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How to drink absinthe or La Louche Ritual How-To.

To invoke the magic of the Green Fairy in the traditional way, you will need:

    * A bottle of absinthe
    * A jug of iced, still water
    * Sugar cube
    * Glass
    * Absinthe spoon

(1) To begin with, pour a shot of genuine absinthe (1.4 oz.) into a glass. A traditional-style absinthe glass (or even an antique one) will add to the magic of the ritual, but do not worry too much if you haven’t got one — just use a standard wine glass instead.

(2) Next, rest a perforated absinthe spoon over the glass, and place a cube of white sugar onto the spoon.

(3) Finally, slowly pour iced water over until the sugar dissolves, while observing the beautiful play of colour that takes place as a result of the louche process. The amount of water to add depends on your own preference. Depending on the strength desired, you should end up with a mixture of one part absinthe and two to four parts water. Absinthe connoisseurs always pay attention to the quality of the ingredients used, since they will all affect the subtle louche process. It is thought the quality of the louche is related to the quality of the mental transformation they will later experience.

Do make sure, therefore, the absinthe you use is a genuine, quality one. Certain inferior brands that bear the name absinthe will not louche properly (or not at all). Genuine absinthe will transform its deep colour into a shade of cloudy, milky greenish-white when you add water; if it does not, your bottle of “absinthe” is just high-proof alcohol with artificial colourings added. The quality of the water used is also all-important to the absinthe purist. In keeping with absinthe’s reputation as a clean, natural liquid, common tap water is frowned upon. Use quality still spring water such as Evian, or another natural water with a neutral taste.