est. 2007

From Amateur to Absintheur:

Part 2

by Brad Westmar 

Editor's Note:  Part 2 in our series admittedly isn't quit as thrilling  as Brad's last AtoA article, but then again, he's not simultaneously orchestrating a live radio show this time around, so I suppose it's to be expected.  Learning to appreciate a glass on one's own time without distractions is of course a step toward becoming an absintheur.  Brad is making progress, albeit in his own sweet time...

 Now before I begin let's not forget the title of this section. I'm no expert. I'm going to do retarded things. I'm going to say retarded things. That's just the way it is. Get used to me the way I am: retarded. 

My first drink of Philippe Lasala was prepared by mixing 25 ml of the sweet (errr, bitter) nectar with 2 1/2 parts H2O, some ice cubes and zero sugar cubes, creating a milky white louche. Initial sniffs resulted in a distinct licorice smell which obviously became stronger with the first sips. The first two sips were definitely a bit bitter (editor's note: sugar is strongly recommended), but not unbearable, at least not for me.  One of the most notable things I've discovered during my early absinthe experiences is the fact that most absinthes have more than one taste: The way it tastes when it reaches your mouth and during the swallow; and the way it tastes AFTER you've swallowed, ie, the "aftertaste". Sadly, I failed to describe the two different tastes in my notes. Clearly the first taste is the most bitter and the aftertaste is, well, less so. This seems to fall in line with the theory that after 3 or 4 sips one "gets used to the taste" of absinthe.  After adding 1 sugar cube and 1/2 part water the taste was seemingly less bitter, and after consuming about half of the glass, I began to notice my tongue going slightly numb for the first time. I had heard about this but had never noticed it during my past experiences - kick ass!  I finished the first glass and began to notice a slight buzz. I was slightly hung over from beer drinking the night before and was unsure whether drinking absinthe would have any effect on me. I was pleasantly surprised to feel my day-long, sleepy-hangover headache begin to dissipate.

 For glass number two I used 25 more ml of absinthe, 1 sugar cube, 3 parts water, and 3 ice cubes. I decided to keep track of the ice this time around since - duh - the ice cubes eventually dilute the drink further than the added water.  For years now water has become a habit for me while consuming alcohol. This session of absinthe drinking was no different, and I began to notice that my tongue felt more numb when chasing a drink of absinthe with cold water. Not sure if there's a connection there, but...it's something I noticed. The whole numb-tongue feeling was kind of intriguing, so I found myself being more conscious of it.  Overall my second glass seemed to go down much more smoothly than the first, but I'm not sure if this was because of the different mix or because it was my second glass. I wasn't "drunk" by any means, but I definitely had a clearer head and my tired, hungover feeling had left me. I was definitely ready for a third glass after my second, but decided to call it quits for a variety of reasons. Next time I'll test out more than one brand and drink more than two small glasses to explore the world of absinthe even deeper...

Until next time...

Summary of what Brad has learned:

 +Tried first brand from Spain

+Experienced difference of flavours at a lower proof

 +First tongue numbing!  Of course it may not seem so kick-ass when you have your first taste of an anise bomb...

 +Identified and noted the aftertaste for the first time

 +(Hopefully!) has since learned to keep the ice in the glass of ice water, not the absinthe, for the exact reason he has pointed out.  Sometimes you just gotta learn the hard way, my friend...

 +Correct, Brad!  Anise does in fact become much fuller as more water is added, hence the increased numbing when a sip of water is taken directly after a sip of absinthe.  Good observation, my friend.

 +"initial sniffs", I can picture Brad peering over the glass literally sniffing...