The mysterious spirit absinthe has tantalized and scandalized drinkers since its heyday in the 1800s. Everyone from nobles and ear slicing artists to unemployed writers and struggling painters drank absinthe in Bohemian Paris, often using interesting, ritualistic methods to chase the “Green Fairy.”

Absinthe is a tasty liqueur reminiscent of liquid licorice combing spirits and herbs including fennel, green anise, star anise, and a type of wormwood called Artemisia absinthium. Inside Artemisia absinthium is a compound called thujone, which is the ingredient that sends things crazy if you imbibe enough of it.

The much-hyped hallucinatory effects of thujone prompted absinthe’s prohibition until 2007 in the United States, but science has proven it does not cause hallucinations, the drunkenness (and copious amounts of sugar) does. The following article will guide the uninitiated on how to drink absinthe, the kit used in crafting a quality absinthe drink, and a collection of my favorite absinthe cocktail recipes.

The Traditional Absinthe Ritual

Drinking absinthe in the traditional fashion is called a ritual because it is “a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.” This ceremony is for the absinthe drinker’s visual enjoyment and for the overall taste of the spirit. Applying this method adds significantly to the enjoyment of the liqueur.

The process is still adopted in specialist bars and clubs with a focus on absinthe, but you can purchase a traditional absinthe set or individual pieces of equipment to mirror tradition at home. It’s a lot of fun if done correctly.

Equipment

• 1 x absinthe glass (There are elegant glassware options, but why not choose a badass chalice like a boss?)
• 1 x absinthe spoon (These spoons come with a card of the ritual process)
• 1 x absinthe Fountain (I recommend the French Bohemian Style)
• 1 x iced water
• 1 x bottle of absinthe (I recommend Absinthe Verte)
• 1 x packet of sugar cubes (White sugar dissolves best in the liquid)

Method

1. Pour about 1 ounce of absinthe into an absinthe glass or small wine glass.
2. Place a sugar cube on the slotted absinthe spoon and lay the spoon across the top of the glass rim. If you don’t have a slotted absinthe spoon substitute with a fork, not a teaspoon (you’ll see why in my cautionary tale below).
3. Very slowly, pour ice cold water onto the sugar cube by drips until the sugar cube begins to dissolve.
4. Continue dripping ice-cold water over the sugar until you are happy with the ratio of absinthe to water.
5. As the water hits the liquor, the louche (a mixture of water and sugar) will swirl through the liquid, turning the spirit from a lurid emerald to a more opaque, milky color.
6. Rest for a period, dissolve any remaining sugar and enjoy.
7. Repeat steps as necessary.