For more than 200 years, the rumor has been that drinking absinthe will drive you mad. Derived from botanicals, the main suspect in the cause of the insanity is the wormwood.
But you can relax. Absinthe, or “The Green Fairy” as it’s known due to its pale green color, won’t cause you to lose your mind. But the notoriously high alcohol content might alter your consciousness for a while. That’s what probably made it the spirit of choice for so many artists and writers back in 18th century Paris. And what makes it a good choice for your weekend when tequila just won’t do the trick.
But how to serve absinthe has always been a question. An anise-based spirit, it doesn’t lend it self too well to mixing into cocktails. It’s made to drink alone. So since absinthe has such a strong proof (typically 90-148 proof), the traditional way of serving it involves diluting it with cold water poured over a sugar cube. This calms the spirit, adds a little sweetness, and makes it perfect for sipping.
To see how to do the traditional pouring the water over a sugar cube in a slotted spoon, the guys over at Liquor.com put together the video above. Watch it, have some absinthe, then go paint your masterpiece.
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