OK, some of you chemical-heads were probably wondering about the absinthe
(e:zobar,130) so - inspired by
(e:joshua) 's beer reviews - here goes. We cracked open the bottle on my birthday, and though I tried to pay attention, things started getting hazy after about half a glass.
Let's get the FAQs out of the way first: if you think thujone is going to take you Higher, you're better off picking up a loaf of sage bread at Weggies. If all you want is to get tanked, you'll get just as twisted with a mason jar of Shine On Georgia Moon.
For the rest of you who are still reading:
absinthe is weird, man. It isn't like anything else I have ever drunk, and I drink some pretty weird shit
(WIKIPEDIA - Balzam).
Nouvelle-Orleans
Jade Distillery, France
68% ABV (136 Proof)
Uncork The people at Jade pride themselves on historical accuracy; accordingly, their absinthe is corked and waxed. It's a nice touch, but I destroyed the cork and had to go through great pains to avoid getting wax chips in the booze.
Whiff Smells great right out of the bottle. Gentle anise aroma backed with a full complement of herbs. Life would be so much better if we could replace all the crappy scented candles and air fresheners in the world with open bottles of absinthe.
Prepare This is the fun part. [Please note: dilution is
not optional, although with better absinthes, sugar is.] If you haven't got any absinthiana
(WIKIPEDIA - Absinthiana), a small [4oz] wine glass and a slotted bar strainer will work ok. Pour one ounce of absinthe in the glass, put the strainer on top and put a sugar cube on the strainer. Slowly drip ice water over the sugar cube. Watch the absinthe. This is cool: as you add water, the anethole [anise oil, also present in fennel] comes out of solution and turns the drink from a transparent chlorophyll green to opaque yellowish white. After the sugar has dissolved and you've added 3-4oz water, you're ready to drink.
Sip Sip gently and enjoy the aroma all up in your head. The flavor is much milder than you might expect, and only faintly reminiscent of the bottle aroma. It's anisy and herbal, but not at all like Grandma's pizzelles. Despite the water and sugar, it's neither watery nor syrupy; rather it's a bit oily like heavy cream, and not particularly sweet.
Freak out Since you've cut the absinthe 3:1 with water it's down to about 34 proof [comparable with Irish cream] - but those four ounces are going to take you to different places. You're not high; you're not lucid - you're drunk as a skunk, and you're not even fooling yourself. Furthermore, by the time you're halfway through your glass, your tongue is numb from the alcohol and anethole. I spaced right the Hell out and only rejoined society at great length.
- Z
victoria carver is such a fox!
That is so insane! I lived through it, and wouldn't trade that for the world. Even so, I can barely stand to relive it now. I guess now I know how Adam and Eve felt when they realized their innocence was compromised. It's really not that cool.
p.s. - Maybe someday I'll tell you how instrumental I was in getting Lotus 1-2-3 launched. Not that anyone would care at this point - but at the time it was pretty intense.