Absinthe Blog

Absinthe is defined as a distilled, highly alcoholic, anise-flavored drink that is derived from a variety of herbs.  Absinthe is not bottled and has no added sugar so it cannot be technically classified as a liquor or spirit, even though it is usually referred to as Absinthe liquor.

There is a special way to drink Absinthe.  Traditionally, the Absinthe liquor is poured into a glass over which an Absinthe spoon is placed.  This is a type of slotted spoon that is specially designed for the use of Absinthe.  After that, one or two sugar cubes are placed in the bowl of the spoon.  Then ice-cold water is poured over the sugar and it will drip into the Absinthe liquor until the drink is diluted 3:1 to 5:1 ratio.  Adding water is important because it makes the herbs blossom and brings out the rest of the flavors that are originally overpowered by the anise. During this process, the parts that are not water-soluble will come out of the solution and cloud the drink.  Anise, fennel and star anise are the usual ingredients that would cause the Absinthe liquor to have a milky opalescent quality.  This kind of consistency is commonly referred to as the louche.

A lot of people say that good quality Absinthe liquor should not require sugar, although this can just be added according to taste.  The sugar will also help thicken the mouth-feel of the drink.

When ordering Absinthe in bars, the drink is usually served in standard glasses, although there are specifically made glasses for Absinthe.  These glasses have a line in its lower portion to mark the amount of Absinthe dose that should be poured into it.  A dose of Absinthe liquor is around 1 ounce (30ml) and most glasses use this as the standard amount.