"Absinthe-lutely" Delicious! National Absinthe Day
Don’t let the sordid history scare you! Absinthe is light, herbaceous, and not just for moody poets. Just in time for National Absinthe Day, we spoke with the experts at Doc Herson’s Natural Spirits for the inside scoop on what makes absinthe such a unique spirit, and why it’s about to be your new favorite cocktail ingredient. Organically grown from a hobbyist distillery in a Harlem basement and made entirely from scratch using 100% natural ingredients, each variety of absinthe is is uniquely crafted drawing inspiration from its respective category―Verte, the classic and most well-known style; Blanche (meaning “white”), or Swiss-style and Absenta, or Spanish-style.
“Unique in flavor and feel, absinthe offers a delightful and refreshing option for those who enjoy botanical and earthy spirits,” said Stacey Luckow-Herson, founder of Doc Herson’s Natural Spirits. “All of our absinthes are great on the rocks.” We wholeheartedly agree, and also invite you to try these easy craft cocktails at home.
Absinthe Maria
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber, sliced
- 1 sprig, fresh dill
- 1/2oz Doc Herson’s Poppy White Absinthe
- 5-6 oz tomato juice
- ¼-½ oz jalapeño-infused simple syrup
- Splash of seltzer
- Squeeze of fresh lemon
Directions
Muddle the dill, 3 slices of cucumber and jalapeño simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add 5-6 ounces of tomato juice, then fill the remainder of the shaker with ice. Shake well, then strain into a serving glass over fresh ice. Top with seltzer and finish with a squeeze of lemon. Stir once more and garnish with a slice of fresh cucumber and dill. Doc Herson’s Poppy White Absinthe is also great in a traditional Bloody Mary. Just incorporate a ½-oz pour with your usual ingredients.
Absinthe Sazerac
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Sazerac Rye Whiskey
- 1/4 Doc Herson’s Red Absinthe
- Few dashes Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters
Directions
Combine the whiskey and absinthe in a rocks glass filled with ice. Add a few dashes of bitters, then stir to combine. Garnish with a twist of lemon.
The Absinthe Snap
Ingredients
- 1oz Red Absinthe
- GUS Dry Ginger Ale, as needed
- Squeeze of an orange
Directions
Combine the absinthe and ginger ale in a Collins glass filled with ice. Squeeze half a fresh orange into the glass and stir to combine. Garnish with an orange wedge.
Absinthe Fizz
Ingredients
- 1 oz Doc Herson’s Green Absinthe
- Boylan’s Heritage Club Soda, as needed
- Squeeze of lemon
Directions
In a Collins glass filled with ice, add the green absinthe and stir briefly. Top off with club soda and finish with a squeeze of lemon on top, then stir for about 15 seconds. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Jazz Club
Ingredients
- 1/2 oz Doc Herson’s Green Absinthe
- 1oz Allen’s Cold Brew Coffee Brandy
- Shot of espresso
- Splash of nondairy or dairy creamer
Directions
Add the espresso, coffee brandy and absinthe to a warm mug. Stir to combine. Add a splash of creamer, then taste and sweeten as desired with simple syrup. Stir once more and enjoy.
