Absinthe is a spirit that invokes a lot of myths. Although it was a popular spirit in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, absinthe would be banned in most nations by 1915. The greatly exaggerated rumors that absinthe caused people to hallucinate led to the banning of the spirit. It wasn’t until the 1990s that newer regulations allowed distillers to begin the production of the green spirit. A locally distilled absinthe is one of the ingredients for our newest cocktail; the Mind Eraser.
We’ve seen absinthe used in a number of cocktails over the past year. It indicates that the spirit is again growing in popularity. However, the anise flavor spirit is most commonly compared to the taste of black licorice, so it evokes a strong love or disdain for the flavor of the spirit. Most of the time, we noticed absinthe was mixed with clear spirits, so we were excited to try our hand at mixing absinthe with our favorite whiskeys.
Alie and I just returned from a week in Washington, D.C. Many of the restaurants we visited had a specialty whiskey and absinthe cocktail. We’re forecasting absinthe whiskey cocktails to be on trend for 2023, so you’ll want to grab a bottle for your own cocktail experiments that are sure to be a hit at your next gathering.
We used absinthe created by Gold Dirt Distillery, located in Rollinsville, Colorado. Although there are a number of commercial varieties available, we suggest checking with a local distillery. Your local distillery is likely to make delicious absinthe and you’ll also be supporting your local economy. We are fortunate to live in Colorado where a number of distilleries produce and bottle absinthe.
Mind Eraser
Our mind eraser contains only four ingredients. We used rye whiskey, absinthe, simple syrup, and sassafras and sorghum bitters made by Woodford Reserve. The result is a delightful and unique cocktail that is a little sweet and a little bitter.
In our cocktail, we used Russell’s Reserve Rye whiskey to pair with the absinthe. If you haven’t checked out our review of Russell’s Reserve, you can find it here.
The Mind Eraser cocktail is easy to make. The unique flavor is sure to spark conversation at your next gathering. If you are unsure about absinthe in a whiskey cocktail, we suggest keeping an eye on the menu at your favorite restaurant, because we anticipate this being the newest cocktail trend for 2023.
Happy Exploring!
Mind Eraser
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Rye Whiskey
- 1/4 ounce Absinthe
- 1/2 tbsp Simple Syrup
- 5-6 dashes Sassafras and Sorghum Bitters
Instructions
- Add 1/2 ounce absinthe to a glass. Swirl or rinse the glass with the absinthe to coat the glass.
- Add bitters, simple syrup, and rye whiskey. Stir gently to combine.
- Add an ice cube or ball.
- Enjoy!