5 Easy Absinthe Cocktails

Whether you’re a green fairy newcomer or an experienced absinthe enthusiast, drink absinthe in style with our list of easy absinthe cocktails. Absinthe’s strong flavour means that cocktails are rarely complex, perfect for every level of experience.

Find out below about our five best absinthe recipes…

5 easy absinthe cocktails

1. Corpse Reviver No. 2

This prohibition cocktail comes in many variations but this is said to be the best one. Initially created as a hangover cure, the Corpse Reviver No. 2 is a  cocktail packed with flavour. It’s delicious, refreshing and definitely wakes you up. With its assortment of gin, orange liqueur and fresh lemon juice, this drink blends a number of flavours together to create a perfect cocktail.

Recipe:

• 20ml Absinthe
• 20ml Gin
• 20ml Cointreau
• 20ml Lillet Blanc
• 20ml Fresh lemon juice

Method: 

1. Step 1 – Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Step 2 – Shake well.
3. Step 3 – Strain into a chilled cocktail glass without ice.

2. Absinthe Frappe

This is a cocktail that you may not have heard of but it’s a delicious one nonetheless. There’s no rum or lime juice, so it’s certainly not a mojito. When absinthe was popular in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, this was the go-to cocktail. The Absinthe Frappe combines different flavours together to become a cool, refreshing and minty drink. Due to its short and simple list of ingredients, this drink is super easy to make at home.

Recipe:

• 40ml Absinthe
• 15ml Simple syrup (sugar syrup)
• 60ml Soda water
• 6 Fresh mint leaves

Method:

1. Step 1 – Add the absinthe and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice.
2. Step 2 – Shake well.
3. Step 3 – Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice.
4. Step 4 – Top with the soda water and garnish with mint.

3. Sazerac

The Sazerac cocktail comes from New Orleans and has been around since the early 1800’s. It’s a great cocktail for those who enjoy their whiskey blended with sweetness and notes of anise. Refreshing and palate cleansing, it’s nice to enjoy after a meal.

Recipe:

• 10ml Absinthe
• 60ml Cognac or Rye
• 10ml Sugar syrup
• Peychaud’s Bitters
• Lemon twist

Method: 

1. Step 1 – Rinse a chilled glass with the absinthe.
2. Step 2 – Get a mixing glass filled with ice and add the remaining ingredients.
3. Step 3 – Stir well.
4. Step 4 – Strain into the absinthe-rinsed glass and garnish with the lemon twist.

4. Death in the Afternoon

This cocktail has a spectacular name and is a reference to Ernest Hemingway’s novel for a very good reason. This absinthe and champagne cocktail is said to be his own creation. It’s one of the most iconic absinthe cocktails but due to absinthe’s strength, it’s best not to have too much of this drink in one sitting.

Recipe:

• 40ml Absinthe
• Champagne

Method: 

1. Step 1 – Pour the absinthe into a cocktail glass or Champagne flute.
2. Step 2 – Top with chilled Champagne and stir gently.

Discover more about cocktails with our ‘what is a cocktail‘ article.

5. Chrysanthemum

This may sound like a strange blend of alcohol but, surprisingly, the Chrysanthemum works very well and the flavours don’t clash at all. With vermouth as the main component, it blends well with the sweetness of Benedictine and absinthe’s floral flavour which in turn creates a sophisticated drink. If you don’t have much of a sweet tooth, don’t add much of the Benedictine.

Recipe:

• Absinthe
• 60ml Dry vermouth
• 18ml Benedictine
• Orange twist

Method: 

1. Step 1 – Add the vermouth, Benedictine and 3 dashes of absinthe into a mixing glass filled with ice.
2. Step 2 – Stir well until chilled.
3. Step 3 – Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an orange twist.

Want to know more about absinthe? Read up on absinthe in our ‘what is absinthe‘ guide.

Inspired to make cocktails professionally? Take a look at our EBS Bartender Courses here.