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PREPARING YOUR ABSINTHE
All the herbs in Absinthe remain dissolved in solution due to it’s very high alcohol content. It must be mixed with water to release the herbs from this state. When water is added, all the aromas and flavors from the herbs are released and the "Louche" is produced. The louche is the milky, opalescent, white appearance Absinthe takes as water is added. The process of adding water is very, very important. Adding water too quickly will not release all the intricate details of both smell and taste the Absinthe has. The process of louching involves adding water as slowly as possible. It is also of importance to note that the water used be the purest and coldest available. Never tap water.
Step 1.)
Pour your dose of Absinthe into your Absinthe Glass. Generally absinthe is mixed 1:3 to 1:5. Some Absinthe Glasses have a Dose Mark to make this easier.
Step 2)
Place your Absinthe Spoon on top of the glass and place your Sugar Cube on the spoon. An Absinthe Spoon is specially designed to allow water to drip through it. The sugar is optional. The herb wormwood is known for it’s bitter taste and most Absinthe drinkers use a little sugar to smooth it out.
Step 3)
Slowly pour water from a Carafe over the sugar into the glass. As you pour the water and the Sugar Cube dissolves, the louche will form. The slower you pour, the better the drink will taste. There are Absinthe Fountains specially designed for Absinthe that will drip water very slowly and also Absinthe Drippers designed to slowly add water to your absinthe.
As the water is added, you will notice the Absinthe change from clear to the louched state.
At this point, I will mention what is called the "Flaming" or "Czech" method of Absinthe preparation. This is a new method of absinthe preparation rumored to have originated in the Czech Republic.
Step 1)
Pour your dose of Absinthe into your Absinthe Glass. Generally Absinthe is mixed 1:3 to 1:5. Some Absinthe Glasses have a Dose Mark to make this easier.
Step 2)
Place your Absinthe Spoon on top of the glass but before you put the Sugar Cube on top of the spoon, soak it in the Absinthe for a few seconds.
Step 3)
Light the Absinthe soaked Sugar Cube on fire and let it caramelize and drip into the drink before you begin adding the water.
Things to note when using this method.
-High proof alcohol is EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE! This is one of the reasons I must recommend against this method. Drunk people, flammable liquids and flame do not mix well.
-Using this method will damage spoons other than those made of Chrome or Stainless Steel. Do not use Gold Plated or Silver Plated spoons.
-This method is frowned upon by those fancying themselves Absinthe Experts. My personal preference is to not burn my absinthe. I think it makes it taste funny. But there are those who claim to enjoy this taste. It also looks very cool after catching a good absinthe buzz. I believe the big anti-burn push came from a group trying to sell "Don’t Burn Absinthe" t-shirts. So if you pay $150 for a bottle of liquor, drink it as you please.
TO VISIT MY OFF E-BAY SITE, GOOGLE "ABSINTHE ON THE NET"
Do you need help choosing your Absinthe accessories? Try my help page: Choosing Your Absinthe Set
Any questions, comments or suggestions concerning Absinthe, my items or life in general are always welcome. Feel free to contact me at rodr0069@hotmail.com |
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