Absinthe Minded

Welcoming the Green Fairy back to America

For the first time since 1912, authentic French absinthe is once again available in the US. Tonight at Openhouse Gallery in Soho, NYC, a bunch of media-types, mixologists and the just plain curious gathered at the launch party for La Fée Absinthe.

The Party
Thrown by La Fée Absinthe (distiller) and Genesis Beverage Brands (distributor), tonight's shindig was held in a stark white, open space rightfully called Openspace Gallery (201 Mulberry St, NYC). It was time to celebrate the legal return of French absinthe to the US after nearly a centtury.

Photo Gallery

In October 2007, it was ruled that real absinthe could once again be imported and consumed in the US. The domestic sale of it is still a gray area and private distilling is still illegal. Then again, so is the private distilling of any liquor. But thankfully, the task of distilling has been left in the hands of experts for this party.

The traditional serving of absinthe is a sight to behold. An absinthe fountain is filled with crisp, cold icewater and a spoon with a sugar cube is placed on a glass. In the glass is about a shot's worth of absinthe. A few ounces of water is slowly dripped onto the sugar and the sweet mix is passed thru the spoon, into the glass.

The result is the release of oils in the absinthe turning it from deep green to a more milky, cloudy color. And the taste? It's a slightly bitter, spicy mix of herbs that transforms into a distinctly licorice-like flavor. And the kick? Oh there is a kick. Traditional absinthe is rated between 100 and 140 proof. Tonight's treats from La Fée Absinthe were 136 proof.

Guests also had the pleasure of tasting a variety of concoctions. All delicious. While my favorite was the traditional serving, I really enjoyed something called 'Sazerac with La Fée' (twice). Made with just a splash of absinthe, a sugar cube, three dashes of bitters and two ounces of cognac.

Finger foods, great conversations and a run in with a plastic lobster completed the night. I would have liked more time to speak with the folks from Fa Fée, but they were being pulled in all directions. Since their inception, it's been the company's goal to bring back real absinthe to the world.

La Fée Absinthe
In 1998 George Rowley of La Fée Absinthe secured authorization in the UK allowing absinthe to be legally sold in the European Union. Soon after, he worked closely with absinthe historian Marie-Claude Delahaye to distill the first traditional absinthe in France since the bans of 1915.

Rowley and company can be proud to have played a role in sparking a worldwide absinthe revival which has finally spread back to American soil. Now guys like me will no longer need to wrap green bottles in sweat socks and old jeans, buried deep in a suitcase in order to enjoy the bitter pleasure.