Expert: Paul Wagner - 2/28/2005

Question
I managed to acquire a bottle of genuine absinthe, and though a friend said it was okay to consume it straight, isn't there another way one should drink it, involving sugar cubes or ice?  How would one do it in a normal American kitchen?  I appreciate your help.

Answer
Dear Augusto:

Thanks for writing!  Yes, there are different kinds of Absinthe, and some are illegal in the US.  While some people drink it straight, others hold the sugar cube in a tea spoon or tea strainer, then pour the Absinthe over it into a glass.  If you add ice or water to Absinthe, it changes color, which is always fun.  

Here are a couple of links to more info:

http://www.feeverte.net/

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2002-12-17/cover_story.html

http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/absinthe/absinthe_basics.shtml

Have fun!

Paul Wagner