[insert predictable absinthe pun here]

To: j hawthone
From: Trysting Fields Central Communications
Date: Friday 26 January 2007, 4:23:36 PM

>(you never really said much about teh fairie, btw, besides that text about
>her being nasty and somewhat evil. forgot to ask you on skype. more detail?)

They had a range of absinthe-y drinks but only three that were called 'absinthe' - the Pernod and two by La Fee, Parisian and Bohemian. I went for the Bohemian, which was also, natch, the most expensive at $15 a glass.

Now (disclaimer: like I said, this has always been a total fantasy thing for me, and as such my scholarship is not profound; I make no claims of knowing what I'm talking about.. just glancing at the La Fee FAQ now I'm learning things I didn't know), my understanding of what constitutes a 'real' absinthe experience is that it must conform to three basic criteria:

- must be in the region of 60-75% alcohol
- must contain, famously, wormwood along with other agents that give it legendary psychoactive properties, considerably beyond those normally associated with alcoholic drinks
- should be served with a measure of water, poured over or through a spoonful of sugar

This was served in a half-full goblet with ice and it certainly looked brilliant glowing greenly clasped in my black-nailed fingers, so that was something. It came with a small bottle of no doubt outrageously overpriced imported water - but no sugar or spoon.

Initially I tried drinking it straight, since I suspected it was probably not exceptionally evil as absinthes go and wanted to maximize whatever psychoactive effects it might precipitate. But this proved impossible because it was hella strong and tasted *awful* (I actually have always hated aniseedy things and hence wasn't expecting to particularly enjoy the taste), and I eventually had to dilute it about 50-50 with the water.

It may well have been in the region of 60% alcohol or so - it got me pretty fucked up. But I certainly didn't hallucinate or otherwise feel anything other than profoundly drunk.

The experience didn't put me off absinthe - but it did help to confirm my suspicion that for a real green faerie experience I will indeed probably have to go to Prague or somewhere like that. Or at the very least do some proper research.

Comments

[J Carfax]

Well - you are off to a good start, the Pernod and La Fee are ok brands.

Drinking it straight was definitely not a good idea....

The dilution factor probably also was not enough - 1 part absinthe to about 5 parts water is best I think to allow the drink to louche properly.

And this is the thing - it is getting the right dilution that often turns the opinion of those who otherwise dislike aniseed drinks.

Now, if they had Le Fee, they should have spoons behind the bar somewhere because the distributor sells them with the bottles.

Get pushy I say, and demand the absinthe the proper way, with a spoon, sugar cube and a separate caraffe of icey cold water - you're entitled to "have it your way" given how much you pay for it!

You wont get hallucinations, that's for sure. But from personal experience, I find if you have at 2 glasses in the later evening (not 1 and not 3), I have rather lucid dreams - and while if you do it regularly you won't go mad, but you will get a case of absinthe related 'loose stools' - they don't talk about that side effect much you will find!

But thank you for highlighting a bar in Melbourne with the drop, I will keep that in mind for future reference.

Next work trip to Melbourne I'll let you know, and we will go party like its 1899. I'll bring my own spoons and sugar cubes if need be!

[teigan]

Thanks for the tips.

the Pernod and La Fee are ok brands.

My dad, Marilyn Manson, only ever drinks La Fee.. er, according to La Fee.

Drinking it straight was definitely not a good idea....

Not the best I've had, no. That said..

1 part absinthe to about 5 parts water is best I think to allow the drink to louche properly.

.. I am reliably informed that Bohemian does not louche at all.

(I can see myself becoming an absinthe nerd..) (Guess it beats being, like, really into.. I dunno, something lame.)

You wont get hallucinations, that's for sure. But from personal experience, I find if you have at 2 glasses in the later evening (not 1 and not 3), I have rather lucid dreams - and while if you do it regularly you won't go mad

Ah, but I may get hallucinations - for, you see, I am already mad.

But thank you for highlighting a bar in Melbourne with the drop, I will keep that in mind for future reference.

Madame Brussels is an eccentric establishment, but it's also quite nice. And I'm intrigued by the second-to-last para on this page of her website.

Next work trip to Melbourne I'll let you know, and we will go party like its 1899. I'll bring my own spoons and sugar cubes if need be!

Frikken awesome. Please do.

[(Not-so) Mighty Mite]

I have (apparently) partaken of the 'real stuff'. It didn't cause me hallucinations, but I think I enjoyed it.

I was rather drunk at the time. =)

[teigan]

>It didn't cause me hallucinations, but I think
>I enjoyed it.

I can drive you mad, if you would like.

My rates are very reasonable.