Can you drink absinthe after whiskey? What is absinthe and what can you drink it with? Options for every taste

Before you figure out how to drink absinthe, you need to know what the drink is.

The composition of the drink

Absinthe is a rather rare drink, and not everyone can boast that they know its taste well. Although there is nothing unusual in it. This is a fairly strong alcoholic drink. It contains about 70% alcohol. Sometimes this value can reach 86%. Therefore, you need to clearly know how to drink absinthe, so as not to accidentally burn your tongue.

In fact, this is the most common brandy made from grapes and infused with thirteen aromatic herbs. These include: wormwood and calamus, fennel and anise, mint and lemon balm, angelica and licorice, parsley and coriander, chamomile, veronica and white ash. The main component is bitter wormwood. In Latin, it sounds like "artemisia absentium." Hence the name of the drink itself "absinthe".

He has a rather dubious reputation. It is believed that its use can cause various visions. The reason for this hallucinogenic effect is the substance thujone, which is found in large quantities in the essential oils of wormwood extract. It is quite poisonous, and in significant doses it is even life-threatening.

A bit of history

Absinthe first became known in Switzerland in the nineties of the eighteenth century. Historians put forward two versions of the appearance of the drink. According to the first of them, the French doctor Pierre Ordiner was the inventor of the unusual infusion. He prescribed it to his patients and claimed that it was a cure for almost all diseases.

Others believe that the doctor only sold the drink that the Enrio sisters supplied him. They lived in the small town of Kuve on the border with France and for many years were engaged in the manufacture of various potions. By distilling the infusion of wormwood and anise, they obtained an alcoholic infusion, to which extracts of other herbs were then added.

A little later, after the death of the doctor, the Frenchmen Henri-Louis Pernot and Dubier bought the secret recipe for the drink and launched its mass production. To this day, the company "Perno" is known throughout the world as the main supplier of absinthe. An unusual drink with a mysterious history instantly became popular in France. Its price was at the level of the most expensive wine.

Varieties of absinthe

The shade of absinthe can be different:

  1. Yellow. This color appears after prolonged storage. The drink can also be artificially "aged" by adding a little food coloring. This does not affect the basic rules of how to drink absinthe.
  2. Green. More often it is emerald. Perhaps that is why the drink received the nickname "green witch".
  3. Red. This effect is achieved by adding dyes or pomegranate extract.
  4. Black or brown. This is how absinthe becomes if instead of inflorescences or leaves of wormwood, the roots of this plant are used. And an infusion of acacia is added to it, which also plays an important role in this.

The art of how to drink absinthe depends on the alcohol content. According to this indicator, drinks are:

  1. Low fortress (from 55 to 65%). In France, they make just such drinks. They have a low content of thujone or none at all.
  2. High fortress (from 70 to 85%). Such drinks are prepared according to classical technology in Switzerland.

Absinthes are also divided into three categories according to the amount of thujone, the main "hallucinogen":

  1. High content.
  2. Low content.
  3. Without thujone. Usually this is not absinthe, but a drink imitating it.

How is absinthe used?

Some mistakenly think that depending on the color of the drink, the way it is consumed also changes. Not at all. Whether black or yellow, it is still a strong alcoholic product, richly flavored with an infusion of wormwood, and all its preparations have two main goals: to soften the bitter aftertaste and at least slightly lower the concentration of alcohol so that absinthe can be drunk. Of course, who is able to easily swallow a seventy-degree liquid without pre-treatment! Even hot tea needs to be cooled first. And here the matter is much more complicated.

As for color, everything is simple here. More often on store shelves you can find this drink of only one shade, therefore, having figured out how to drink green absinthe correctly, you can understand how to use all its other varieties. There is no unified version. There are many ways, each of which is worth trying.

Options for every taste

There are many different ways to drink green absinthe. They are fundamentally different from each other, but there is one circumstance that unites them. This is the vessel in which absinthe is prepared. Usually for such a procedure you need to have:

  • a glass or a glass with edges expanding upwards;
  • a special spoon with holes.

To prepare the drink, clean cold water and refined sugar are also useful. All options can be combined in three main ways:

  1. French.
  2. Czech.
  3. Russian.
  1. Pour absinthe into a glass.
  2. Place an absinthe spoon on top of it.
  3. Put 1 piece of sugar on it.
  4. From another vessel, slowly pour cold water onto the refined sugar. The sugar will gradually dissolve, and through the holes in the spoon, the sweet liquid will fall into the glass. Absinthe will turn sharply white with a slight yellowish-green tint. This is due to the release of essential oils. The drink is ready to drink.

Czech method of making a drink

The Czechs have their own opinion about how to drink absinthe with sugar. They prepare it for consumption in two ways: with and without fire. In the first case, everything is as usual:

  1. Set a special spoon over an empty glass.
  2. Put a piece of sugar on it.
  3. Then slowly pour in the absinthe. He, wetting the sugar and passing through the holes in the spoon, fills the glass (glass).
  4. After that, the sugar must be set on fire and wait until the resulting caramel has completely drained.
  5. Pour cold water into a glass in a ratio of 3: 1 (more water). It remains only to mix everything well and drink.

Sometimes the use of open fire in the process itself raises some concerns. In this case, the drink should be prepared as follows:

  1. Heat up a spoon and put sugar on it.
  2. Set the spoon on top of the glass.
  3. Slowly pour absinthe onto the resulting structure.

Here you can do without water. Warm absinthe with melted sugar forms a savory and rather pleasant mixture.

What is the best way to use absinthe?

Many lovers of unusual drinks sometimes prepare absinthe on their own. Basically, it's easy. But the question arises: "And with what to drink absinthe at home?" There are several options. Usually it is cold water. But instead of it, you can also use juice (apple, cherry or orange). The main thing is that it is transparent and does not interfere with seeing the moment of cloudiness of the drink. Orange goes well with anise. Apple or cherry do not have pronounced pungent odors, so they are intended to soften the bitterness a little and give the drink a light fruity aroma. Drinking this mixture is not recommended. After all, a sip of any liquid will instantly destroy any aftertaste, and without it, fragrant absinthe loses all its charm and individuality. It is already diluted, so you do not need to repeat the same procedure twice. And, of course, you should not eat it with anything. Absinthe, like cognac, should not just be drunk. They need to enjoy.

Absinthe in Russian

The Russian version is one of the most unusual ways of drinking absinthe. It is not like any of the previously known. This variant explains how to drink absinthe with vapor. This will require two glasses. Natural absinthe is poured into one glass. Then it must be set on fire. Given the strength of the drink, this is easy to do. The composition should burn out a little. After that, it should be covered with another glass. As soon as the fire goes out, pour the remaining liquid into the second vessel, and the first, in turn, cover with a napkin and turn it sharply upside down. As a result, two glasses are on the table. One contains a prepared drink, and the other contains a rather refined aroma.

Drinking such a product should also be unusual: first take a sip from the first glass, and then inhale the aroma from the second glass through the cocktail tube. The effect is simply amazing. True, drinking such a strong drink is not easy. This option is chosen mainly by extreme or thrill-seekers.

What affects the strength of the drink?

Ordinary absinthe with a strength of more than 70 degrees is usually diluted with water in a ratio of 5:1. If the drink contains less alcohol, then less liquid will also be needed to dilute it (for 1 part of absinthe - 3-4 parts of water). On sale sometimes come across such drinks. The question rightly arises: "How to drink absinthe 55 degrees?" Very simple. You don't have to do anything with it. First, there is no need to use sugar because it is already sold sweetened. Secondly, a drink with a strength of 55 degrees does not need to be diluted. In fact, this is no longer natural absinthe, but a mixture ready for use. On the one hand, it is convenient: I opened the bottle, poured it and drank it. And on the other hand, the need for an unusual procedure, which is the effect of drinking this drink, is eliminated. Here, not only the end result is interesting, but also the process itself. From such a parody of absinthe, one cannot expect the unusual sensation that should accompany the use of a real drink.

(from the English "absinthe") in its pure form is a rather bitter drink, so all the methods that have been invented for more than 200 years are aimed at softening this bitterness. There are more than a dozen ways to drink absinthe, in this article Shake will try to reveal them all.

French

Pour one part of absinthe into a glass, put a special absinthe spoon on the edge of the glass, put a sugar cube on it. Pour three parts of ice water into a glass over sugar in a spoon. Sugar will dissolve in water, and the resulting syrup will mix with absinthe.

A continuation of this method is the use of absinthe with crushed ice in the same proportions.

Czech

The Czech method consists of 2 possible options, consider them:

The first. Through a piece of sugar on an absinthe spoon set at the edges of the glass, skip one part of absinthe in large drops. Set fire to sugar and drip the resulting caramel into absinthe. Then dilute with three parts of water. This, the most famous, method is dangerous because absinthe in a glass can easily catch fire, and requires caution. In such cases, some connoisseurs consider this one of the signals to start diluting absinthe with water - the drink, losing its strength, will go out by itself.

Second. It consists in the fact that a piece of sugar is placed on a heated spoon with holes, which is held over a glass. Absinthe is poured onto the spoon. Thus, Absinthe is mixed with sugar and a kind of syrup is obtained. This method raises doubts about practicality, because in order to achieve a similar effect, the spoon must be constantly heated.


Czech method of drinking absinthe.

Crystal Czech

One of the classic and easiest ways. Pour a little absinthe over your eyes into a thick-walled glass. Light it up and wait a bit for it to burn out. Blow out and immediately drink in one gulp, without eating or drinking.

Russian

Make sugar syrup separately, and then dilute it with absinthe in the desired proportion. Personally, I have been using this method for quite some time, it is fast and very effective for large companies. The disadvantages of this method include the loss of absinthe taste due to excessive sweetness.

Severe

Pour four parts of iced absinthe into an absinthe glass. Set it on fire. Put a piece of sugar on an absinthe spoon, hold it over the flame. The sugar will begin to melt and drip into the glass, crystallizing at the bottom. When the number of round brown crystals fills the remaining fifth of the glass, remove the spoonful of sugar. Prepare a cocktail tube. Blow out the flame and immediately, lowering the tube into the glass, without stopping, drink all the liquid contents of the glass through it in several quick large sips, be sure to pass it all over the tongue in order to feel the taste deeper.

The method is quite bold, but because of the plastic tube, I would not recommend testing it. If you have steel tubes - definitely try it and write about the effect in the comments.

citrus absinthe

For this method, we need any citrus fruit, cut it and form slices, peel the slices from internal films, thus exposing the pulp of the fruit. Roll the slices in a mixture of granulated sugar and cinnamon to taste.

Pour 50 ml of absinthe into an absinthe glass and set it on fire. With steel tongs, take the previously prepared slice and hold it over the fire so that the mixture of sugar, cinnamon and juice drips into the glass. You can press the slice a little with tongs for more abundant juice secretion.

Now it is necessary to block the access of oxygen to the glass in order to extinguish the flame. Let the glass cool down a little and drink warm absinthe. For a snack - dissolve crystals of burnt sugar with cinnamon.

Toad (Friday)

30 ml of absinthe is poured into the snifter. 15 ml of mint liqueur, 100 ml of champagne and 30 ml of vodka are poured into rocks. Absinthe is ignited in the snifter and rotated so that the glass is heated evenly and does not crack. Then pour the burning contents into the rocks and insert the snifter from above.

It is important that the snifter is firmly immersed in the rocks to create a kind of vacuum between the glasses, with the help of which the “toad” effect is created in the form of bubbles on the surface of the drink. Once the bubbles are gone, quickly remove and place a couple of wipes under the snifter. Shake the rocks in the same way as tequila boom, drink in one gulp, and then inhale the vapors from under the snifter through a plastic tube (the tube must be carefully placed between the napkin and the snifter).

Happy Milkman

Mix in equal proportions absinthe, whiskey and milk. Drink slowly, if possible, with pleasure.

Gentle

Pour 1/3 of ice water into a glass, then 2/3 of absinthe, so that the liquids do not mix, but there are 2 layers. We drink. The effect is that the strong taste of absinthe is replaced by the softness of water.

Beautiful

Pour absinthe and grenadine into the shot in a ratio of 9 to 1, set it on fire and carefully lower the stack of highball glass with champagne. The contents begin to slowly turn into a bright cherry color, and in the end a drink of a rich eggplant color is obtained. The stack must remain in the glass at all times. To make the taste of the drink uniform, you can stir it with a straw. Drink slowly and enjoy.

hemingway

Pour absinthe into an iron mug on one finger, add cold water to the level of 2/3 of the mug. Mix and drink in small sips.

Now you know how to drink absinthe correctly. If you have other methods unknown to me, and I will definitely add them to this article.

Absinthe is an alcoholic tincture of wormwood and various herbs. Manufacturing technology does not provide for supernatural components. The modern drink differs from the common absinthe that was drunk in the 19th century.

The people call absinthe differently. The most common names are: "devil's potion", "green fairy", "green witch". Previously, the composition of the drink included herbs coriander, fennel, wormwood, lemon balm, chamomile. Today, extracts, flavors and dyes are used in the manufacture.

How to distinguish a fake

Before you learn how to drink absinthe correctly at home, you need to make sure that it is authentic, since there are fakes on the market.

  1. If the store offers a drink in a bottle of transparent and light glass, most likely it does not contain absinthe, but a green alcohol solution.
  2. True absinthe contains chlorophyll, which does not tolerate exposure to light. The original drink is bottled in dark bottles.
  3. Pour a small amount of absinthe into a light glass and dilute with water. Genuine tincture will immediately darken due to vegetable essential oils in the composition.
  4. If turbidity is not observed, then there are no essential oils and the manufacturer chose not herbs, but flavors.

Rules and snack

Absinthe is a special drink that requires special rituals to create a unique atmosphere. They attract thrill-seekers and aesthetes.

  1. Drink in pure and diluted form. The first option is suitable for a quality drink, the second - for the first acquaintance with it.
  2. The fortress reaches 85 degrees, so you need to choose the right snack that will emphasize the taste and make the eating procedure as delicate as possible. The best snack of the "devil's potion" is fruit. A chopped green apple, slices of lemon or orange will do. If the drink is intended for a lady, sprinkle the fruit with sugar.
  3. An appetizer is a must if you plan to enjoy pure absinthe. Pure chilled absinthe is drunk in one gulp and eaten with fruit.
  4. The strength of the tincture is diluted with chilled boiled water, ice, a special spoon and refined sugar. Dilution is a real ritual.

Video tips

dilution ritual

Half the dose of absinthe is poured into thick-walled dishes. A piece of refined sugar is placed on a special spoon and the remaining tincture is passed through it. The drink flows into the bowl, soaking the sugar.

Then the sugar is set on fire and waiting for the formation of syrup, which flows into the glass. Dilute with water or crushed ice.

In the process of preparing the tincture, make sure that it does not foam. If, during the combustion of refined sugar, absinthe in a glass catches fire, it is quickly diluted with water.

Traditional recipes for drinking absinthe

If you want to experience the real sensations of the "devil's potion", find a drink created on good alcohol based on the original recipe. The tincture drinking culture has given rise to many preparation recipes and rituals. The use of absinthe, like cognac or baileys, has its own peculiarities. I will share a few traditional recipes.

  1. Czech recipe. Put a special spoon on the edge of the glass, put a piece of refined sugar on top of it. Pass half of the absinthe in large drops through the sugar. Set fire. When sugar burns, caramel is formed, which must drain into a glass through a hole in a spoon. At the end of the process, dilute the drink with water in a ratio of 1 to 3.
  2. french recipe. Pour absinthe into a glass. Place a spoon on the edge of the dish and put refined sugar on it. Pour three parts of cold water through it into a pile. It will dissolve the sugar and dilute it with cold syrup, which will soften the bitterness.
  3. Russian recipe. This method of preparing a drink resembles the method of drinking Sambuca liquor. Get a "devil's potion" with pairs. Pour a little absinthe into a cognac glass and place sideways on a whiskey dish. Ignite and rotate the glass. Pour into a whiskey glass and cover with brandy glass to extinguish the fire. Remove the glass and, without turning over, close the bottom with a napkin. Drink and inhale the vapor through a straw.
  4. citrus recipe. It is not customary to use citrus fruits in the preparation of the drink, but this recipe deserves attention. Mix sugar with cinnamon and roll in the resulting mixture a slice of orange with peel. In a thick-walled glass, set fire to absinthe and hold a slice over the fire using tongs. Juice, along with crystallizing sugar, will drain into a glass. Cool down a bit and drink.

Be careful when lighting the drink. Do not forget about health, drink in small doses.

Video recipe for homemade absinthe on wormwood

How to drink absinthe correctly - 3 ways

Absinthe requires proper use. The composition of this tincture even includes toxins, improper drinking can be harmful to health.

  1. Look at the title. The word "absinthe" is spelled differently in different languages. In Spain, they write Absenta on the label, in France - Absinthe.
  2. The phrase Absinthe Refined, present on the label, indicates that the absinthe has been refined and thujone is absent. His absence is confirmed by the words Thujone-free.
  3. Usually the strength of alcoholic beverages is indicated as a percentage. Some manufacturers refer to it as proof. 1 proof corresponds to 0.5% alcohol.

It is correct to drink from a wide, tapering to the base, glass.

  1. Standard way. Before drinking, pour chilled water through the refined sugar lying on a perforated spoon. The sugar will dissolve and drain into the glass. High-quality absinthe, when mixed with water, turns yellow-green. For one part of the tincture, it is recommended to take five parts of water.
  2. Czech way. Put a little sugar in a spoon, add a little drink, set it on fire and wait until the sugar dissolves. Pour caramel into a glass with a drink and mix.
  3. extreme way. Drink without dilution. Cool the drink down. This option is for professionals only. A slice of lemon will help to cope with the bitter taste.

Secrets of absinthe with sugar

Almost all ways to drink tincture involve the use of sugar. The drink is bitter, sugar softens this bitterness a little.

Option 1

Refined sugar is placed in a special spoon with holes and placed above the glass. Chilled water is poured into a spoon. Dissolved sugar with water flows into a bowl with absinthe, the drink becomes yellowish-green.

Option 2

Place a little sugar in a spoon and pour in tincture. Hold the cutlery over the fire. After the formation of caramel, the contents of the spoon are poured into a glass of drink. After stirring, the glass is quickly emptied.

Useful information

Absinthe hallucinations - fact or myth?

The hallucinogenic effect of the tincture is due to the substance thujone. Fans of hallucinations will have to be disappointed. The factory-bottled drink contains little of this toxin. For the sake of hallucinations, absinthe will have to be made independently.

famous brands

The Czech Republic offers two options: RedAbsinthe and KingofSpirits. The Italians supply XentaAbsenta. Each of the drinks is high quality, exclusive and expensive.

Tincture colors

Absinthe is sold in stores in blue, yellow, red or black. There are also transparent tinctures. There are no reasons for outrage. If the tincture is not green, it is not a fake.

History of absinthe

The tincture first appeared in 1782 in Switzerland and was a wormwood-anise medicine for various diseases. Due to its pronounced narcotic properties, absinthe quickly became a popular alcoholic drink. The composition includes thujone, a toxic substance that causes hallucinations.

Initially, absinthe was based on grape alcohol. After some time, manufacturers switched to industrial alcohol. As a result, quality has suffered greatly, but the price has decreased, and demand has increased.

In the late 19th century, the health of the working class deteriorated greatly due to the abuse of tincture. In some countries, the threat was national in nature, as the French nation was almost destroyed due to the excessive use of the "green witch". The authorities of American and European states have banned the manufacture and sale of absinthe and sale. Thujon is still banned.

Finally, let me remind you once again that absinthe is a strong drink. If it is abused, a severe hangover cannot be avoided. I recommend savoring the tincture slowly and correctly. This will save you from troubles and bad consequences.

There are various methods of serving and drinking alcoholic beverages. And absinthe is no exception. The drink is strong. It cannot be used in its pure form. Rather, you can, of course. But not many people like its strong bitter taste. Various serving methods boil down to reducing the strength and slightly hiding the bitterness of the drink. How to drink green absinthe, we will tell you now.

How to drink absinthe with sugar?

This type of absinthe is called French or classic. Pour absinthe into a glass, place a special spoon with holes on top and put a piece of sugar on it. Before serving on sugar, pour very cold, almost ice-cold water until the drink becomes cloudy. Thanks to water, the essential oils contained in alcohol precipitate, and the drink is much easier to drink. The proportions of water and absinthe should be 5:1.

How to drink burning absinthe?

In this case, there are several methods.

  1. Czech. We dip a small piece of refined sugar into the drink and put it on a special spoon, which we put on a glass of absinthe. We light the sugar and after that the burning sugar will begin to gradually drain into the glass. Immediately before drinking, pour a little cold juice or water into the drink.
  2. Russian. With this method of drinking, absinthe is poured into a glass and immediately set on fire. For a few seconds, the liquid will burn with a blue flame. After that, cover the burning drink with an empty glass. After the fire goes out, pour the absinthe into the glass with which it was covered. And now we cover the first glass with a napkin and turn it over. We put a straw under it. In this case, you first need to slowly inhale the vapors of the drink, and then wash them down with burning absinthe.
  3. Bar. This method of consumption is similar to Czech. But at the same time, there is one important difference - in this case, absinthe itself is set on fire, and not sugar. So, fill the glass 4/5 with cold absinthe, set fire to it. Just as in the Czech method, put sugar on a spoon and bring it to a burning drink. Remove the spoon after the sugar dissolves. Extinguish the flame and serve the cocktail with a straw.

Can you drink pure absinthe?

Absinthe is an extremely strong drink. And not everyone can drink it in its pure form. But still, there are such daredevils. With this method of serving, pour absinthe into narrow glasses, fill them up to half and cool to zero degrees. But experienced bartenders do not recommend drinking more than 30 grams of pure drink at a time.

And to make drinking absinthe easier and more enjoyable, there are some other ways to serve it. So, what can you drink absinthe with.

  • Absinthe with syrup. It is believed that this method of filing was invented in Russia. To do this, prepare sugar syrup and pour it into a glass of absinthe. In this case, the proportions of syrup and absinthe can be taken to your liking. Most often take 70% water and 30% absinthe.
  • Absinthe with juice. If you don’t have time or just don’t feel like messing around with sugar syrup, you can simply dilute the drink with juice. In this case, the proportions are also taken arbitrarily. Lemon, orange and pineapple juices work best.

You can also use carbonated drinks to dilute absinthe to your taste.

How do you drink absinthe at home?

Above, we talked about how to properly serve absinthe. But we did not mention what time it is best to submit it. Now let's talk about it. Absinthe is usually served immediately before a meal, as the drink is able to excite the appetite. In addition, it will not be appropriate during meals, as its rich taste can interrupt the taste of food. But this is more about the drink in its purest form. And if you use absinthe in cocktails, as it is most often served, then there are no specific time frames - it is permissible to drink absinthe cocktails at any time. And after them, you can serve slices of orange, lemon or dark chocolate.

Absinthe is a very popular alcoholic drink in certain circles. In fact, it is an alcohol tincture of bitter wormwood. It has a characteristic greenish tint and aroma of spicy herbs, in which a hint of wormwood still prevails.

Absinthe is often referred to as the "Green Fairy". Someone believes that its use causes strong and realistic hallucinations. Someone, on the contrary, is sure that this is a panacea for many ills. Only one thing is clear - absinthe must be consumed wisely, otherwise negative consequences cannot be avoided.

Wormwood tinctures have been known since ancient Egypt and Greece. Their use was the lot of the nobility, the elite. Moderate drinking of the potion was recommended for hepatitis, iron deficiency in the blood, to alleviate the condition during inflammation of the joints by the founder of medicine, Hippocrates.

All these drugs bore little resemblance to the absinthe that exists today. The modern version, according to one version, was invented by the Enrio sisters as a medicinal drug. In the 18th century, everything was treated with it: from colds to arthritis. Another theory says that the recipe belongs to the Frenchman Pierre Ordiner, who was engaged in medical practice in the Swiss village of Kovet. He may have plagiarized Enrio's design, but managed to make it popular. The name of the drink comes from the Latin name for wormwood - Artemisia absínthium. The herb is the main component of the tincture, the strength of which ranges from 55 to 85°C. In addition to it, the composition contains:

  • coriander;
  • veronica;
  • liquorice;
  • parsley;
  • peppermint;
  • chamomile;
  • calamus, angelica;
  • melissa;
  • anise.

Medicinal plants give their healing components to alcohol. Knowing how to drink absinthe correctly, it is really used as a tincture for treatment.

Many creative personalities liked to invoke the muse by drinking absinthe at home, restaurants. Among his ardent admirers is the world-famous artist Van Gogh. On the labels of some bottles you can see his portrait or images of paintings by the outrageous master of the brush.

Use at home

Currently, there are several options for the correct use of this alcohol. However, each country has its own.

It is drunk not only in its pure form, but also used to make cocktails. Although, as true connoisseurs of this drink say, you can appreciate its full taste and aroma only by drinking pure absinthe. But here everyone decides for himself how to drink absinthe correctly.

In its purest form

"Green Witch" is a binding drink and not cheap. It has its own circles of fans and those who categorically do not accept the peculiar herbal taste of alcohol. But you need to try it at least once to form your own opinion. At the same time, it is important to understand how to drink absinthe correctly in order to feel all the notes of the composition.

Absinthe is now consumed in almost every country in the world. There are only three main ways to drink it.

Russian variant

  • First you need to prepare sugar syrup to your liking. Usually used for 100 ml of hot water 2-3 tbsp. l. granulated sugar.
  • The resulting syrup is then mixed with absinthe and served.
  • The proportions for dilution may be different, according to the taste of the drinker. It is common to use 1 part absinthe and 3 or 5 parts syrup.

french way

The French way of drinking is considered classic. It was in this country that this alcoholic drink was invented.

In addition to the absinthe itself, you will need a refined sugar cube, a special spoon, filtered water and absinthe itself.

  1. One part of absinthe is poured into a glass, a spoon is placed on top of its edges, sugar is placed on it.
  2. And they begin to pour water very slowly.
  3. Absinthe will begin to become cloudy, and a greenish ring will form on its surface.
  4. As soon as it disappears, the drink is ready to drink.

Czech method

The Czech version of use has two varieties at once. In both cases, absinthe is served slightly warm.

  • First option. A preheated special spoon is placed on the edges of the glass. A cube of refined sugar is placed in it and absinthe is slowly poured. The result is a drink with the addition of concentrated sugar caramel.
  • With the second delivery method also spread a spoonful of sugar on the edge of the glass. Before that, it is NOT heated. Absinthe is then poured through the refined sugar, and then the sugar is set on fire. Wait until all the caramel is in the glass. After that, three parts of water are added to 1 part of absinthe.

Reference! In some drinking establishments, when choosing the French way of drinking, before serving, the bartender sets fire to sugar or the absinthe itself directly in the glass.

Such a serving, of course, looks very unusual, but has nothing to do with the traditional classic version of drinking this alcoholic drink.

There is another option for drinking this drink, which is called extreme. In this case, serving the drink is very similar to serving sambuca.

  1. Two glasses are used. Sprite is poured into the first glass, which must have thick walls. A portion of absinthe is poured into a special glass for the skate.
  2. Next, a glass of absinthe is placed on a glass of sprite and alcohol is set on fire.
  3. At the same time, the glass with the burning liquid must be gently scrolled so that both liquids warm up evenly.
  4. The absinthe is then poured into the sprite and covered with a glass to extinguish the fire.
  5. As soon as this happens, the cognac glass is removed, and the glass with the sprite is dug up with a napkin, in the center of which a tube is inserted and immediately served.

What to mix with - popular cocktails

But not every person can drink pure absinthe in one of the above ways. That is why several cocktails were created based on this alcoholic drink.

Absinthe is usually diluted with a variety of fruit and berry liqueurs. The result is cocktails that are amazing in color, taste and aroma, which are very pleasant to drink.

The following recipes are considered the most popular cocktail options.

Flaming Lamborghini

"Flaming Lamborghini" in translation means a flaming Lamborghini. This cocktail is prepared quite simply and has a very unusual serving.

  • For its preparation, absinthe, sambuca coffee liqueur are mixed in equal parts. These ingredients are taken in 35 ml.
  • In another glass, mix Baileys and Curacao blue liqueur. These components must be taken in the same amount.
  • First, the contents of the first glass are drunk through the straw, and when it comes to an end, the liquid from the second glass is poured into it and drunk.

Sweet contrasts

There are two practically similar cocktail recipes, differing only in one ingredient. For a more heady liquor with a fruity, berry flavor is taken. The ladies' (lite) version implies syrup instead.

Ingredients:

  • Apple fresh (clarified juice is possible) -150 ml;
  • 3-4 ice cubes;
  • Absinthe - 50 ml;
  • Berry syrup (liquor) - 30 ml.

Prepared in a tall glass, where syrup, apple juice, absinthe, ice are poured alternately in a thin stream. The cocktail is drunk in one fell swoop, primarily for a clear sensation of each layer. The bitterness of hard liquor is replaced by the acidity of the fresh juice, the fruity sweetness of the liquor follows as an appetizer. Through a straw, it is also used in the reverse order, but this is an “advanced” level.

absinthe boom

This is the simplest cocktail, but also the most intoxicating.

In equal proportions, the main ingredient is first poured into a glass, and then any sparkling champagne is poured. They should be mixed with one blow on the rack or table. They drink such a cocktail only in one gulp.

Antimatrix

A fresh-looking, eye-catching, good-tasting cocktail served in many bars. The simplicity of its manufacture and the availability of ingredients allows you to enjoy it without leaving your home.

Ingredients:

  • fruit and berry liqueur (in the original version, "Pisang" is taken) - 20 ml;
  • absinthe - 20 ml;
  • lemon juice - 20 ml.

Container for cooking - shot glass.

How to cook:

Liquor is poured in first. With the help of a special bar spoon, fresh citrus is placed under it, and a layer of absinthe is placed on top.

white fog

This is a combination of absinthe and mint liqueur taken in equal proportions. Usually they take 30 ml.

In a shaker, the components are mixed, a couple of drops of bitter tincture are added to them. Everything is thoroughly beaten, served with mint leaves.

concussion

A concussion is a rather unusual, invigorating combination of alcoholic beverages.

This cocktail fully justifies its name.

  1. Rum, vodka and absinthe are poured into a cocktail glass in layers.
  2. The layers should have the same size, and their volume should be about 25 ml.
  3. From different sides of the glass, 30 ml of lemon juice and cola are simultaneously poured.
  4. The entire contents of the glass are set on fire and a little ground cinnamon is thrown into the fire.
  5. Served immediately.

Tricolor

A killer cocktail, you need to drink it carefully, intoxication overtakes quickly. Between shots, take breaks lasting at least an hour, you should not drink it on an empty stomach, then the second approach may not take place.

Ingredients:

  • absinthe and sambuca - 20 ml each.
  • cherry juice without pulp - 20 ml.

The ingredients are poured into a tall narrow glass so that the layers do not mix.

This is a short list of the most popular cocktails based on this alcoholic drink around the world.

Attention! To dilute alcohol "Green Fairy" can be used fruit liqueurs of various types. Additionally, it is recommended to use such highly carbonated drinks as Coca Cola and sprite. It is necessary to take these ingredients in approximately the same proportions.

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Watch a video on how to drink absinthe correctly and what to mix it with:

Is it right to have a drink?

In the West, in particular in the homeland of this alcohol, it is not customary to serve it with a snack. They believe that the drink should be consumed either as an aperitif or after a hearty dinner.

While in our country, things are a little different. Strong alcohol in Russia is used to snacking. Not every person will be able to drink vigorous alcohol with nothing without eating it.

  • Drinking establishments often offer slices of citrus fruits, such as oranges or lemons, as a snack.
  • Before serving, they are rolled in fine sugar, sprinkled with an additional pinch of ground cinnamon on top.

Such an appetizer allows not to interrupt the true taste of wormwood alcohol, only emphasizes its unique advantages.

Professional absentiers (lovers of this alcohol) believe that if you serve a snack with a drink, it must be chosen based on the main flavor of this alcohol:

  • The drink, with a predominance of mint notes, lemon balm is served with fruits, primarily: apples, pears, avocados, kiwi.
  • If the main taste tone is touched by anise, then chocolate will be an ideal supplement. Bitter varieties are preferred, with a cocoa bean content of at least 80%.
  • A variety of noble cheeses are suitable for classic absinthe with a pronounced taste and aroma of bitter wormwood and other herbs. Especially with mold. Such a drink goes well with olives, green olives, pickled mushrooms.

Reference! Sun-dried tomatoes with olive oil and herbs are rightfully considered a universal snack for all varieties of this alcohol. It is they who perfectly emphasize the taste of this drink and neutralize its main component - thujone.

You should never serve any meat, fish or confectionery dishes as a snack for this alcohol. They will kill all its taste and aroma, and you can forget about the unusual aftertaste.

Are there glitches from absinthe

There are many different myths and prejudices around the wormwood drink. One of them claims that after drinking a drink, you can see green fairies, witches and other devilry. Absinthe intoxication differs from vodka and others. Perhaps that is why it intimidates beginners. How the process will proceed in each case is difficult to predict. Depends on:

  • characteristics of the organism;
  • sentiments;
  • speed and amount of alcohol consumed;
  • environment;
  • personal qualities.

As a result, someone becomes slightly relaxed, laughter bursts out, and one wants to do cute stupid things. For others, stupidity is not entirely cute, aggression appears, a thirst for adventure. Whispers about its narcotic effect are most likely due to the fact that as a result of drinking the drink can:

  • distort colors;
  • spatial orientation may be disturbed;
  • the size and distance of the objects do not correspond to the real ones.

In order for everything to be a pleasure, you need to start tasting slowly, in a calm, relaxed state. Do not lean on cocktails, especially pure absinthe shots. It is necessary to observe the intervals, knowing what absinthe is drunk with, it is recommended to eat heavy, fatty foods before the “event”. The herbs in it stimulate digestion, and if there is an appetizer for alcohol, it will be very light. Having overdoing it in the evening, in the morning it is worth preparing for a hangover. The fact that absinthe does not cause headaches is certainly a blatant lie.

Precautions and features of drinking the "Green Fairy"

Many unscrupulous manufacturers use many preservatives, artificial flavors and essential oils to reduce the cost of this alcohol and speed up its preparation. As a result, the benefits of the tincture are lost, and the danger of consumption increases.

Therefore, before purchasing and using it, it is advisable to study the composition of absinthe.

Wormwood alcoholic drink, especially in combination with a variety of liquors, is very easy to drink. Intoxication from him comes abruptly, unexpectedly. Therefore, it is imperative to monitor the dosed intake.

Do not try to drink the whole glass in one gulp.

If this alcoholic drink is used for the first time, it is better to limit yourself to one or a maximum of two portions of it.

For the reason that it not only has a quick intoxicating effect, but also affects an adequate assessment of the surrounding reality, and in some cases can cause panic attacks or aggression. Therefore, therefore, it is not recommended to use it for people with mental disabilities, who are also depressed.

Absinthe is a rather specific alcoholic drink with an unusual taste, aroma and effect on the human body. It is very popular, only it should be consumed in limited doses, primarily as part of light cocktails.

The video shows safe and popular ways to drink the drink:

The most remarkable thing about absinthe is its individuality. Similarly, not a single alcoholic drink “works” for him. Of course, this further fuels interest in wormwood tincture. Maybe the piquant reputation plays in favor of the "green witch", but many people like its unique, unlike anything else taste.