Thread: Absinthe- The perfect drink for Straight Razor users

I do not bother with a fountain as I have a contraption that I made for brewing slow drip iced coffee. I turn it down to take 12 hours to brew the coffee and turn it up to take around 5 minutes to fill a glass of absinthe.

Somehow I still prefer taboo (Canadian made) absinthe over the other few brands that I have tried. Always without sugar and in a ration of around 3:1.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Definitely a Summer Cooler for us, we just had a couple this past week...
We enjoy it enogh that I am thinking it is time for an Absinthe' Fountain

I just got a two-tap fountain this past Friday (ordered from Amazon), and I like it. It sure beats using a pipette to drip icewater onto that sugar cube!

I probably paid a little more than I needed to, but I was happy that I didn't have to order one from Europe with the attendant shipping costs.

So far, I've sampled Mata Hari, Lucid, Mansinthe, and La Fee Parisienne, and I like Mata Hari the best with Mansinthe neck and neck.

After some more tasting this past weekend (my weekend is Th-Fri), here are my updated rankings:

1. Mansinthe. Good balance of the anise and other flavors. Great aroma development as the louche develops. This could be my go-to eventually, but there are many more others to try.

2. Lucid. Another good balance of flavors, but there was another mulchy, dead-leaf note present at first that I did not care for. Either it went away, or I've gotten used to it. Great aroma and nice slow louche.

3. La Fee Parisienne. Good flavor, but it's colored with FD&C Blue and Yellow instead of petit wormwood and other herbs. So much for being an "authentic French Absinthe". Good aroma and louche.

4. Mata Hari Absinthe Bohemian. Definitely the lightest anise flavor of the four brands I've had to date. Would make a good starter for someone new to absinthe. A distinct lemon-lime note both in taste and aroma has crept into my bottle, though, and it's a bit strange. Takes less water to start and then louches quicker than the other three. Nice opalescent colors to the louche.

I have a gift pack of Pacifique and Pernot Vieux Pontarlier on its way from Catskill Cellars in NY, and I'll report my impressions as soon as I've tasted them!

OK, here are my impressions of Pacifique and Vieux Pontarlier. Both are vertes.

Pacifique: Very good. Flavor and aroma a bit biased more to anise. Mid-palate there is a very subtle acrid sulfury note at the sides of the tongue. If you've been around anyone firing reloads containing Unique or Bullseye powder, you have an idea of what I mean. Strangely enough, this isn't unpleasant, since it comes and goes in a flash and is very much in balance with the other flavors. Olive green color unlouched, with fabulous aromas developing during the louche. Classic opalescence when held up to the light.

Vieux Pontarlier. Superb. Balance is the word here. Anise is there, but not upfront as with Pacifique. More subtle aromas during the louche than Pacifique, but again, in balance. Very creamy mouthfeel, almost milky. Brighter green than Pacifique unlouched, but beautiful opalescence after. I think I like this one the best so far, but need to sample it back-to-back with Mansinthe. I think its balance would make it another candidate for someone new to absinthe, but still appealing to experienced absintheurs.

After taking a month off alcohol for the hell of it, I returned by trying absinthe. First Absente, then Kübler, then Vieux Carre, now Walton Waters and Meadows of Love. I highly recommend the last three, with so many more yet to try. Delaware Phoenix Distillery stuff is too good to be true.
For me, as a musician, the effects of absinthe are greatly preferred over beer. Beer seems to slow me down and put a wall between what I want to do and what my hands will do, whereas absinthe simply allows me a certain lucidity of mind within the fluidity that alcohol can provide. I don't drink every time I play of course, but if the bar doesn't have any absinthe, I'm not drinking.

Originally Posted by bassguy

After taking a month off alcohol for the hell of it, I returned by trying absinthe. First Absente, then Kübler, then Vieux Carre, now Walton Waters and Meadows of Love. I highly recommend the last three, with so many more yet to try. Delaware Phoenix Distillery stuff is too good to be true.
For me, as a musician, the effects of absinthe are greatly preferred over beer. Beer seems to slow me down and put a wall between what I want to do and what my hands will do, whereas absinthe simply allows me a certain lucidity of mind within the fluidity that alcohol can provide. I don't drink every time I play of course, but if the bar doesn't have any absinthe, I'm not drinking.

The reviews of Walton and Meadows I've read have been very very good. Sadly, they just aren't widely available unless you order them online. I do envy you living in Vegas in that respect. Here in the Cali High Desert, if it ain't Jack Daniels, Bud, or Gallo, it can be tougher to find.

I absolutely agree with you on the effects of absinthe. To me, after a glass, it feels like everything below my eyes is affected by the alcohol, while everything above is unaffected or even enhanced a touch. Like "HD Vision" for your mind. Good stuff!

If you buy a bottle of Walton and Meadow from Catskill Cellars the shipping is free It's not cheap exactly, but considering how expensive the straight razor hobby can be, this is a walk in the wormwood and fennel park!
They also carry several other american absinthes that are very highly recommended. *prod, prod. There is one other distributer in the US, can't recall it's name...

Taste like green nyquil to me...

Originally Posted by Wintchase

Taste like green nyquil to me...

That's because it is ! Bleeeccch ! I used to have a friend who liked that stuff and Chartreuse ?!.....Different strokes ......cause I don't get ?

Lucid is my brand although I haven't tried many others. And while it might be considered sacrilige I mix with redbull. The flavors blend very well...almost dangerously well. I've had the traditional way as well but I like my mix better. It would probably be my favorite drink were it not for the expense. Rad takes up most of my finances.

Richard