Why does absinthe come with a spoon?

Asked by: Simon Menezes

A perforated or slotted spoon is used to dissolve a sugar cube in a glass of absinthe, usually to sweeten the drink and counteract its mild bitterness. The spoon is normally flat, with a notch in the handle where it rests on the rim of the glass.

What is the purpose of an absinthe spoon?

What are the spoons used for? Absinthe spoons are simply used for placing a sugar cube on. Absinthe, a spirit obtained by the maceration and then distillation of plants at 68º to 72º, has no sugar added to the bottle. In order to soften this strong spirit, sugar is added just before drinking.

Do you need an absinthe spoon?

You also don’t need a special spoon or glass; common bar tools work just fine. In a mixing glass half-filled with crushed ice, pour 1 ounce of absinthe. Place a sugar cube on top of the ice. Very slowly drip cold club soda onto the sugar cube until it is completely dissolved.

How do you drink absinthe with a spoon?

Place the sugar cube on the pierced part of the absinthe glass. Line the prepared absinthe glass underneath the absinthe fountain, allowing ice-cold water to drip onto the spoon until the sugar has dissolved slowly. Wait for the louche effect. Once the sugar is mostly dissolved, use the spoon to stir the absinthe.

Are you supposed to sip absinthe?

A very high alcohol content is not considered to be excessive because absinthe is traditionally diluted with water before drinking and it is meant to be sipped slowly over time, so as not to allow the effects of alcohol to overwhelm the subtle and pleasant effect of the herbs.

What happens if you drink absinthe straight?

Because absinthe has a strong taste and high alcohol content, it is not advised to drink it straight. Absinthe is strong enough to burn your tastebuds. It can also be dangerous if you consume too much.

How do you properly drink absinthe?

The Right Way to Drink Absinthe

1. 1 of 3. Step 1: Pour 1 to 1½ oz absinthe into a glass. Place absinthe spoon over the glass. Place sugar cube on the spoon. …
2. 2 of 3. Step 2: After absinthe louches up (gets cloudy), dump sugar into glass. Use the absinthe spoon to break up sugar and dissolve it.
3. 3 of 3. Step 3: Drink. Slower.

Why is absinthe so potent?

It is spirit with a high alcohol content traditionally produced from wormwood, anise, and other herbs such as fennel. These herbs give absinthe its hallmark green color. Wormwood contains thujone, which has been identified as the agent rumored to cause hallucinations and convulsions when consumed in high doses.

What do you feel when you drink absinthe?

Absinthe was even said to cause physical symptoms, such as facial contractions, numbness, and seizures. People displaying absinthe-induced symptoms were said to have absinthism, a condition that’s since been debunked.

Can you drink absinthe as a shot?

Because of its incredibly high alcohol content, absinthe shouldn’t be taken as a shooter alone. The most common way to drink absinthe is to place a sugar cube on a slotted spoon over a shot of absinthe and slowly pour cold water over the sugar until it dissolves.

Is absinthe the strongest alcohol?

The absinthe enjoys the tenth place on this list, as it’s the most commonly available poison for those who enjoy a stiff one every now and then. The drink gets it’s name from the artemisia absenthium or the wormwood bark and it’s alcoholic content is in the range of 45 to 85 per cent.

Can you mix absinthe with Coke?

Pour 25ml of absinthe into a cocktail glass filled with cracked ice, top up with coke and squeeze the lime over the glass. Garnish cocktail with the lime wedge.

Do you light absinthe on fire?

For a historically accurate, and much more enjoyable cocktail, do not light the sugar cube or absinthe on fire.

What is absinthe and why is it illegal?

Absinthe, La Fee verte, or The Green Fairy, was however banned in 1912 because it was believed that the green spirit contained in the bottles was hallucinogenic and dangerous. Absinthe remained banned even after the 21st Amendment abolished Prohibition in 1933.

Can you get real absinthe in the US?

In the United States, real Absinthe is not a controlled substance but its sale in bars and liquor stores is banned. Absinthe is, however, legal to purchase and possess in the United States. In most of the European Union, absinthe may be sold as long as it stays at 35mg limit of thujone.

What do you eat absinthe with?

Appetizer Pairing: Goat Cheese and Onion Tarts. A rich cheese like goat cheese works well with absinthe, and the onions accentuate the spirit’s savory herbaceousness. Entrée Pairing: Spiced Tuna Steaks with Fennel and Red Peppers. The bold flavor of absinthe can stand up to steaks, burgers, and other hunks of meat.

Why is absinthe red?

What Is Red Absinthe? A unique red Absinthe with its distinctive bitter taste and red color is produced by adding different quantities of herbs during maceration. As a mark of youth, strength, and singularity, Absinthe Couperose embodies these qualities.

What does absinthe taste like?

Absinthe is on the list of spirits that taste a bit like black licorice, thanks to the flavor extracted from herbs such as anise and fennel. The best quality absinthes have just a hint of licorice flavor.

What flavor goes well with absinthe?

Absinthe also mixes well with rum, vermouth and gin, as well as fruity elements like blackberries, orange peel, and grenadine. Dust off your cocktail shaker and try a new drink from F&W’s guide to absinthe—maybe you’ll see the green fairy.

What is Lillet?

For the uninitiated, Lillet (pronounced lee-LAY) is a French aromatized aperitif wine made with a blend of Bordeaux grapes and fortified with a blend of citrus liqueurs.

What is an absinthe rinse?

An absinthe wash (also known as an absinthe rinse; the terms are interchangeable) is a method for coating the inside of a glass with absinthe, then discarding the excess liquid, and pouring the drink into it.

What percent alcohol is absinthe?

Highly aromatic, this liqueur is dry and somewhat bitter in taste. Absinthe is made from a spirit high in alcohol, such as brandy, and typically is marketed with alcoholic content of 68 percent by volume.

What is the strongest alcoholic drink in the world?

Spirytus Vodka

With a whopping 95% abv, Spirytus Vodka is the strongest commercially-available spirit in the world.

Is there a drink that is 100 alcohol?

Another strong alcohol, Golden Grain is a 100% neutral spirit distilled from grain. Similar to Everclear, it’s colourless and odourless. It is majorly used for creating homemade liqueurs and extracts.