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Absinthe

Absinthe

Cocktails made great by absinthe

Cocktails made great by absinthe image 1

Absinthe plays a crucial role in many cocktails, often with mere aromatic dashes enough to make a cocktail great.

Unlike other spirits, absinthe uniquely has multiple applications in cocktails:

  • Base spirit.
  • Aromatic modifier deployed in dashes like a bitters.
  • Rinse (swirled around the inside of a glass and then discarded before the cocktail is strained into the absinthe-rinsed glass.
  • Mist (sprayed over the finished cocktail from an atomiser).

  • Absinthe Colada

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    How brilliantly and seductively creamy coconut tames absinthe and rhum agricole makes this colada served frappé dangerous.

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  • Absinthe Daiquiri

    Absinthe Daiquiri image

    It's surprising both how much absinthe you can use in this bite-sized cocktail and then how much sugar is needed to tame it. Hit the balance and...

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  • Absinthe Negroni

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    Strangely, this bittersweet cocktail suits this receptacle, and it perhaps provokes more attention than a coupe may afford.

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  • Absinthe Spider Highball

    Absinthe Spider Highball image

    Absinthe and ginger ale combine well in this refreshing highball.

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  • Corpse Reviver No.2 (Duffy's/Gaige's recipe)

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    For an equal-parts recipe, this Corpse Reviver variation is brilliantly balanced and delicious.

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  • Depth Charge (Savoy recipe)

    Depth Charge (Savoy recipe) image

    Wet Martini-like with pronounced quinine. A hot weather Martini, perhaps. I tried the Depth Charge with various proportions of Lillet Blanc and...

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  • Grasshopper No. 2

    Grasshopper No. 2 image

    A mezcal and amaro-influenced riff on the classic Grasshopper.

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  • Improved Whiskey Cocktail

    Improved Whiskey Cocktail image

    An Old-Fashioned "improved" by the addition of a little maraschino liqueur and absinthe.

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  • In-Seine

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    Elderflower liqueur mellows and boosts the brandy's floral notes, while dashes of absinthe balance sweetness and add aniseed notes.

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  • La Louisiane

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    A rye-based Sweet Manhattan enriched with herbal liqueur and bittered with Peychaud's and absinthe. Originally made with equal parts rye whiskey...

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  • Mai Tai (Difford's recipe)

    Mai Tai (Difford's recipe) image

    I love Daiquiris and this is basically a classic Daiquiri with a few bells and whistles: orange curaçao, lime juice, almond syrup, amaretto...

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  • McKinley's Delight

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    A cherry brandy influenced Sweet Manhattan with extra complexity courtesy of a dash of absinthe.

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  • Minnie the Moocher

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    Spirit-forward and just on the rich side, this late-night sipper delivers satisfying botanical complexity. Before serving to others, practice this...

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  • Neptune's Wrath

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    Last Word-like with egg-white smoothing the way for a noticeable slug of absinthe.

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  • Obituario

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    Whisps of mezcal mingle with herbaceous tequila, rich vinous vermouth and delicate aniseed and liquorice.

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  • Old Fashioned Appetizer

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    A fruity Old Fashioned meets a Sweet Manhattan.

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  • Pan American Clipper

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    Essentially, a Jack Rose with a couple of dashes of absinthe. (If making this with bonded-strength applejack in place of calvados, then knock back...

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  • Parmenides

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    A sour-style cocktail served straight-up combining brandy, Green Chartreuse, white wine and lemon.

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  • Sazerac (Difford's split base)

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    If you are rightly concerned about chucking expensive absinthe down the drain then consider straining into a shot glass and serve on the side. The...

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  • Sunflower

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    Elderflower liqueur replaces aromatised wine in this riff on a classic Corpse Reviver No.2. This means the bitter oils from the lemon zest twist...

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  • Tuxedo (Difford's recipe)

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    Inspired by the numerous other Tuxedo recipes, this combines the best of them with a faint hint of sweetness (from the bianco vermouth and old tom...

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  • Wiffin

    Wiffin image

    A little dilution from a good stir helps tame this spirit-forward aperitivo or late-night sipper, which mellows and becomes more pleasurable as you...

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  • Yuliya Martini

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    It's surprising what influence just half a barspoon of crème de pêche and a couple of dashes of absinthe have on this subtly flavoured Vodkatini.

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  • Zombie

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    Powerful funky rum and delicate cinnamon spice, partially tamed by rich fruit and sweetened clove. Arriving at a definitive Zombie is not...

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20 best Absinthe cocktails

20 best Absinthe cocktails image

Absinthe is a most unusual cocktail ingredient as it's the main base spirit in some cocktails while is used as mere dashes in others. Absinthe's...

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