Absinthe might be the most misunderstood alcoholic beverage in U.S. history. Thought to have the effects of a hallucinogenic drug, the spirit saw widespread banning in America and most of Europe in the early 1900s—laws which stayed in place for decades and decades. The U.S. only formally lifted the ban on absinthe in 2007, but it’s been a favorite cocktail additive (or standalone sipper) since the ’90s. Get the full rundown on the spirit below—in just 60 seconds. Immediately following the video, try an absinthe cocktail recipe close to the heart of one of America’s greatest authors, Ernest Hemingway.
In 1935, noted boozehound Hemingway offered this straight-to-the-point absinthe recipe for what is known as a “Death in the Afternoon.” Said the author:
“Pour one jigger absinthe into a Champagne glass. Add iced Champagne until it attains the proper opalescent milkiness. Drink three to five of these slowly.”
Here’s to making one of these summer afternoons downright fatal.
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