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Mad Hatter

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (15)
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 2/3 fl oz Straight rye whiskey (100 proof /50% alc./vol.)
1/2 fl oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
1/4 fl oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
1/2 fl oz Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water) 65.0°Brix
1 dash La Fée Parisienne absinthe

How to make

Glassware

Serve in a Coupe glass

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist and absinthe (to dash over cocktail in addition to the absinthe shaken with other ingredients).

Method

  1. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  2. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

  1. EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and discard.
  2. FLOAT dash of absinthe.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 8/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 8/10

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Mad Hatter contains 164 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.4 standard drinks
  • 21.15% alc./vol. (42.3° proof)
  • 19.9 grams of pure alcohol
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History

Adapted from a recipe in Ted Saucier's 1951 book Bottoms Up.

MAD HATTER
Juice ¼ lemon
Juice ¼ lime
1 teaspoon powdered sugar
1 jigger Schenley Reserve whisky
Ice
Shake. Strain into chilled glass. Add dash absinthe.

Ted Saucier, Bottoms Up, 1951

Review

A rye-laced sour set apart by anis and liquorice notes from absinthe, shaken with the other ingredients and floated on the cocktail.

Cocktail of the day:

6th October 2026 is Mad Hatter Day

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Gallery

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Comments & Discussion

Loz Horner
I like this very much. The absinthe comes through but doesn’t dominate.
score: 2
Simon Sedgley Premium Member
Mad Hatters succumbed to madness because of mercury poisoning associated with their industrial treatment of hat fur. 'Absintheism' was a form of madness attributed to imbibing the 'green fairy'. In these more enlightened times, one would be mad not to try this fruity and complex sour.
score: 1
Simon Sedgley Premium Member
btw, to our generous host the absinthe 'dasher' you suggested works a treat. Thanks so much for the advice.
score: 1
Max Langer
Looks nice, goes directly on my must try list, but the description is not so clear: should it be two dashes of absinthe, one for the shaker, one for the float (would make a nice mnemonic)?
score: 3
Simon Sedgley Premium Member
The ingredients in the recipe are always specified separately from and independently of those in the garnish. So the description is clear, as is evident from your reaching the correct conclusion.
score: 0