Quote:

Absinthe is the foulest tasting shit that I've tried.
I hate it.
I bought a bottle for about $30, had a couple of shots, then gave the bottle to my friend who doesn't touch it either.

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Absinthe should never be drank neat, just like lemonade syrup should never be drank neat.

An easy way to correctly drink absinthe is to make a small pitcher with 10% sugarwater. (100gr sugar to a liter) and keep this in the fridge.

You then pour one ounce of absinthe in a wine glass. Then, add 3-5 ounces of icecold sugar water. If your absinthe is good you will see it becoming cloudy or even opaque.

Drink this prepared absinthe by taking small sips, moving it around in your mouth a lot before swallowing, and enjoying the flavor. A glass should last you at least 15 minutes but the taste develops mostly over the first half-hour.

Absinthe should taste first and foremost of anise, and this anise flavor should be pronounced but not unpleasant in dilution.

Do NOT buy Czech "absinth" because the shit just isn't absinthe, it is a concoction invented in the 1990s and has nothing to do with the real absinthe of the 1880s. Do not buy Bairnsfather. Do not buy Père Kermann's. Do not buy Tabu.

Very good value for your money would be to buy Versinthe La Blanche



which is a peppermint-inspired absinthe that's won prizes, yet is comparatively cheap.

If you want to drink a great classic absinthe and you've got a great classic budget then Jade Nouvelle Orleans is your best choice.

Absinthe should be drank thoughtfully. It is suitable as an aperitif before or after a meal, on an evening of discussion or card games. When getting smashed is the objective, Absinthe is the wrong choice because when drunk to excess you will get very drunk, but also very hung over. Absinthe is best for relaxing and spending a lot of time slightly intoxicated.

And for the love of God: dilute it!