Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
April 23rd, 2008You can’t get much better than Praha, CZ, and it’s not because the beer is cheaper than water and the elusive spirit Absinthe flows freely—in my mind, Prague is the OG Magic Kingdom. It’s the original Bohemia. When there, it’s hard not to feel transported to another time and place as you walk through the city, explore the enormous castle and simply appreciate the romantic European way of life. Which, incidentally for us, included copious amounts of Pilsner Urqell. For me, it also included a couple of shots of absinthe (when in Prague), that I drank in the traditional Czech manner involving flame, sugar cube and a sting in my throat that felt like I might never be able to swallow again. After that subsided I waited…no hallucinations per say, and quite a headache the next day, but luckily it was nothing a little Pilsner couldn’t cure.
Absinthe remains a mysterious spirit distilled from the wormwood plant with a fantastic history. Though wormwood was used for medicinal purposes as early as 1500 BC in ancient Egypt, it is also thought to have been first served as a spirit with the addition of anise and fennel in 18th Century Switzerland. The strong spirit garnered popularity in France among both rich and poor throughout the late 1800’s, and could be found in every café and cabaret. The hour of 5:00 PM was dubbed “l’heure verte” or “the green hour” in honor of the spirit’s distinctly green hue. Absinthe was originally thought to cause hallucinations, but this myth was later dispelled. Famous absinthe consumers include Van Gogh, Manet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso, Wilde and Hemingway.
Absinthe is often associated with the romantic bohemian lifestyle, as evidenced by its aforementioned fans—and now that it’s legal in the United States, absinthe is popping up everywhere. For a Bohemian-esque One World Wedding, how about a night-before-the-wedding cocktail party or an engagement party featuring Lucid or Kübler absinthe, inspired by early 20th Century Paris or Prague? Rent an absinthe fountain, traditional absinthe glasses and spoons or serve your guests the Ernest Hemingway—an intoxicating mix of absinthe and champagne, perfect for celebratory occasions. Serve true French hors d’oeuvres like brandade, escargot, gougère, provençal nuts and olives, baguette and French cheese, and delicacies such as mousses, truffles, pâtès, foie gras, caviar and smoked duck pastries.
Ask your guests to dress with vintage-style accessories and this evening soirèe will be a throwback to Bohemia—and a night that they won’t (or will, depending on consumption) forget.
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