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Absinthe experience

My wife and I traveled to Greece for our honeymoon in August, 2006. While there, I was looking for a chance to purchase two things: some ouzo, and if available, some absinthe. The ouzo was easy to find, in the liquor stores and at all of the cafes. The absinthe was only in the liquor stores, so I waited a bit and shopped around, trying to figure out what I wanted. Most important, I had to buy a bottle of absinthe while there, since we cannot buy it here in the United States, and I always wanted to try it. The locals in Greece told me how great absinthe was, and the proper way to drink it – with either the flaming sugar cube or the sugar water. I finally decided on a bottle, and the friendliest liquor store owner, and bought one. Since I cannot bring back an open bottle on the airplane, I put the bottle away, waiting for my chance to try it back in the States.

We brought it back to the States, and decided to wait until a special occasion to try it, possibly with some friends. We waited until the party we were having for the Superbowl, the championship game for American football (not the real futbol). The Superbowl game is 4 quarters, each being 15 minutes, but here in the States, there are lots of commercials and breaks, not like futbol where we play 45 minutes straight each half. So, each fifteen minute quarter lasts about 45 minutes, especially for the Superbowl, so what better way to get through lots of commercials than some absinthe. I am used to playing and watching soccer here, so I find the American football games drawn out and long, especially the championship games, where a 30 second commercial costs $1 million dollars. Some of the commercials are entertaining, but most delay the game which everyone is there to watch.

At the beginning of the game, I took out the absinthe, and with a little sugar water, handed out four shots to myself and my friends. It took about 6 or 7 minutes, but then it kicked in. We had a few beers before the shots, but the absinthe feeling was great. I was awake, and drunk, but my energy was immense, and I was focusing on everything at once, with a great little high from the absinthe. Everything was entertaining, the pictures, the television, the conversations. My friends were right along with me, all of us just talking and being super-sharp, yet definitely a bit drunk. Plus we kept drinking the beers we had there, but it never overcame the feeling we had. Overall, we were like this for about 1,5 hours - basically through the first three quarters of the game. We came down pretty quickly, just in time to watch the end of the Superbowl, but what a great trip it was getting there.

I still have about 1/3 of the bottle left, and have used it one other time for other friends. I save it for special occasions, and special friends, so that we can all enjoy the absinthe, especially after I tell them about the great experiences I had with it..

Kevin Baker
6 Dennis Drive
Clifton Park, NY 12065, USA