January 2007

January 2007

This time of year, in dark, stormy January, I find myself looking around for some way to escape the cold, to warm my ethereal soul. What better than a night in with Sebor Absinth ^TM? Take advantage of this month's offer - huddle round the fire of the absinthe ritual then enjoy the entrancing taste of Sebor Absinth ^TM as it slips down your throat. You can also amuse yourselves by checking out last month's limerick entries in the Stories section of our website - have a laugh at people's attempts to rhyme 'absinthe' while under the influence!

Due to the overwhelming popularity of last month's mini gift bag offer, we are going to run it for another month! Worth £11.99, the bag contains all you need to perform the Absinthe Ritual: a mini 3cl bottle of Sebor Absinth ^TM, a replica absinthe spoon, sugar cubes and a ritual instructions card. Bargain. Just type 'RITUALBAG' in the comments box when you get to the checkout.

This month I'd like to see your absinthe-inspired photos - there's only one rule - keep them clean (enough)! Otherwise the sky's your limit. Entertain me, amaze me, seduce me - call on our emerald muse and get creating.

Email your answers to me at greenfairy@seborabsinth.comby 28th February 2007. You'll be able to check out my favourites in the archives at www.seborabsinth.com.

Pliny the Elder reported that the champions of Roman chariot races were given a cup of wormwood (the bit in absinthe that makes you see fairies) soaked in wine. This was supposed to remind the winners that even victory has its bitter side. But I reckon it just made their victory celebrations even sweeter!

In an article in the New Yorker on January 3rd, Harold McGee wrote in defence of absinthe, still illegal in the US: "according to the new study, by Dirk W. Lachenmeier and colleagues, the modern medical consensus is that absinthism was either simple alcohol poisoning - some absinthes were 70 percent alcohol, nearly double the strength of most distilled drinks - or caused by methanol and other toxic adulterants found in some cheap absinthes." None of those in Sebor Absinth ^TM needless to say!

Only the best for Ernest Hemingway, celebrated writer and absintheur of the twentieth century – he drank his absinthe with champagne. He originally contributed this cocktail to a collection of celebrity recipes in 1935. His directions: “Pour one jigger absinthe into a Champagne glass. Add iced Champagne until it attains the proper opalescent milkiness. Drink three to five of these slowly.”

Check out other great cocktails in the Concoctions section of the Sebor Absinth ^TM website.

Name: Hemingway

Contributor: Ernest Hemingway

• 2 shots Sebor Absinth ^TM
• Champagne

Method: Pour Sebor Absinth ^TM over two ice cubes into a champagne flute. Top up with champagne.