January 15th, 2010
A Treatise on the Manufacture & Distillation of Alcoholic Liquors by P. Duplais, translated by M. McKennie. Facsimile of the 1871 Edition. Edited by David Nathan-Maister.
Perhaps when I’m living in a remote finca in Spain, I’ll try my hand at distillation… or probably not. Either way, I’m happy to have this amazing reference on my [...]
September 29th, 2009
Historically, the brouilleur is an alternative to the slotted spoon and the above Auto-Verseur is a replica of the famous Absinthe Oxygénée Cusenier Auto-Verseur mixer. Beneath the water cup at the top is a see-saw mechanism to deliver a controlled drip of water into the absinthe below.
One can put sugarcubes into the cup and then [...]
September 14th, 2009
Apologies for how grainy and low-light this photo is, but the sample was a surprise and a delight that I was not prepared for with my dSLR or notebook.
Smooth, wormwoody, and a beautiful louche. The thoughts around the table were that this vintage absinthe tastes similar in character to a bottle of 2002 Francois Guy [...]
September 1st, 2009
No one likes having an upset tummy. About a year ago I decided to try absinthe as a remedy. There is historical precedence for this, and I figured that if it didn’t make me feel better, it might at least stop me from caring…
If you were to see a French or American doctor in 1872 [...]
August 19th, 2009
July 21st, 2009
Today marks the 110th anniversary of the birth of Ernest Miller Hemingway, born 21 July 1899 in Oak Park, Illinois.
Despite my love of both Spain and absinthe, I have yet to find a place in my heart for Hemingway’s writing, but I’ll still raise a glass to the man who gave us the Death in [...]
June 5th, 2009
I ordered a copy of the expensive but amazing Oxygenee Ltd Absinthe Encyclopedia today (Amazon US, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s). I resisted initially but after seeing it in person at the LeNell’s event at Montgomery Place, I knew I needed it on my own bookshelf. I went with the paperback edition (as linked to above) as [...]
May 30th, 2009
The fantastic LeNell is hosting another absinthe event, this time in New York City.
Details on the event (and ticket purchases) can be found by clicking here.
We had a fantastic time at her event in London, and definitely recommend you beg, borrow, or steal your way to the NYC tasting.
