Guess What Day It Is?

It's National Absinthe Day! 

Back in 2013 a group of businessmen decided on a label for their new product: 

Pernod Absinthe Superieur

The Original Recipe

Pernod circa 2021

As it turns out, they lied about this being the original recipe, then they lied again saying that the original recipe had been lost, and told a third lie about the ingredients, namely Wormwood, stating that it caused hallucinations - which it doesn't.

I actually have a bottle of this someplace.  I use six drops of it to build a concoction cocktail called a Test Pilot.  Okay, here you go:

Test Pilot

1.50 oz Myers rum
0.75 oz Bacardi white
0.50 oz lime juice
0.50 oz Falernum
1 TBSP Cointreau
6 drops Pernod
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Blend it with 8 ounces of crushed ice or shake it with cube ice.  Serve it in a tiki mug on top of extra ice.

You are officially cleared for take off.

The history of Absinthe is kind of interesting.  In 1792, Dr. Ordinaire put together an infused alcoholic beverage using wormwood, anise, hyssop, and fennel.  He marketed it as an elixir for what ails you, and all of Europe started drinking it.

 

Many great artists drank Absinthe and swore by it.  They said that they could see the Green Fairy and were inspired.  Whatever.

Absinthe can be drunk straight up, but most people mix it with water.  This not only dilutes the taste a bit (highly desirable), but also causes the spirit to change color.  Cold water is added with an Absinthe fountain, and the water is poured over a single sugar cube which is placed on a slotted spoon.  This ritual adds to the enjoyment of the drinking process.

Once in a while, usually in a tourist trap of some sort, the good looking, scantily clad barmaid will ask if you want to light it on fire - meaning your drink.  She'll tell you that's how they drank it in the old days.  She doesn't know what she's talking about, and no amount of lecture on your part will change her mind.  The manager told her that, just like he told her to wear the R-rated barmaid outfit that's supposed to remind you of the green fairy or forget about how much money you're dropping in this dump.  In short, don't set your drink on fire.  All you're doing is burning off the alcohol, which is what you paid for.

Absinthe Fountain

The urban legend that Absinthe causes hallucinations is just that: A legend and nothing more.  Here is a picture of a would-be famous author drinking Absinthe.  See anything unusual?  Me neither.

Drinking Absinthe

I'd continue to expound on Absinthe, but my neighbor dropped in for a little visit (see photo).  My duties as an affable host beckon me.

La Fée Verte

Thanks for reading.  Bottom's Up!