Unveiling The Mystique And Allure Of Absinthe: The Green Fairy
What is Absinthe and is there really a Green Fairy? Absinthe is a distilled spirit flavored with common wormwood , a bitter shrub some say poisonous in high doses. The toxic properties of wormwood oil gave absinthe its famous reputation for hallucinogenic effects. Nicknamed la fée verte (“the green fairy”) by nineteenth-century absinthe drinkers, this mysterious drink derives its vibrant green color found in the various herbs used during the distilling process.
Traditional absinthe is a slow process to serve correctly, it is a purposeful preparation of absinthe using a spoon for sugar and a absinthe fountain both were first popularized in France. The addition of sugar tames the drink’s some say, bitterness, and water dilutes its strength to a more drinkable level.
To prepare a glass of absinthe get all your ingredients ready, start by placing a sugar cube onto a flat absinthe spoon (or, you can use a slotted spoon or a fork) and set or hold the spoon over approximately half an ounce to one ounce of absinthe in a short, stemmed cocktail glass. Slowly allow the fountain to drip three to five ounces of cold water over the sugar cube or you can manually pour the cold water yourself, allowing the sugar to dissolve and permeate the absinthe drop by drop, resulting in the cloudy white reaction known as “the louche.” you determine how much water you use as a matter of personal preference.
Will you see the fairy? Probably not but you can enjoy the drink and watch Moulin Rouge where singer Kylie Minoque portrays to infamous green fairy. Enjoy!
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Gallery Credit: Lori Crofford