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Riffed by Dr. Geek |
| that damned green fairy |
 Image courtesy of St. George Spirits It's Monday morning, and I've only had about 2.5 meals since Friday night. Sparing you the details, I've been the victim of some fairly non-dramatic but persistent, uncomfortable gastrointestinal distress. Part of that is that I just haven't been too hungry for the last few days. Now I suppose this could be a symptom of some virus I got while being cooped up on a plane last week, but I'm going to blame something else: absinthe. The "green fairy" is now legal in the United States after a 80-90 year ban. Friends of mine managed (through some little trouble, let me tell you) to get a bottle of the first legally produced absinthe made in the U.S. since the ban. It arrived late last week, and we cracked it open on Friday night. My gut hasn't felt right since. For those who are curious, the drink itself was a very interesting experience. It's made from fine brandy and a real witches brew of botanicals, including hyssop and stinging nettles. It starts out tasting very much of star anise straight up, and then clouds quickly (the so-called "louche") when ice or cold water is added. With cloudiness comes more menthol-like flavors, until it gets thinned out, finally tasting sweeter and mintier. Drinking it was a very unique experience, and the stuff is very well made. But you're not going to catch me repeating that experience any time soon. I'm allergic to the pollen of several botanicals... and if those antigens is dissolve in alcohol... I fear that the stuff may give my gut an allergic attack. That theory is probably crap (as I said, probably a stomach virus)... but right now I'm feeling too caught in the net of coincidence. No offense to the outstanding craftsmen at St. George, but I'm not messing with that damned green fairy again for quite a while. said drgeek on 2007-12-31 at 10:16 a.m. |
those first two estates - 2009-02-04 12:58 p.m. |