National Absinthe Day is March 5th! This notorious elixir has quite the reputation, however, once you get past the “green fairy” stigma, absinthe can be quite an enjoyable experience.

REX 1516 is Philadelphia’s leading restaurant for Southern-inspired, elevated comfort food. They are also known for their exquisite cocktail program, which is helmed by the eatery’s General Mananger and Mixologist, Heather Rodkey. Rodkey recommends celebrating National Absinthe Day by taking a chance on this naturally green and highly alcoholic spirit. While the chemical compound known to cause hallucinations has been banned from the beverage since 1915, drinkers should still consider quaffing this distinct liquor.

“Absinthe can be enjoyed on its own or as a part of a cocktail,” says Heather Rodkey. “When enjoying absinthe it is certainly best consumed with the proper method, which is an entertaining process that adds to its mystique. The anise flavor can be a polarizing flavor, which is why we often use it as an atomizer for drinks such as the Sazerac – a mainstay on our menu at REX 1516.”

Rodkey’s Absinthe Drinking Technique

Tools:

Proper glassware: an absinthe glass looks almost like an old-fashioned sundae glass but made out of finer crystal.

Slotted spoon: there are many incarnations of the absinthe spoon, ranging from ornate sterling silver to a more functional stainless steel.

Sugar cube (Rodkey recommends Comptoirs Du Sud)
Carafe of chilled water
Absinthe of your choice (Rodkey uses Vieux Carre from Philadelphia Distilling)