Absinthe Cocktail

ABSINTHE COCKTAIL
1 ½ oz. absinthe or a substitute (Vieux Pontarlier)
¾ oz. water
1 tbs. anisette (Rituals DIY, brandy version)
1 dash orange bitters (Rituals DIY)

Combine with ice, shake and pour over shaved ice.

This is basically an anise-flavored drink with extra anise-flavored liquor added. It also uses three different kinds of water (actual water, ice cubes, and shaved ice (!)). It’s remarkable how many of these old-timey drinks are shaken with ice and then poured over ice as well, a rarity these days. Brian wonders aloud about how they dealt with ice, pre-refrigeration, and wonders if it were actually expensive to use so much ice back then.

Anyway, the ABSINTHE COCKTAIL is a supercharged absinthe and water, with some of Brian’s Ritual Orange Bitters tossed in. Does anybody really think that one dash of orange bitters can penetrate the wall of anise in there? No! His entire kitchen already smells of black licorice.

Eric: “Looks soupy.”
Brian: “Jesus, this is Super Boozers.”
Eric: “Thank God for the water, thank God for the ice.”
Brian: “All of these recipes involve a ton of ice.”
Eric: “Looks good in a coupe glass, though, I’m going to give it a couple of extra points for that.”
Amanda: “I’m getting a lot of black licorice here.”
Eric: “Why is it pronounced ‘licor-ish?’ Why isn’t it “licor-isss?’”

SCORES: Brian gives it a strong 7. Amanda, 4. Eric, a 6 minus.