Although this emerald liquor is associated with hallucinating, Van Gogh cutting off his ear, and prohibition, I think history has given absinthe a bad reputation. I had my first taste of it in Prague after my dad took me to an Absinthe bar for a few shots.
I had seen Degas’ painting L'Absinthe for years, but I wasn’t hooked until I knocked it back and took a few mini bottles to the U.S. (don’t worry, it’s legal). Here are five reasons this French gem should make a comeback, besides it being way cooler to drink at a party than Bacardi or Smirnoff.
1. The taste is strong but delicious
The French way to drink absinthe is to drip water over a sugar cube for a diluted mix. However, since I am in college, I recommend taking one or two shots of absinthe (no more) for the pure flavor. I adore black licorice and anise, so tasting them in a liquor transforms a party from average to stellar. This drink is for the bold palate and fearless tongue, so if you’re in the mood to ditch mixed drinks, this is the shot for you.
2. It takes less alcohol to feel the effects
Want the tipsy haze of a party without spending money on low quality beer and wine? Absinthe will be your cost-effective partner in pseudo-French crime. The absinthe I bought from Italy is 70% alcohol by volume—a doozy, to say the least. One or two shots and your nightly buzz won’t fade until mid-morning. The best part? A small bottle of absinthe costs around 3 euro. The only snag is finding mini bottles to purchase at your local liquor store in the U.S.
3. The myths about absinthe have been debunked
At long last, the psychedelic door to absinthe has been unhinged: you will not “trip” after drinking small doses of the liquor. Many studies have explored the properties of absinthe and the claim that it makes drinkers hallucinate. Thujone, an ingredient in the Wormwood that is used to make absinthe, was often pegged as the hallucinating property. Thujone is dangerous in high doses, but you will die of alcohol poisoning before consuming enough absinthe to hallucinate. From experience, nothing extraordinary has happened after drinking absinthe—except I became less antisocial and a more enjoyable human.
4. The bottles are so damn photogenic
Have you seen those Art Nouveau bottles? I feel like an art connoisseur whenever I pull out the shot glasses. The crystalline liquid spills—the shutter on my Canon clicks—and I have a photograph worthy of Bon Appétit magazine. Although the absinthe I buy is cheap and resembles green Listerine, more expensive kinds have rich, emerald tones. Alphonse Mucha, a Czech painter from the early 1900s, is famous for his sinuous depictions of absinthe sprites. Whimsical, mysterious, and a tad taboo, the liquor and the artwork are a visually-pleasing duo.
5. Become an inspired, 1920s-esque painter, writer, or actress
If you’re a creator pining to be the next Picasso or Toulouse-Lautrec, this might be the drink for you. Cultural references to absinthe abound, and it’s no coincidence that most inspired artists in the 20s painted and wrote about the Green Fairy. I’m not advocating getting drunk on absinthe every night, but pull it out for special occasions when inspiration is in hiding. Who knows what strokes will leak out of the paintbrush?
Most of all, the resurgence of absinthe will hopefully bring a classy appreciation of liquor to college campuses. What’s the point of getting blackout drunk on Malibu shots when you’re not savoring the flavor or history of the drink? Absinthe may not be innocent, but when consumed responsibly and with historical awareness, it’s a millennial favorite in the making.