Absinthe—that clear, green liquor that not so long ago was outlawed for supposedly causing hallucinations—is back at a bar near you, and apparently, better than ever.
It’s infused with a mysterious ingredient called wormwood, a wild plant that contains the trip-inducing chemical called thujone. Absinthe also contains a slew of other bittering agents and aromatic herbs like licorice and tarragon.
Yet, the spirit certainly doesn’t intimidate tipple experts, who are adding spritzes atop their tastiest menu items.
Absinthe shouldn’t scare you, either. But if you’re not yet ready to tip your glass into the absinthe fountain, no problem. We’ve got seven cocktails for you to make at home, each with a different amount of green-fairy contact.
Slowly but surely, you’ll go green. We dare you.
—Kara Newman