Why does absinthe have a spoon

These days, the levels of thuyone in absinthe are controlled by law, obliterating any notion of craziness being brought on by its consumption. Essentially, there is no need to worry that you might chop off your own ear as was allegedly the case with van Gogh.

Absinthe really is… A beautifully complex spirit with strong flavors of anise supported by of herbs like melissa, hyssop, coriander and fennel. It has a very strong and powerful flavor and only takes a little splash to be noticed in a cocktail. These complex flavors become subtler when water is added, the primary method in which absinthe is consumed.

The best way to serve the spirit this way is with an absinthe fountain. Absinthe is legal again I just so happened to be at Tales of the Cocktail, the annual giant bartender geek fest in New Orleans , on the 17 th of July , the day absinthe became legal in the United States for the first time since its ban during Prohibition. It was declared that absinthe was in fact not a dangerous spirit with hallucinogenic qualities, and could now join other classic anise-flavored selections on the back bar.

The traditional absinthe service Absinthe should be drunk diluted, and there is no more lavish and beautiful way to dilute the drink than with an absinthe fountain. For the service you will need: a glass of fine absinthe for each person, one absinthe fountain filled with chilled water, absinthe spoons and sugar cubes.

The serve is simple: place the spoon over a filled glass of absinthe with the sugar cube on it and sit it underneath one of the taps on the fountain. Slowly drip water over the sugar until it has dissolved. You should look to have about four to six parts water per one part absinthe. George Absinthe Verte This spirit is distilled in California by one of the craft distillers leading the way. Pastis This anise-flavored spirit appeared in the coffee shops of Paris after the absinthe ban.

Ricard is the most famous brand of pastis, also served best with water. A perforated or slotted spoon is used to dissolve a sugar cube in a glass of absinthe , usually to sweeten the drink and counteract its mild bitterness. The traditional absinthe service The serve is simple: place the spoon over a filled glass of absinthe with the sugar cube on it and sit it underneath one of the taps on the fountain. Slowly drip water over the sugar until it has dissolved. You should look to have about four to six parts water per one part absinthe.

If you do not have an absinthe spoon, a large fork will work. An absinthe dripper brouille-absinthe in French is an alternative to the spoon. Absinthe has often been portrayed as a dangerously addictive psychoactive drug and hallucinogen. The chemical compound thujone, which is present in the spirit in trace amounts, was blamed for its alleged harmful effects.

Absinthe is an extremely potent liquor, believed to cause hallucinations along with intense euphoria. The most common way to drink absinthe is to place a sugar cube on a slotted spoon over a shot of absinthe and slowly pour cold water over the sugar until it dissolves. Cocktails are also a good way to use absinthe.

The most common type of reservoir glass is known as a Pontarlier glass. These slotted metal spoons balance atop your glass, providing a resting place for wayward sugar cubes. Elaborate grilles achieve the same effect with more stability and are made to be easily secured on most reservoir glasses.

The faucet speed is adjustable, so you can watch your absinthe transform at your own pace. Also known as drippers, brouilleurs are typically small bowls that can sit on a reservoir glass and slowly funnel drops of water downwards. More elaborate versions called balanciers employ a method in which the water moves a small see-saw below the opening, displacing the water on the way down.

The end result is more of a splash than a pour or droplet, so it creates a nice middle ground in terms of prep time. Lucky for you, there are plenty of options when it comes to buying everything you need to properly consume absinthe in one easy package. This one, for example, even comes with sugar cubes to get you started.