Black absinthe - description, features and interesting facts

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Those who are looking for legendary drinks in the world of alcohol should pay attention to the famous absinthe. There are many different myths about this emerald liquid: some rank the drink among the terrible poisons that lead to hallucinations, while others, on the contrary, do not cease to praise its unique taste. But be that as it may, absinthe has been a source of inspiration for writers and artists for many centuries, the subject of scientific research and one of the most popular ingredients for making cocktails in bars.

Drink history

One of the versions says that the drink got its name from the French word, which means "wormwood", because this herb is the main component of absinthe. There is another legend according to which the name of the drink came from the Greek language and was translated as "unsuitable", since initially absinthe was extremely bitter.

All products used to make absinthe, according to its creator, were designed to complement and balance each other in their own way. So, in addition to wormwood, the composition of the legendary drink includes mint, lemon balm, angelica, calamus, anise, fennel, licorice and other herbs. The first production of absinthe began ina small Swiss town called Couve in 1792 under the guidance of the author of this wonderful drink - Pierre Ordiner. True, this remedy was sold not as alcohol, but as a real medicine.

Just five years later, the formula of the famous drink was bought from its author by an entrepreneur from France - Henri-Louis Pernot. He supplemented absinthe with a few more ingredients and launched production. So, the drink turned out to be quite bitter and strong, and the name of the manufacturer became its emblem. Very soon, absinthe became an extremely popular drink, which was appreciated by all Parisian bohemians, creative personalities and the working class.

Further destiny

However, in 1905, a tragic event occurred in one of the cities of Switzerland, which left a bad imprint on the reputation of absinthe. The fact is that a man who drank a large amount of a drink from wormwood shot his entire family in a fit. Two years later he was convicted and sentenced to death. At the same time, this story gave rise to legends that absinthe can lead to madness, the occurrence of hallucinations, and even suicide. As a result, it was banned from consumption by Switzerland, France and the United States.

Today, the production of absinthe is allowed in most countries, but the law strictly controls the manufacturing process and the composition of the drink. For example, the minimum dosage of thujone in the finished product is allowed, which is not capable of harming human he alth.

Types of absinthe

Today, more than a hundred varieties of absinthe are known. Most of them are not available to a wide audience due to small production volumes. Most often, the drink is classified by color. There is classic green, blue with lotus, yellow, red with pomegranate extract, blue and black absinthe made from wormwood roots.

Features of black absinthe

Sometimes this drink has a rich brown hue. This variety of absinthe is considered the strongest among other types. In its production, food colorings are rarely used, which also distinguishes the drink from other varieties. The composition of black absinthe is complemented by a special acacia, which gives the finished drink a beautiful currant hue, and the taste of the product acquires a pleasant berry note.

Stamps

Today, absinthe is considered one of the most common drinks around the world, and it is produced in many countries, such as the Czech Republic, Holland, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and France. In some factories, in the production of black absinthe, wormwood is replaced with softer bergenia. If we classify the drink according to the content of thujone, then the strongest among them are produced in Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

Although in reality, the absinthe currently produced has much less thujone in it compared to the drinks that were made in the past. Modern absinthe is considered safe for he alth. Connoisseurs of this unusual drink often recommend, for example, black absinthe maktub. This productMade from natural ingredients and has a very bright multifaceted taste. Black absinthe has a rather unobtrusive, mild taste, which leaves behind the thinnest minty aftertaste. The aroma of the drink opens immediately: it is very fresh and colorful.

Drink strength

As you know, absinthe is a very strong drink, but it is really difficult to indicate exactly how many degrees black absinthe contains. This figure can vary between 55-85 degrees. A real drink, prepared in compliance with all traditions, should have a rather bitter taste and high strength - at least 70 degrees. After all, only with such properties can wormwood essential oils be retained in alcohol.

But despite this, many modern manufacturers offer consumers a huge range of drinks with a strength of less than 55 degrees. And this means that the product is devoid of thujone and sweetened with the help of auxiliary components, many essential oils of wormwood in such alcohol may be completely absent. But the number of degrees of black absinthe "Maktub" is 70. So this product is fully consistent with traditional methods of preparation and will definitely appeal to all lovers of the classic drink.

How to drink black absinthe

As is the case with any other strong alcohol, when drinking absinthe, it is necessary to observe a certain drinking culture. Of course, drinking this drink in its pure form is not accepted. There are several methodsdrinking black absinthe. Usually it is drunk in a diluted state, having previously added a piece of sugar using a special spoon.

Absinthe is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 5, and in some cases a few ice cubes are thrown instead of liquid. Among other things, the unique absinthe often becomes one of the ingredients of various cocktails, adding some piquancy to them. You can also drink pure absinthe, but only in small doses.

Uses

The classic version of the use of absinthe is considered the most common and familiar to domestic residents. This method involves setting fire to the drink and then drinking it in one gulp. It is best not to eat or drink.

The French drink this magical drink differently. First you need to pour absinthe into a glass, and then a special spoon is placed on the edges of the dish, on which you need to put a sugar cube. It is through this sugar that cold water should be poured into a glass. Gradually, the sand will dissolve in the water, and the resulting syrup will mix with absinthe.

The Czechs also have their own way of drinking the famous absinthe. And it consists in the following: part of the alcohol is poured into the glass through a sugar cube, after which the already wet piece must be set on fire, and the resulting caramel added to the glass. Then the mixture should be diluted with three parts of cold water. True, it should be borne in mind that when using this method, absinthe in a glass can unexpectedlyflare up. So in any case, do not forget about caution.