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Thread: Absinthe

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    Veteran Member Scotty Pogo's Avatar
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    Default Absinthe

    I had absinthe when I was in Europe awhile ago, and I thought it was great, so I decided to order myself a bottle yesterday. Ironically, the club I work at just got some in as well, and I need to teach them how to prepare it. Here's my question:

    The bartender in London put the suger on a spoon melted with a lighter before stirring it into the absinthe. Most methods I've seen involve pouring ice water over a sugar cube into the glass. Is there a difference between the two?
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    Every time that I've had absinthe we've used a lighter. I think, I barely remember lol.
    But I'm going to ask a few friends right now.
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    Never let a junkie prepare your drink.

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    Veteran Member Scotty Pogo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    I thought that same thing when he started preparing it. It was a free shot someone got for me, and they wouldn't tell me what it was until I had it. Thought I was doing liquid heroin for a moment.
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    It seems like holding a flame to the sugar might change the taste a bit? It probably carmelizes the sugar as opposed to just melting it.

    It's legal here, but I've heard that the ingrediants aren't the same. I saw some at the store but it was like, $50 for a bottle! Anyone ever had the "US version"? I don't want to waste my money if it sucks...
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    Quote Originally Posted by Deogol View Post
    Never let a junkie prepare your drink.



    I do both, poor the absinthe over the sugar cube (which is in a 'slotted' spoon), then burn the sugar and extinguish it with ice water, then stir the whole lot and enjoy.

    XS

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    Veteran Member Scotty Pogo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    There is two brands of Grand Wormwood absinthe that is legal in the US. Grand Wormwood is the European/World absinthe, as opposed to Southern Wormwood, which is a generic absinthe imposter, and the kind you probably heard about. The two brands available are Kubler and Lucid, both are imports. My club got Kubler, and I'm going to taste it when I get there, and I ordered myself a bottle of Lucid, which I will get next week, I'll let you which is better (I'm betting it's Lucid).

    http://www.drinklucid.com is a great site, as well as http://www.absinthedevil.com

    I got most of my info from these two sites, as well as Wikipedia.

    As for the sugar, the traditional way to prepare it is to pour the ice cold water over the sugar to create the chemical reaction that makes absinthe so tasty. I've never had it this way, but I'm about to in less than an hour. Carmelizing the sugar I'm sure creates the same effect, and is probably faster, but is the water added into the shot before hand? This is where I get confused on the process.
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    Veteran Member Scotty Pogo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    Quote Originally Posted by Scarlett.Oz View Post



    I do both, poor the absinthe over the sugar cube (which is in a 'slotted' spoon), then burn the sugar and extinguish it with ice water, then stir the whole lot and enjoy.

    XS
    You mean you do both methods for one glass, or you use either method to make it? Is there a difference between the two?

    EDIT: Jesus, for someone who prides themselves on being a careful reader, I really should've read this closer.... I missed that you pour the absinthe over the sugar first.
    Last edited by Scotty Pogo; 03-13-2008 at 02:34 PM. Reason: Being dumb
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    I've had both the American and the European versions... I found the American to be a "typical" Alcohol, while the European version had some different effects SOME of the time.

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    Veteran Member LadyLuck's Avatar
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    I enjoy Absinthe at home on a fairly regular basis and I use the slotted spoon method.

    Here is a link that shows different methods to prepare it:
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    Slowly trickling water over a suspended sugar cube is the New Orleans / French method. Pouring Absinthe over a suspended sugar cube, setting fire to the sugar cube until it melts into the glass, and THEN trickling in more water is the Bohemian / Czech method.

    IMHO Kubler formulated for export to the USA, and Lucid have both had their 'balls' cut off. Try the real stuff from Europe. It's 100% legal to order 'real' Absinthe over the net from vendors located outside the USA, and then have it shipped to you ... up to a three bottle limit for 'personal consumption'.

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    Veteran Member Scotty Pogo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    Quote Originally Posted by LadyLuck View Post
    I enjoy Absinthe at home on a fairly regular basis and I use the slotted spoon method.

    Here is a link that shows different methods to prepare it: http://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-Absinthe
    Thanks for that link, that explained a lot.

    I tried the Kubler, and it has the genuine taste of absinthe, but it has had it's balls cut off as Melonie so aptly put. It's not the same alcohol content. Plus, it's clear, which I'm not fond of (EDIT: In my n00bness, I assumed that all absinthes were green- I learned that is untrue). However, it IS Grand Wormwood absinthe.

    I have to give the Lucid a try yet, so I'll let you know how that goes.

    As for ordering from outside the U.S., my budget isn't exactly that grand. The bottle of Lucid I ordered was $70 with shipping, so I can't imagine what I'd be looking at for sales outside the U.S. Perhaps if I get enough cash saved up, I'll look more into it.
    Last edited by Scotty Pogo; 03-13-2008 at 05:56 PM.
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    Quote Originally Posted by Scotty Pogo View Post
    I thought that same thing when he started preparing it. It was a free shot someone got for me, and they wouldn't tell me what it was until I had it. Thought I was doing liquid heroin for a moment.
    Sorry dude, i gotta tell you how dumb that is. Seriously. I'm not trying to trash talk you but if you don't know what it is and someone tells you 'no' they won't tell you when you ask, tell them to go fuck themselves. Especially when a warning sign like "Thought I was doing liquid heroin for a moment" flashes itself. People wind up on the floor or worse drinking stuff like that.


    P.S. I've had Absinthe. It's disgusting.

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    Veteran Member Scotty Pogo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    The liquid herion line was meant to be a joke. Albeit a bad one, but a joke nonetheless. I saw the bottle he poured from. Had it had a skull and crossbones, or death skullfucking Jesus, I wouldn't have done it. I saw that it was sugar that he put on the spoon. Plus, the person who bought the shot got one for herself, and it was poured from the same bottle.

    I was in Europe. I was going to live a little, dammit.
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    Veteran Member LadyLuck's Avatar
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    Quote Originally Posted by Scotty Pogo View Post
    Thanks for that link, that explained a lot.

    I tried the Kubler, and it has the genuine taste of absinthe, but it has had it's balls cut off as Melonie so aptly put. It's not the same alcohol content. Plus, it's clear, which I'm not fond of (EDIT: In my n00bness, I assumed that all absinthes were green- I learned that is untrue). However, it IS Grand Wormwood absinthe.

    I have to give the Lucid a try yet, so I'll let you know how that goes.

    As for ordering from outside the U.S., my budget isn't exactly that grand. The bottle of Lucid I ordered was $70 with shipping, so I can't imagine what I'd be looking at for sales outside the U.S. Perhaps if I get enough cash saved up, I'll look more into it.
    You are most welcome. Glad to be of some help If I may offer one more recommendation. Save up for a good import it's well worth the price!
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    Veteran Member Scotty Pogo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    Any recommendations on Brands and/or websites where I can go to get the better imports?
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    only time I've ever had it we dipped a sugar cube in the absinthe, put it on the special spoon with the little holes in the bottom, lit it on fire with a wooden match, and then let it melt. We then took equal parts water to absinthe and mixed the water in... I think we did that before the sugar though.

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    Default Re: Absinthe

    Any recommendations on Brands and/or websites where I can go to get the better imports?
    I've had very good luck with

    however, Alandia does not handle the 'reverse engineered' recreations by Ted Breaux. These are sold under the Jade brand, and are available at and

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    Veteran Member Scotty Pogo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Absinthe

    Thank you kindly.
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