Event

Drinking Lessons No. 27 Absinthe

Guests can expect an animated 1 hour lesson in the preparation and history of Absinthe cocktails from leading bartenders, drink historians and quality distillers, plus drinks and a few bites from the Hunt Club kitchen. Sessions at 6pm or 8pm and limited to 20 seats.

Absinthe is a formerly banned spirit drink that is made with Artemisia absinthium (wormwood) and other herbs.

It is also known as la fée verte (the green fairy). Although it has enjoyed a long and colorful reputation of making one hallucinate, modern tests have proven the relatively small amount of wormwood used in the traditional recipes would be incapable of causing hallucinations as described, as one would succumb to the alcohol long before one could drink enough to activate a wormwood "high". Impurities in the mixture, or improper bottling, were the likely causes of those few genuine hallucinations cases that could be substantiated. This was the primary factor which led to absinthe being removed from the banned lists.

Absinthe was originally formulated during the 18th century by the French-born Dr. Pierre Ordinaire in Switzerland as a digestive tonic. During the 19th century absinthe became a very popular drink in France. Often associated with artists and writers, absinthe was consumed by such figures as Edgar Allan Poe, Vincent van Gogh, Oscar Wilde, and Ernest Hemingway.

After being illegal for many years, true absinthe is once again legal in many countries. There are many different types of absinthe, some much more authentic and of higher quality than others. Absinthe is traditionally prepared and enjoyed according to the absinthe ritual.