Originally Posted by
OkieEngineer
Recipe one actually leaves what I would describe as an earthy, herbal, almost medicinal scent with anise (black licorice) undertones. I'm looking forward to trying the second recipe, but it's got another week to go leeching out the essential oils from the spices.
Recipe One is actually one I formulated myself based on Recipe Two, which I found in a google search. I used the vodka in Recipe One because it was the most neutral smelling alcohol source I had on hand to dilute the absinthe with. Absinthe requires a certain alcohol level (not sure on the exact number) to keep the essential oils in solution. You'll know if you have too little alcohol, because it will become cloudy. I was also trying to tone down the fairly strong smell of pure absinthe with the vodka. If you're worried about the smell of vodka creeping in, a 40% grain alcohol/ 60% water (or possibly witch hazel) solution would probably work in its place.
Now go out and experiment. There's nothing quite like splashing on an AS custom tailored to your tastes.