Buy Absinthe To Impress Dinner Party Guests
By Dominic Donaldson
For many years it was impossible to buy absinthe in many parts of the world. The infamous drink was banned after allegations of being a psychoactive drug which was highly addictive. This was mostly due to the inclusion of one ingredient, thujone. Thanks to recent research which proved that absinthe was no more harmful than any other spirit, the consumption and sale of the drink has been legalised worldwide. We take a look at how this drink can be used to impress dinner party guests.
Alcohol is a common ingredient in many dishes. Red wine can transform a bland Bolognese into a Michelin star worthy wonder; a splash of brandy in a dish of scallops enhances the seafood flavour and ale forms a fundamental part of steak and ale pie. However, not many people would think to buy absinthe to add to a dinner party delight. There are now many restaurants and celebrity chefs that specialise in creating culinary wonders using absinthe as an ingredient.
Heston Blumenthal, known for creating crazy cuisine, recently stunned television audiences by making absinthe jelly as part of a Victorian feast. As many people will testify, the standard issue of vodka jelly from a shot glass was well and truly outdone. Making this dish is simple. Simply melt 350 g of lime jelly in 300 ml of water and add 170 ml of absinthe before pouring into four moulds. These make a great dessert for a dinner party and the lime green of the jelly really will add to the absinthe theme.
You can also buy absinthe to be used in sauces and confits for a diverse range of foods such as oysters, souflee, sorbet, escargots and monkfish. There is even a superb absinthe infused garlic butter than is a delicious accompaniment to a freshly baked baguette. Given the great array of uses for absinthe in dishes such as these, it is possible to have a complete dinner party centred around the beverage.
To add to the theme, serve up some absinthe based cocktails such as Death in the Afternoon, named after a novel by acclaimed author Ernest Hemingway. Pour one measure of light absinthe into a champagne flute then add iced champagne until the mixture becomes characteristically milky. This is a great aperitif for guests to indulge in. After the meal, we suggest that you serve diners a traditionally prepared absinthe using authentic absinthe glasses, dripper and spoon.
As with all alcoholic beverages, absinthe should be consumed responsibly and only by adults over the legal age limit.
About The Author
Dom Donaldson is a food and drink expert.
Find out more about how to Buy Absinthe and absinthe accessories from genuine sources at Absinthe Online.