Absinthe

Absinthe is historically described as a distilled, highly alcoholic (45–74% ABV) beverage. It is an anise-flavoured spirit derived from botanicals, including the flowers and leaves of Artemisia absinthium (“grand wormwood”), together with green anise, sweet fennel, and other medicinal and culinary herbs. Absinthe traditionally has a natural green colour but may also be colourless. It is commonly referred to in historical literature as “la fée verte” (the green fairy). Water from a beautiful absinthe fountain is poured slowly over a lump of sugar on a perforated spoon sitting on top of a heavy crystal glass with 30ml of absinthe.

The best absinthe are from Jura (French or Swiss) where they continued secret production during all the 90 years when it was illegal and then kept their knowhow!