While France and the rest of Europe were embracing the Green Fairy in the early 1800s, America was dabbling in new and exciting way to enjoy spirits: the cocktail! Absinthe makes a wonderful drink on its own, but old bar books such as The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book (1933) and The Savoy Bar Book (1930) also give hundreds of recipes where absinthe was used in a whole array of classic cocktails.
Most early cocktails call for only a dash or a splash of absinthe, yet still achieve a remarkable change in fullness and smoothness. The absinthe is used more like bitters, to serve as a sort of subtle accent. Absinthe can really tie a drink together.
We've collected a few of the best classic, historical absinthe recipes from the era as well as some modern creations we hope you'll enjoy.
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Modern Cocktails |
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CINNABAR• 1 oz Ginger Liqueur Shake and strain into an iced filled Collins glass, top with tonic. |
ODALISQUE• 2 oz Cognac Stir and strain into chilled cocktail glass. |
REUBENAdd to iced Collins glass: • 2 oz Bourbon |
LORD BUCKLEYAdd to iced Collins glass: • 2 oz London Dry Gin Top with tonic water. |
IMPERIAL TOPAZ NO. 2• 1 oz Light Rum Shake and strain into frosted cocktail glass. |
L'AMOUR en FUITE• 1 1⁄2 oz Plymouth gin Add to iced mixing glass, stir, and strain into an absinthe-rinsed cocktail glass. by Jamie Boudreau |
MARTEAU FRAPPÉ• 1 oz Marteau Add ingredients to ice-filled shaker and shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is thoroughly frosted. Strain into a small tumbler filled with crushed ice. Serve with short straw. |
SALUT SOLEIL• 1 oz Gold Rum Add to 1 cup of freshly brewed coffee. Enjoy. |
The Classics |
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SAZERACThe most famous absinthe cocktail in the world. |
COCKTAIL á la LOUISIANE
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FOURTH DEGREE• 1 oz Gin Add to mixing glass with ice and stir until until well-chilled. Strain into frosted cocktail glass. |
OBITUARY COCKTAIL• 2 1⁄2 oz Gin Add to mixing glass with ice and stir until until well-chilled. Strain into frosted cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon twist |
WHITE LILY• 1 oz Gin Add to mixing glass with ice and stir until until well-chilled. Strain into frosted cocktail glass. |
CHRYSANTHEMUM• 1 oz Benedictine Add to mixing glass with ice and stir until until well-chilled. Strain into frosted cocktail glass. Squeeze orange peel on top. |
CORPSE REVIVER No. 2• 1⁄2 oz fresh Lemon Juice Shake well and strain into cocktail glass. "Note: Four of these taken in swift succession will unrevive the corpse again." [note from original Savoy Cocktail Book, 1930] |
MONKEY GLAND• 3 dashes Marteau Shake well and strain into cocktail glass. |