The Miracle of Absinthe

[sinawalli]

Tried some Czech absinthe, it sells here in Alberta, and it was soooo bitter, like floor cleaner!! No matter what I mixed with it, it tasted awful!! Hard to get a good buzz, when you can't get by the taste!!

 

[Absinthe_1900]

Czech "absinth" is not real absinthe, it's just cheap steam extracted essences, mixed with poorly rectified vodka, and some green dye.

Canada liquor distributing system needs to be overhauled, you can get some decent absinthe, it just isn't going to come from the Czech Republic.

 

[John in Covina]

It popped into my head reading above how in the absinthe section we shouldn't be passing bad Czechs!

 

[Smithy]

Went to Polly's on Brunswick street here which is a cocktail bar and has an impressive selection of absinthe. I enjoyed quite a few (in truth too many) Küblers and Verte de Fougerolles.

Absolutely beautiful but was a bit unsteady on the old pins walking out of the place!

http://pollybar.com.au/

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"How was your head the next morning?" polly's bar looks very much like the "Devilles Pad" here in the Swan River Colony"

http://www.devillespad.com/

 

[Smithy]

Surprisingly I wasn't as shabby as what I expected. I did drink about a gallon of water before I hit the sack which probably didn't hurt.

It's a fun place Polly's, recommend it to anyone when they're in Melbourne.

 

[rumblefish]

Well, I finally got a bottle of Legendre Herbsaint Original- the 100 proof recipe.:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap
It has officialy become my favorite anise favored liquor.
It's like this; take all the best of the Amish licorice, Good n Plentys, Absinths, black jelly beans, anisette I've ever consumed and concentrate them into a size of a baseball, then hold my mouth open while Nolan Ryan at his peak throws it at my face.
I'm afraid this bottle won't last long.:cool2:
Makes me wonder about the 90 proof recipe, Legendre Herbsaint Liqueur d'Anis Veritas.
Also makes me wonder about the 120 proof recipe, and hope Sazerac Co. decides to make some- I'll be on line, waiting for mine.

 

[Chainsaw]

It popped into my head reading above how in the absinthe section we shouldn't be passing bad Czechs!

lol lol lol

 

[Absinthe_1900]

Well, I finally got a bottle of Legendre Herbsaint Original- the 100 proof recipe.:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap
It has officialy become my favorite anise favored liquor.
It's like this; take all the best of the Amish licorice, Good n Plentys, Absinths, black jelly beans, anisette I've ever consumed and concentrate them into a size of a baseball, then hold my mouth open while Nolan Ryan at his peak throws it at my face.
I'm afraid this bottle won't last long.:cool2:
Makes me wonder about the 90 proof recipe, Legendre Herbsaint Liqueur d'Anis Veritas.
Also makes me wonder about the 120 proof recipe, and hope Sazerac Co. decides to make some- I'll be on line, waiting for mine.

The 90 proof Herbsaint is less complex than J.M. Legendre's original version, and is more forward in the use of star anise.

I've gone through a couple of bottles of the new Herbsaint Original myself.

 

[rumblefish]

The 90 proof Herbsaint is less complex than J.M. Legendre's original version, and is more forward in the use of star anise.

Is it worth a try?

I've gone through a couple of bottles of the new Herbsaint Original myself.

I just had it over crushed ice, and allowed to sit a little while- no sugar. Would you suggest doing a drip like Absinthe?

 

[Absinthe_1900]

The modern 90 proof Herbsaint is not too bad, it's generally looked upon more as a mixing ingredient, and the 100 proof vintage repro Herbsaint Original is a better stand alone drink. (Herbsaint Original is quite nice in a Sazerac too)

I understand some internet crank likes to drink Herbsaint out of a vintage Herbsaint drip glass. The vintage Herbsaint glasses make a perfect glass everytime

since the supply of those glasses is exceedingly scarce and quite expensive, you can get a nice Herbsaint dripper from here: http://www.talesofthecocktail.com/shop/herbsaint_dripper

Pair the dripper with a nice reproduction absinthe glass like this:

http://www.lamaisondabsinthe.com/product-p/200.htm

Or one of the other types of reproduction absinthe glasses out there.

These Spanish Tarragona glasses are very nice, and the inspiration for the vintage Herbsaint glasses:

http://www.absintheclassics.com/absinthe_glasses.html

 

[rumblefish]

^ Thanks for the leads Jay!

 

[Bustercat]

I've had some good homemade stuff before, with plenty of thujone (or so I was told.)
I don't buy the 'hallucinations' either (van gogh probably owed that to chronic toxicity from his paints) but there is one thing I definitely noticed —
you can drink it all night long and still be pretty sharp, coordinated, witty, and conversant, while feeling the effects of the alcohol. I actually really enjoyed it. It's like anti beer.

I buy the cheapo stuff in tiny bottles now just to flavor my sazeracs, but if the opportunity comes up again...

 

[rumblefish]

Philadelphia Distilling "Vieux Carre" Absinthe Superieure
^ Anybody have this one yet. I'm thinking of trying it next.

 

[Absinthe_1900]

The early version didn't impress me, though I've heard from people who's opinion I trust that it's improved. (It takes time to really get a handle distilling and coloring a verte)

I am a bit of a tough audience, it's worth trying.

 

[rumblefish]

Jay, anything new worth jumping on?

 

[Absinthe_1900]

L'Enjôleuse out of France looks interesting.
Probably on the expensive side with shipping.

Pretty much on the domestic side I'd stay with the two Delaware Phoenix varieties, or the Pacifique. https://catskillcellars.com/products/united-states-absinthes/

I either indulge in my usual fascination, or something not on the shelves.

Now that it's sundown I should have a glass of something...

 

[bunnyb.gal]

Have any of you absinthe aficionados come across a French brand called Libertine? Besides regular absinthe in several percentages they also do a liqueur of chocolate absinthe. I've never ever had absinthe before but I'd really love to try it, and there's something about a combo of chocolate and something licorice-y/anise-y that is spurring me onwards toward a purchase of one or both.

Any thoughts?

 

[Absinthe_1900]

Libertine is not all that good, I'd pass it by.

 

[bunnyb.gal]

Libertine is not all that good, I'd pass it by.

Many thanks - I'd prefer my first imbibing of the stuff to be a pleasant experience, and with a moniker like yours, I think I feel pretty comfortable with your judgment!