Thu, 11 Jan - Absinthe Forum: My way

Back in the mid 80's, I was in college and tending bar at a high-end club/hotel on San Antonio's Riverwalk. Heavy Metal was King, and there wasn't a great deal of...civilized drinking behavior going on. It was the Age of Excess, and we (myself included) loved it.
I did get a few regulars from Europe who wanted Absinthe and they quietly brought in their own bottles- I didn't ask, as-again- it was the 80's. One of these regulars taught me the various ways to serve it, and several of them gave me Absinthe in appreciation for my service. I found that I enjoyed it like so, myself: a double shot of Absinthe in a champagne flute, with 1/2 to 1 shot of Rumple Minze. Stand a sugar cube in maraschino cherry juice (only about 1/16" deep) until it wicks it all up and turns a uniform red color. Let it set for about 2-3 minutes to do so, then drop it in and add cold sparkling water to taste- I use color to determine the proper amount of water, aiming for a sort of golden green. (This takes some experimentation)

I came up with this over about a year's time, experimenting with various ingredients. "Purists" will scoff, but give it a try, you might be surprised.

I called it "Manslaughter in the Morning", as a sort of play on "Death in the afternoon".

Drinking absinthe the original way: dilute with chilled water which you slowly pour into your glass over a cube of sugar. Other ways to drink absinthe were invented since the time of this classic promotional poster by Bensa-Dupont. (Picture: Bibliotheque Forney, Paris)

About the ways to drink absinthe

The Buy Absinthe .Net guide has further tips on how to make a glass of absinthe in the traditional French manner, plus some amusing pieces of trivia about the absinthe-drinking culture of the 19th century. The same page also gives recipes for a few classic absinthe cocktails you might want to try. 'Death in the Afternoon' anyone?

Suggest a link...

The Absinthe Drinkers is a Philadelphia band that combines poetry with original rock, jazz and funk - and the results are pretty amazing. If you fancy a bit of funked up Rimbaud, Baudelaire or Shakespeare, check out their site for upcoming shows or download sample tracks.

Absinthe: New European Writing
is a biannual journal that publishes translations of contemporary European writing that -- like absinthe itself -- is not widely available in the United States. Published by a Detroit native Dwayne D. Hayes, the journal contains poetry, prose and essays. Recommended.

Widow Moon by Peggy Amond
Whether or not poetry is the highest form of expression is one topic often debated over a glass of absinthe. Peggy Amond's Widow Moon certainly proves that "real poetry is not a thing of the past," as Bonnie Sutterby of PoetWorks noted. Ms Amond's book (available here) includes her famed tribute to the great "absinthe poet" Arthur Rimbaud.

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Century 100

Stylish tall bottle, exquisite flavour, powerful experience. This is the rare gem that's attracted something of a cult following amongst absinthe experts and enthusiasts alike. Available online at centuryabsinthe.com
at $169 per bottle.

Maktub Verte

Think the jazz age. Maktub is an absinthe with a twist, made according to a 1920s recipe. And yes, it does taste (and feels) good. Also available in red & black. Available from absinthe.in for $145.