Thursday, June 28, 2012

The Art of Absinthe

Well before I dined at ArtBar in conjunction with an overnight stay at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, I attended an event to launch their signature Absinthe Hour program featuring cocktails made with La Clandestine Absinthe Superior.  
La Clandestine is Europe's leading absinthe producer and the only brand who hand crafts the spirit in its birthplace: the Swiss village of Couvet. In addition to sampling expertly crafted cocktails and nibbling on delicious bites from ArtBar's spring menu we learned a lot about the history of absinthe and its mythical "green fairy" inducing properties. 

We also sipped absinthe in its traditional and exquisitely eye catching form where a classic metal dripper is used to slowly mix cold water with the spirit releasing its essential oils as it turns cloudy. 
Daily from 5-6pm Absinthe Hour is ArtBars devotion to crafting unique beverages with the wonderfully herbaceous, anise flavored spirit. The bartenders have a keen sense of how absinthe enhances modern mixes and classic cocktails. The East Meets West combines absinthe, batavia arrack (an Indonesian rum) and egg whites with lemon, demerara and a touch of walnut bitters. It was frothy, smooth and sophisticated. I also adored the Old School Punch where the absinthes fragrant and distinctive wormwood blossom essence was enhanced by Haymans Old Tom Gin and rounded out with the addition of Oleo-Saccharum

And what's all that booze with out some inventive bar bites to pair alongside? The perfectly crispy sweet potato tots are not to be missed and their deep fried mac and cheese roll with a velvety truffle fondue sauce will not disappoint!

Special thanks to Alan Moss, the Clandestine representative and author of The Real Absinthe Blog for a fun and informative presentation!

13 comments:

  1. oh those egg rolls sound way too fun!

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  2. If the corpse reviver was any indication, this was probably an awesome evening of cocktails!

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  3. oh wow, that is some pretty gorgeous bar-ware!! love the sounds of east meets west... as well as the sweet potato tots :)

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  4. I'm sort of drooling over that mac and cheese roll. The event sounds great, too!

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  5. I am such a fan of Art Bar and how they take time to really go through and explain their drinks. Looks like such a fun hour!

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  6. so you dont see a green fairy? That ruins everything for me. ;)

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  7. Um, those mac n' cheese rolls look ridiculously good. WOW.

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  8. I've heard such great things about artbar's cocktail classes. Looks like fun!

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  9. This looks so fun! I still have yet to try absinthe - it could end up being bad for everyone if I did...

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  10. The ArtBar & ceremonial experience of absinthe extrodinaire is definitely on the list! Sounds like the mystical Green Fairy will conjure more "Spirits"! Love your Blog!

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  11. We need another trip to ArtBar soon!

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  12. I was so disappointed to miss this. ArtBar does a great job with events. I've yet to check out their Absinthe Hour, and think I need to change that ASAP.

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  13. This was such an interesting, informative evening!

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