The highly alcoholic (45 per cent-74 per cent proof) absinthe has earned the title of “Bad Boy” among booze and has been periodically banned by the US and some European countries thanks to the “bohemian” tag that the anise-flavoured spirit earned. Though it was vilified as a dangerously psychotropic drug, scientific evidence has proved that it is no more dangerous than any other spirit. Usually light green in colour, more than a dozen brands of the spirit are available today.
Tip: Stick to one
Original Absinthe cocktail
Ingredients
50 ml Absinthe
1 barspoon castor sugar
50 ml water
Method
Pour the absinthe into a not-too-tall glass. Dip the barspoon full of sugar and take it out just when the sugar absorbs the spirit. With a lighter, set the sugar alight while holding the spoon over the absinthe glass. As the sugar caramelises, drop the spoon into the spirit. If the absinthe catches fire, keep stirring till the caramelised sugar dissolves completely. Add the water, stir once and serve.
Absinthe Martini
Ingredients
50 ml Martini red vermouth
1 dash absinthe
1 dash orange bitters
Method
Pour all the ingredients into a shaker, add ice and shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass and serve.