Émile Zola, Oscar Wilde, Baudelaire and, of course, Ernest Hemingway. These are just a few of the literary titans who were known to enjoy more than a drop or two of absinthe, and, if it’s good enough for them, then we say it really ought to be good enough for us.
This lethal spirit should, it goes without saying, come with fair warning. Across the ages, it has been blamed for many things, from incredible works of creative art to temporary psychosis and even murder. Which probably explains why, by 1915, it was banned pretty much everywhere.
Now though, absinthe has resurfaced as a drink to slake your thirst. So, to celebrate the day earmarked for the green stuff, we’ve asked some of our Prestige bar friends to take a look in their menus and let us know what we might want to order. Although, perhaps it would be wise to stick to just one of these powerful concoctions.
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At this Central carnivore club awaits a devilish drinking option. The Blue Absinthe Fairy is a showstopper, served ice-cold into chilled goblets. As to what goes into it, there’s gin, dry vermouth, lemon, blue curacao, sugar, seasonal fruits and, the star of the show, absinthe. It tastes as strong as it sounds, so gather your friends and get ready to let adventure find you.
For a more discreet dash of this age-old spirit, head to Hong Kong’s newest bar opening, Dear Lilly. Here, a blend featuring yuzu, pineapple, coconut water and basil comes together over rum and chartreuse before a mist of absinthe is applied from a perfume puffer. Theatrics and a cocktail in one of the city’s most striking new venues, what’s not to love?
Take your cue from absinthe-lover Ernest Hemingway and head over to this intimate drinks den to get your thirsty hands on a Death in the Afternoon. Don’t be fooled by the simple staging of this elegant beverage, for mixed within the slender glass lies absinthe, sparkling wine and coconut-pandan yogurt. If you really want to get into the spirit of things, be sure to bring along a dog-eared copy of the author’s work and strike up conversation with your neighbour.
Hidden away at the end of Wyndham Street sits a bar with a selection of drinks dosed with absinthe. Stockton’s welcomes lovers of the green stuff, offering no less than three cocktails laced with it. Make your choice from the Fizzy Rascal (Martell Cognac, falernum, mint, lime, absinthe, strawberry and champagne) the Pyscho Bunny (apple brandy, Islay whisky, pomegranate, absinthe, lime and yellow chartreuse) or the aptly-named Macabre (oleo-washed Martell Cognac, tonka beans, demerara sugar, beeswax, absinthe, house Peychaud’s bitters and Angostura).
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