On this day, March 5th 2007, absinthe was once again legalized in America after like 100 years.

So what is the “Green Fairy” and how can you drink it? It’s absinthe, an anise-flavored spirit. It’s usually light green, but can also be colorless, white, yellow … even red.

Because of its very high alcohol content, the typical preparation involves adding water and sugar to it. Though it takes a little patience, it’s worth it.

Don’t believe the rumors! Absinthe is perfectly legal and does not make you hallucinate.

There are special absinthe glasses and spoons, but you don’t need to buy to serve absinthe in this traditional method. You may see an absinthe fountain with drip spout at bars or events achieving the same effect as you’ll get from following these instructions.

Here are the steps for preparing absinthe:

1. Pour one shot (1.5 oz) of absinthe into an absinthe glass or stemmed glass.
2. Take one sugar cube and put it on top of an absinthe spoon or a slotted tablespoon or fork.
3. Put at least 4.5 and up to 6 oz. of cold water in a container with a slow-pouring spout. Pour the water as slowly as possible over the sugar cube to dissolve it. The absinthe will become cloudy–this is the desired effect. The exact amount of dilution through water is a matter of personal preference, but 4 parts water and 1 part absinthe is typical.
4. Let it rest for a few seconds, then stir.
5. Sip slowly and enoy!

Photo credit Danny Ben

It’s Mixology Monday again and we are hosted this month by Thinking of Drinking and North Shore Distillery’s Sonja Kassebaum. She has deemed this month’s theme to be absinthe, why because she simply adores the stuff. I am sure the cocktails coming forth from this one will surely not disappoint.

I decided to go call up a classic, the Monkey Glad. This classic cocktail was either created at by Harry MacElhone at his Harry’s New York Bar in Paris in the 1923 or by Frank Meier over at the Ritz. My vote is on Harry. The cocktail’s name comes from a surgical technique of the time that involved grafting monkey “glands” to humans.

Monkey Gland

1 1/2 oz. Gin
1 1/2 oz. Orange juice
2 tsp. Absinthe
2 tsp. Grenadine syrup

Combine in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Mixology Monday XLVI

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The brands have been busy creating new cocktails you can share with your sweetie.

Tongue Tied

1 1/2 oz. X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
1 1/2 oz. SKYY Infusions Cherry
Splash of Grenadine

Shake X-Rated and SKYY Infusions Cherry over ice. Strain into a martini glass. Slowly add a dash of Grenadine so that it sinks to the bottom.
Garnish with a cherry with a knotted stem.

Hopeless RomantiX

1 1/2 oz. X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
2 oz. Prosecco or Champagne
1/4 oz. Lemon Juice
1/4 oz. Orange (1 wedge)
1/4 oz. Pineapple (a few chunks)

Muddle pineapple, orange and lemon. Add prosecco and X-Rated Fusion
Liqueur. Strain and serve in a highball glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

X-Rated Passion

2 oz. X-Rated Fusion Liqueur
2 oz. SKYY Infusions Passion Fruit
Splash of Club Soda

Serve on the rocks and garnish with a lime.

(more…)

Well that’s it 2009 is almost a wrap, but not before we have a few cocktails first. As always Drink of the Week has some clever new cocktails for your enjoyment. First, a couple of cocktails for New Year’s Eve. Start with the New Year’s Sparkler and then just around midnight switch to the Midnight Kick for just that. A bit of tequila will keep the night going strong. On New Year’s Day you can start working on you 2010 resolutions, we have a few cocktail themed solutions. Booze will definitely make them easier to keep.

New Year’s Sparkler

Infuse passion into the New Year with a classic cocktail with SKYY Infusions Passion Fruit, fresh juice and raspberries. The New Year’s Sparkler is an easy way to spice up your champagne flute this New Year’s Eve. Even better? This cocktail is a smart, low calorie option to help you get started on your New Year’s resolutions.

1 oz. SKYY Infusions Passion Fruit
1.5 oz. Pomegranate Juice
3.5 oz. Champagne
5-6 Raspberries

Combine SKYY Infusions Passion Fruit and pomegranate juice in a chilled champagne flute and top with champagne. Garnish with raspberry tree.*

*Slide 5-6 raspberries onto long skewer and place vertically in champagne glass.

Midnight Kick

2 oz. Cabo Añejo Tequila
Orange Slice
Cinnamon

Wet the rim of a chilled shot glass with the orange slice. Then rim the shot glass with powdered cinnamon on a plate. Be careful not to turn the glass right side up until it has been rimmed. The orange liquid will drip otherwise. Shake the Cabo Tequila with ice in a shaker and strain into the chilled shot glass. Slam the shot and then bite into the orange slice to finish.

(more…)

A bit of a spell or a flick of the magic wand - the Sour Witch has just landed on her broomstick. This sophisticated cocktail is no laughing matter because it packs a powerful sour punch. Don’t be fooled by its soft exterior and champagne flute glass, this cocktail features absinthe and sour cherries.

Sour Witch

1 1/2 oz. Lucid absinthe
3/4 oz. Almond Syrup
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
3 or 4 pitted sour cherries
Sparkling wine or Champagne

In the bottom of a mixing glass, muddle the sour cherries in the lime juice and almond syrup.  Add the Lucid with ice and shake very well.  Strain into a chilled champagne flute.  Top with sparkling wine or champagne.
Garnish: freshly grated nutmeg

more Halloween Cocktails and Punches
Recipe created by Jonathan Pogash, Cocktail Guru
Recipe & photo courtesy Lucid Absinthe

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Le Tourment Vert, the high flying Absinthe brand has updated their formula to mix even better in cocktails. The color is no longer a Listerine blue, which is comforting. It is now a pale green, as you can see above. The new formula reveals greater hints of anise and they removed the sugar. This was a good call, Le Tourment is now much smoother, highlighting the pleasant characteristics of anise & hints of citrus. The after-taste is clean on the palate without the sugary residue. Overall, the changes make Le Tourment a less harsh, more flavorful version of it’s predecessor.

Although, Le Tourment Vert is meant for cocktails, it is getting closer to being an Absinthe that can be enjoyed the traditional way with sugar and water.

Le Tourment Vert

Related articles

• The Green Crush
• Le Tourment Vert Absinthe Review
• Absinthe Takes to the Air

Our friend Hal at A Muddled Thought was playing around with some Absinthe to come up with a Autumn Cocktail. He came up with this concoction of Lucid Absinthe, Cruzan Rum, a touch of Vanilla, a dash of Orange bitters and Orange Soda, it is sure to be come an instant classic.

The Green Crush

1 oz Lucid Absinthe
1 ¼ oz Cruzan Rum
¾ Vanilla Syrup
½ oz Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
2 Dashes Regan Orange Bitters
Orange Soda

Shake with Ice
Serve in Highball filled with Crushed Ice. Top with Orange Soda (Either Fanta or Orange Crush)
Garnish with Orange Wedge

Courtesy A Muddled Thought

Related articles

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• Spider’s Kiss (drinkoftheweek.com)