Absinthe Drip Cocktail (Czech method)

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (6 ratings)

Serve in an Absinthe glass or old-fashioned glass

Ingredients:
1 12 oz La Fée Parisienne absinthe
2 oz Chilled water
1 cube Caster/ Superfine/Baker's special sugar (white)
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

BEWARE: please take care. Flames and alcohol are a dangerous combination!. Place a sugar cube on a slotted absinthe spoon resting across the top of the glass. POUR the absinthe over the sugar cube into the glass. Light the absinthe-soaked cube and leave it to burn and caramelise. Using a bottle of chilled mineral water with a small hole in the cap, DRIP water over what's left of the sugar so it dissolves and drips into the glass. Add ice, stir, and serve.

Review:

More about the theatrics involved in its making than the taste of the finished drink.

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History:

This supposedly bohemian method of serving absinthe became popular back in 1998 with the UK launch of Hill's Absinthe. Accordingly, if you are going to make this drink, then it is best to use a Czech-style absinthe such as La Fée Bohemian.

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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4th November 2024 at 02:24
This is an incredibly dangerous practice that was invented in the 90s to sell poorly made fake absinthe. The “Czech” method was never used during the “Belle Epoque” era when absinthe was popular, nor was it invented in the Czech Republic. Furthermore, high-proof liquor and fire should never be around each other. Lastly, the burned sugar cube ruins the flavor profile of a well crafted absinthe. Performing the Czech method is akin to shaking a bottle of Champagne.

Please, don’t do this…
John CARR’s Avatar John CARR
13th January 2024 at 11:17
Lots of fun and indeed theatrics with setting light to the absinthe. Very intense flavour.