Have you ever tried absinthe?
Now that the green fairy is back in the US I'm curious: have you ever tried it? What does it taste like?
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24 Comments:
Yes, it tastes like licorice. Drink it cold and with a bit of sugar and it's a very refreshing beverage. And you should read Hemingway while enjoying it!
homesicktexan at 11:07AM on 05/01/07
I tried it in London at my friend's flat. She travels to eastern Europe frequently for work and brings a bottle back from time to time.
It has very strong taste I didn't care for. I don't quite remember all of the details but I think this is how she prepared it. She had a spoon with sugar resting on the top of a glass. I think there was some water in the glass. She poured absinthe over the spoon and lit the spoon on fire to burn off the alcohol a bit (despite that, it still tasted too strong for me). You then stirred the spoon (absinthe and sugar mixture) in the glass. There wasn't anything that great about this that I will try again.
I'll stick with my wine and martinis.
funchic at 11:22AM on 05/01/07
I tried it in the same manner that funchic did (without the burning alcohol part). A friend had brought a bottle back from the Czech Republic. I don't know if it was "real" absinthe or one of the fake kinds that sprang up in the late '90s in what seemed like an absinthe craze at the time.
Adam Kuban at 2:15PM on 05/01/07
I too tried it the same way. It tastes like toothpaste to me - others liked it but I found it vile.
Peasantwench at 6:51PM on 05/01/07
I tried it in Prague. I had one shot of it (spoon, sugar, fire method) and enjoyed it for the experience. My friend dropped six shots of it and was delirious for the evening.
NSW at 8:44PM on 05/01/07
Sticky, strong, licorice toothpaste... It was nasty, but what a way to end the year...
pbisNOTmyname at 9:01PM on 05/01/07
I had some in Prague. You are supposed to dip a sugar cube in the absinthe and then set the cube on fire, let it caramelize, blow it out and then put it in the shot and drink up. I didn't really care for it but it did get me absurdly drunk and give me the worst hang over of all time.
insomniacchef at 2:25AM on 05/02/07
very good article on absinthe here:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.11/absinthe.html
norman at 8:32AM on 05/02/07
What is this "you are supposed to..." and all this sugar nonsense? If you can't enjoy a spirit on its own, straight, you shouldn't be drinking it.
I got to try it at a shot bar in Spain (why we don't have these in the US I can't say). My friends and I had heard all the history of absinthe and went in prepared to feel sudden urges to tear off our clothes and go running through the streets. Alas, the experience was just like any other liquor, even with four shots.
I suppose it's good the drink's safer formulations no longer induce madness, but it seems a shame to have missed out on such a cultural phenomenon.
veggiesattva at 10:16AM on 05/02/07
I had absinthe a few years back in the UK. I'm not a lightweight when it comes to alcohol, but I've heard some horror stories. I thought I was taking it easy and only took a couple flaming shots. The next morning I was disgustingly hungover, to epic proportions It is all very hazy, but it felt like someone was sticking knives down my throat and a mac truck had parked on my head. After a few hours of crawling on my stomach to the bathroom, dry heaving and trying to keep down some water, I promised myself I'd even look at absinthe again.
Aerin at 12:31PM on 05/02/07
I brought some absinthe back from France a few years ago, not because it tastes so great, but all the friends just had to try it. I like pastis better.
ceres at 12:51PM on 05/02/07
I bought a bottle os the 'real' absinthe from a website I learned about in New Orleans a few years back...they distill and ship directly from Switzerland or thereabouts....sent it my friend in Las Vegas, along with some real absinthe spoons...one of the things I like about this drink is the ritual, sort of like smoking crack perhaps....
it tastes like...absinthe, that is anise, licorace, take your pick....you pour your 'dosage" (this was prescribed by doctors you know), put your slotter spoon over the glass, put a sugar cube on top, and slowiy pour water through the cube into the glass...when you add enough the clear liquid turns milky white, then, sip away...
we had about 4-5 drinks before we went out, and maybe it was Vegas, maybe it was the absinthe, but it was definately a different buzz, loopy, twisted, almost hallucinogenic....maybe a few more drinks would have been best...
the ritual and educational aspect of this was at least as good, if not better than the actual drink, but you should learn the history to really enjoy the beverage
Seriouspoorcook at 1:41PM on 05/02/07
I took it in shot form, basically straight out of the bottle (I did do the classy thing and, you know, pour it into a glass first...) I thought it tasted pretty nasty, although it could become an acquired thing. Very very strong flavor, and it burns going down, and the aftertaste is just as bad.
On the other hand, if you're dead tired and you want to be up and dancing until 5 a.m. for the Czech equivalent for $3, definitely the way to go!
Annmarie at 9:52PM on 05/02/07
By the way, Veggiesattva, I'm not sure where you're from but there is a Spanish-style shot bar somewhere in midtown manhattan. in true shot bar style, though, i cant remember what its called or what street its on. anyone?
Annmarie at 9:56PM on 05/02/07
secret: real absinthe is made here in the United States, but I've sworn not to reveal the source. Besides, I'd risk losing my absinthe hook-up!
I wrote about it here:
http://mattbites.typepad.com/mattbites/2006/07/heres_your_bott.html
mattbites at 10:30PM on 05/02/07
"it tastes like...absinthe, that is anise, licorace, take your pick....you pour your 'dosage" (this was prescribed by doctors you know), put your slotter spoon over the glass, put a sugar cube on top, and slowiy pour water through the cube into the glass...when you add enough the clear liquid turns milky white, then, sip away..."
Exactly!!!
Did this same way at the first Nick's Fish Market, (Waikiki) with none other than Nicholas Nicholas..(Whom I did not see till 13 years later, opening his 16th "Nick's".......) And yes, the stupifying effect it brings is like no other.
To me, it is like those delicate sipping whiskies (Rare Breed Bourbon) and good monk inspired Cognac.
I only wish I had a bottle to prepare food with
Chef Lee at 4:05AM on 05/03/07
check out this article
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/business/yourmoney/29goods.html?ref=smallbusiness
Ted Breaux from New Orleans is the guy I heard about, and he has a website that sells and ships bottles from his distillery in France to the US...that is where I got my bottle and spoons
Seriouspoorcook at 9:31AM on 05/03/07
@ Aerin, I would suggest that that and similar experiences have something to do with the fact that absinthe is between 120 and 150 proof, whereas most of your liquors max out in the 80-90 range. If you aren't cautious of the difference, you will get hit hard.
@ Annmarie, for reals? Neat! Luckily I have also set up something similar in my apartment, so I am all covered. I'll be sure to look for your shot bar though, "somewhere in midtown". haha.
veggiesattva at 10:20AM on 05/03/07
yes, only recently - first time was NYE this year at the whisk & ladle supperclub NYE party. they were serving two styles. had some a week or so ago on vacation at the craft brewing conference in austin with some of the brewery owners.
j at 3:44PM on 05/03/07
I've had it - nothing to see, moved on — I'd prefer the effects of Nyquil.
The Guilty Carnivore at 4:02PM on 05/03/07
i had some a few years ago- took a couple of shots and had sugar and then lit on fire.... i would never take it again- i immediently threw up and lets just say don't remember a lot of the night.
Sarah P. at 12:43PM on 05/04/07
I have had several absinthes now - and strongly recommend a new one on the market - just arrived I hear - Absinthe Mata Hari. It is a Bohemian Style - less on the licorice flavor than the other ones like Lucid or St. George. You can try it like they say above - or straight with cold water - 3 parts water to 1 part Mata Hari
grin85 at 4:54PM on 07/21/08
Yes, and it was a night I won't soon remember....
Brownie at 4:59PM on 07/21/08
it was legal in europe when i lived there so we had it several times -- it's like sambuca times 20.
megannesta at 5:46PM on 07/21/08