If you needed a reason to open a sparkling wine and make a cocktail, we have just the thing: National Absinthe Day is March 5th!
Absinthe has a bit of a sordid history, so before we get to drinking, let’s set the record straight.
At one point, this controversial green spirit was banned from consumption in the United States. Part of this has to do with one of its main flavoring ingredients – wormwood – and rumors that it caused absinthe drinkers to hallucinate. Doubtful. If anything, people were probably just consuming a little too much and feeling the effects of this high-proof booze. We’re going to partake regardless. After all, what’s a little hallucination between friends?
We’re celebrating this anise-flavored, emerald-colored spirit popularized by the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Vincent Van Gogh, and Oscar Wilde by sipping on a “Death in the Afternoon” cocktail. Hemingway was obsessed with the “green fairy,” and though he may not have invented this cocktail, he gets full credit for supposedly drinking three to five of these in one sitting. We’re not judging. This is a tasty drink!
INGREDIENTS
- 1 ½ ounces of absinthe
- 4 to 6 ounces of cold Champagne or another sparkler, like Spanish Cava or California sparkling wine
- Optional: Dash of simple syrup for sweetness; drop of lemon juice; lemon twist
You’ll also need:
- A Champagne flute or other narrow cocktail glass
RECIPE
- Pour absinthe into a Champagne flute
- Slowly pour Champagne over the absinthe
- Add a dash of simple syrup for a touch of sweetness and a drop of lemon juice to brighten everything up
- Enjoy!
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