Absinthe Frappé
Shake; Churn ∙ 4 min ∙ 26.7% ABV ∙
The Absinthe Frappe is a shaken absinthe drink with anisette, chilled water and a touch of sugar syrup, churned over crushed ice. Cold and cloudy in the glass, anise and licorice lead over a cooling menthol edge, with a faint honeyed sweetness softening absinthe's bite — a warm-afternoon sipper.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Absinthe 30 mlAnisette liqueur 10 mlChilled water 30 mlSugar syrup 5 ml
- Fine strain into the glass filled with crushed ice
- Churn
- Serve with a straw
- Garnish with a mint sprig
Tips
- Shake hard with plenty of small cubes for 12-15 seconds to achieve maximum dilution and the signature frosty, opaque louche.
- Add chilled water last so the shake properly louches the drink into a milky, cloudy mixture rather than a clear one.
History
The Absinthe Frappé is a specific New Orleans creation dating from 1874: it is said to have been invented that year by bartender Cayetano Ferrer at Aleix's Coffee House, a Bourbon Street bar that became so associated with the drink it was later renamed the Old Absinthe House. Ferrer's version simply shook the spirit hard with sugar and ice water into a frosty, diluted glass, turning the neat, ritual-poured spirit into a cold, sweetened, aerated drink.
FAQ
What is in an Absinthe Frappé?
Absinthe, anisette liqueur, chilled water, and a touch of sugar syrup, shaken and served over ice in an old-fashioned glass with a mint sprig. The anisette and syrup soften absinthe's intense anise bite and sharp edge.
Is an Absinthe Frappé shaken or stirred?
Shaken. A hard shake with ice is what clouds the drink and chills it fast; stirring would leave it clear and underchilled.
What glass is an Absinthe Frappé served in?
An old-fashioned glass, packed with ice and garnished with a mint sprig.
What kind of alcohol is absinthe?
Absinthe is a high-proof, anise-flavored spirit distilled with botanicals including wormwood, fennel, and anise, which give it its licorice character and pale-to-green color. It is not a liqueur; most bottlings run well above standard spirit strength, which is why this drink cuts it with water, anisette, and syrup rather than serving it neat.
Why can't you drink absinthe straight?
You can, but its high proof makes it harsh and overwhelmingly anise-forward without dilution. Traditional serving methods, including this frappé's shake with chilled water and the classic absinthe drip, exist specifically to cut the intensity and let the botanicals open up.
