA these days. I would recommend shopping around for the best prices but this place has the best selection I've seen. http://www.drinkupny.com/category_s/86.htm Everything they carry is quality distilled absinthe, except the La Fee avoid that. I would recommend the Kubler; great price for good absinthe. Marteau; made by a friend and founder of the Wormwood Society. and the Duplais; there's a reason it's won so many medals. Yes, very good start. Absinthe should never be lit on fire or drank as shots. It is very high proof liquor that can damage soft tissues when drunken straight. A good rule of thumb for diluting absinthe to a pleasant drinkable alcohol percentage is about 3:1, 3 parts water for every part absinthe. You can fine tune it from there, some brands taste better with more water, some take less. Have fun! Look into the Wormwood Society for truth in absinthe and a fun and informative discussion forum. http://wormwoodsociety.org/
Wow, I justed checked Beverages and More, and this stuff is kind of pricey. But I imagine it goes a long way with a 3:1 dilution ratio. What specific brand would you recommend Chris? Bevmo carries quite a variety.
Thanks for the link Rick. Bevmo has a nice selection with more of the oil mixes than I'd like to see. Oil mix = very cheap to produce and bitter. Distilled = traditional with a pleasant complex taste. The Kubler is good stuff, great prepared the traditional way and also light enough to compliment classic absinthe cocktails. If you're brave enough Hemingway's "Death in the Afternoon" is a real doozy! The Mansinthe is made for Marilyn Manson. I haven't tried it but it gets good reviews, mostly. I would avoid the Le Torment, aptly named mouthwash substitute. So far its the only absinthe I couldn't finish and I pride myself in "taking my medicine". The La Fee, Mata Hari and Pernod should all be avoided. As for the secondary effects, they are largely exaggerated but do occur. I sometimes get a clarity of thought after a few glasses, more than that and I just get drunk. Sometimes dreams are more colorful and vivid after a night with the green fairy, sometimes not. Hallucinations are myths and no one I know has cut off an ear...yet.
I've been wanting to try this stuff for years. The only liquor I know with anise is Jagermeister. Is the flavor of this even close?
Excellent. Thank you for saving me from garbage. These boards really are worth their bandwidth in gold In your opinion, will a beginner appreciate $22 worth of difference between the Kubler and the Duplais?
I did not realise you were a member of the Wormwood Society. I don’t post there much but I did contribute to the 2009 Calendar.
Not really. Similar, but very different. Absinthe is usually compared to Ouzo or Arak, but it is much more complex in flavor and uses many more herbs in the process. Now's a great time to try absinthe if you've been wondering about it. In the past few years many brands have become available legally in the USA, must be close to 2 dozen now. My default brand to recommend to people is the Kubler. If you like the Kubler you like absinthe, if not then you're not out a hundred bucks.
Not really. It's only with experience with the beverage that you can develop the skills to taste and appreciate the complexities that the Duplais exhibits. For my money the Kubler is well worth the seemingly cheap price and you get a full litre instead of a fifth or 50cl. Wow, small world! If your pictures are in the calender it must be great! Cheers Lyrt.
Years ago during my college days, I swore off hard liquor. One of the few times I don't remember the night. Damn those frat parties.
I tried this stuff years ago just to see if it had enough of the Thujone to actually do anything. It did not, so I ended up eating a couple tablespoons of nutmeg..........
Well if we're really getting into it, its claimed that the whole hullucination thing had nothing to do with the wormwood and all that. Due to the high proof of the booze, and the amount often drank by those claming it, its thought that they were just alcoholics getting a fix. Along with their livers being rock hard and useless. They were getting messed up, but it probably wasnt the booze making them see the fairy.
That and back in the heyday they couldn't keep up with demand after the grape vines withered with disease and wine was barely available, some low end absinthe brands used copper salts and other bad things to color the absinthe and boost the louche.
So I ran into a bottle of Lucid at the local liquor store tonight, so we are going to give this a try Will report back at some point this weekend!
That's great. Lucid is a perfectly fine brand, on the simple side but ideal for a beginner. Nice that it's available where you are, we have yet to get any here.
