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Welcome to the Absinthe Cocktail Recipe Guide

Absinthe cocktails are perhaps not as common as other cocktails because absinthe is banned a number of countries. Abisante and Herbsaint - banned nowhere – are often used a substitute, so try these if you cannot get your hands on absinthe.

Absinthe is an very strong and bitter green anise-flavored drink, made in France. It is produced in a similar way to vodka and is basically a flavored vodka, but is usually much stonger. Many brands have an alcohol volume of 70% (140o proof)!

You will notice that most absinthe cocktails take a very small portion of absinthe.

The traditional way of drinking absinthe is as follows:

1. Pour a shot of absinthe in a low ball glass.

2. Place a cube of sugar on a bar spoon or specially made metal spoon usually provided with the bottle and soak the sugar in the absinthe. (You might have to tilt the glass).

3. Balance the spoon on the glass’ edge and set the sugar alight. The sugar will start to caramelize and drip into the absinthe.

4. Once the flame goes out, stir the sugar into the absinthe.

5. Add a shot of water and top up with ice if you like.

This is an either-you-love-it-or-you-hate-it-drink.

Let’s now look at some absinthe cocktail recipes:

ABSINTHE COCKTAIL

Aka Absinthe Sour.

Ingredients:
Ice cubes
1 part absinthe
1 part sugar syrup or a teaspoon sugar
1 part lemon juice
1 part egg white

Glass:Martini, chilled.

Preparation:Shake the ingredients and strain into the glass.

Garnish:Lemon twist

MONKEY GLAND

The base ingredient is actually gin.

Ingredients:
Ice cubes
2 parts gin
2 parts orange juice
0.5 part absinthe
0.25 part grenadine

Glass:Martini.

Preparation:Stir the ingredients and strain into the glass.

Garnish:No garnish

A variation is to use Benedictine instead of absinthe.

SAZERAC

A classic cocktail form the 1930’s. Very interesting preparation method, which may be too much for some.

Ingredients:
Ice cubes
1 part absinthe
Chilled water
2 parts whiskey or bourbon (preferred)
0.5 sugar syrup or a teaspoon of sugar
6 drops Angostura bitters

Glass: Low balls.

Preparation:Fill one glass with ice, pour in the absinthe and top up with water. Shake the rest of the ingredients with ice. Now, pour out the contents of the absinthe-glass (!!) and strain the shaker’s content into this, absinthe coated, glass.

Garnish:Lemon twist

WHIP COCKTAIL

Ingredients:
Ice cubes
1 part brandy or cognac
1 part absinthe (you can maybe first attempt 0.5 parts)
1 part dry vermouth (or 0.5 parts each of dry and sweet vermouth)
1 part triple sec

Glass:Martini.

Preparation:Shake the ingredients and strain into the glass.

Garnish:No garnish

WHITE LILY

Ingredients:
Ice cubes
1 part gin
1 part triple sec
1 part light rum
1 spoon absinthe

Glass:Martini.

Preparation:Stir the ingredients and strain into the glass.

Garnish:No garnish

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