Choose To Buy Absinthe And Serve Traditionally

If you are considering going to buy absinthe then it is important to understand the ritual that is associated with this mysterious drink. There is debate with most absinthe historians as to when the ritual with preparing absinthe originated. It has never been thought to have been consumed neat without water, and it is known that during the 1850's it was drunk with both water and sugar. Other drinks at this point were also commonly served with sugar and mixed with a cordial spoon or swizzle stick to dissolve the sugar. Here in this article we will look at the ritual that is involved with absinthe.

When you buy absinthe, you will find that true absinthe is unsweetened and this is why it is can be served with sugar. The sugar adds to the middle palette and also improves the herb flavour of the drink. The classic French ritual of serving absinthe typically involves placing a sugar cube on a perforated spoon, which is placed on top of the rim of the glass which contains the drink. Iced water is then slowly dripped onto the sugar cube which gradually dissolves and drips with the water into the absinthe.

Once you have added the water and sugar the green liquor turns into an opaque opalescent white as the essential oils precipitate out of the alcohol solution. Historically water was always carefully added to the mixture as the individual drips create milky swathes through the green. Part of the ritual was watching the drink change colour gradually. The ritual is an important part of absinthe as no other drink is consumed with such a calibrated type of ceremony, which is what has lent the drink its allure.

From historical evidence it seems that absinthe was always drunk the ritual way, even poor working men would buy absinthe and serve it this way, taking much care to slowly add the water and sugar. It really was seldom that the green drink was ever drunk neat (except perhaps by alcoholics who would have also drunk ether or cologne). Sugar is not always necessary for the drink and usually is down to taste, however when you buy absinthe I would recommend fully drinking it the traditional way. The slowness and care that is required will help put you in the right frame of mind to appreciate the subtleties of the drink and obviously make it taste much better than neat absinthe.

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