Absinthe and the Art of Storytelling
Absinthe, an aromatic green spirit made from grape alcohol and fresh herbs, is steeped in history and myth. Once popular in late 19th-century Parisian cafes and salons, absinthe became so intoxicating it caused Oscar Wilde and Vincent Van Gogh to hallucinate during sessions; absinthe also caused one man to kill his family, leading to worldwide bans of absinthe consumption. Today however, absinthe is legal both within United States and Europe bartenders use absinthe as flavorful base cocktails when creating cocktails from it!
Nicolas O’Connor, Beverage Director at NYC’s Apotheke NoMad, is so passionate about absinthe that he has created an entire menu dedicated to its botanical flavors. Additionally, Nicolas enjoys sipping absinthe in its traditional form by placing a sugar cube onto a slotted spoon that rests over his glass and slowly pouring ice-cold water from an absinthe fountain until all of it has dissipated; some people even light their cube on fire for added cinematic effect as it adds some mythographical flair that connects back to its mythographical past!
Reality belies this image; most absinthe is naturally dyed with chlorophyll from its macerated ingredients, giving it its distinctive green hue. While nuclear green bottles of absinthe may be sold in parts of Europe, authentic absinthe is almost always clear since coloring agents have crept into some cheaper versions.