My First Encounter with the Green Fairy

After wanting to try absinthe for a very long time, I finally got a chance to do so Saturday night. There is a very obscure Absinthe bar in Houston that has a reputation for having the best, so my girl and I took a quick jaunt over to give this place a try. The bar was dimly lit, which created a peaceful and ethereal atmosphere…we grabbed a booth and settled in for the experience.

The waitress came over and we placed our order. A few minutes later we are greeted by another waitress who was armed with all the tools needed to prepare the absinthe. A sugar cube was placed on a slotted spoon over a glass containing one shot of absinthe. The sugar had been pre-soaked in absinthe and was set ablaze right before our eyes. The waitress then dropped flaming sugar cube into the glass, thus igniting the absinthe. Finally, a shot glass of water was added to douse the flames. I was mesmerized by the process! After the preparation, we were ready to partake of the Green Fairy.

Tasting absinthe for the first time was a very interesting experience. Although I had read plenty of people’s descriptions of what it tasted like and knew what to expect, it is one of those things that you can’t fully comprehend until your experience it for yourself. The flavor reminded me of black licorice, but the taste was quite complex and enjoyable on several levels.

As we continued to drink the absinthe, the pleasant effects intensified, but without the usual effects that come with drinking traditional alcohol. Once we finished our glass, we agreed that we had a buzz that we have never had from any other type of alcohol…pleasant but very intense.

Do I like absinthe? It’s ok, the taste was very overwhelming for me. I did enjoy the effects though of absinthe…its like being outside of yourself while still being able to be in control of yourself. Would I sip absinthe again? Probably, once a year for my birthday or something.

The green fairy made an impression on me.