Absinthe has always had a little danger attached to its name. For years, it was treated like a forbidden drink, blamed for everything from hallucinations to madness. Which makes you wonder: how can something once considered illegal taste this good? Absente Absinthe may have the answer.
Absente brings the “Green Fairy” back in a version made by Distilleries et Domaines de Provence in Forcalquier, France. At 55 percent alcohol, Absente Absinthe is definitely not a casual pour, it blends wormwood, green anise, lemon balm, peppermint, star anise and other botanicals. The flavor is bold, herbal and slightly bittersweet, with cooling mint and licorice-like notes.
In the late 1800s, absinthe was a major part of French café culture. Artists and writers gathered for l’heure verte, or “the green hour,” before the drink was banned in France in 1915. The evidence points to its high alcohol content, rather than wormwood alone, as the more practical concern.
To serve Absente traditionally, add three parts cold water. For the full ritual, slowly drip the water over a sugar cube. The drink turns cloudy, the herbal aromas open up and a controversial piece of French drinking history comes back into focus.
