Absinthe minus the illegal taste

"Can you really see green fairies?"

Yes, but not in America.

Sadly if you want to poison your mind with minor hallucinations, you'll have to travel all the way to Europe. It's not the alcohol content that gives you that legendary buzz (sometimes reaching 150 proof), but an extra ingredient added to absinthe.

Actually, it was the original herb from which the liquor's name is derived. The Artemisia absinthium is a green flower (hence "the Green Fairy"), also known as wormwood.

However, there is no proof of absinthe causing hallucinations, so that Euro trip will be spent culturing yourself (aw shucks). It's speculated that the "Fairy" rumors began in the 19th century--a time where producers of the liquor added poisonous chemicals to give the drink a more vivid color... that poor, old Van Gogh.

So, if you're still hurting for a taste of tradition, I recommend buying a bottle of Pernod (legal, no wormwood).

Luckily I was given a face-to-face demo on how people in Paris prepare the infamous drink.

  

First, go to a local BevMo and buy an absinthe kit. It should include a pie cutter-esque spoon.

Second, pour your absinthe into its specially designed glass, and place the spoon over it.

Third, put a sugar cube on the spoon, dabble some absinthe on it (all around spoon), and carefully set it on fire.

Fourth, pour water over it, extinguishing the fire and dissolving the cube.

Lastly, dilute the drink to where you best feel comfortable. Drinking it straight, while exciting, not that great on the stomach.

(Optional: have ice chilling at the bottom before pouring absinthe. Don't add too much water...it will over dilute.)