Death in the Afternoon
As far as classic cocktails go, death in the afternoon is a very spare, refreshing,...and gutsy...example of the genre. Leave it to Ernest Hemingway to bequeath us such a drink. He reportedly invented it after having developed an affinity for absinthe while spending time on the Left Bank in Paris. While consisting of only two ingredients, namely absinthe and champagne (or sparkling wine), the complex alchemy which results from the combination of these two very different elixirs is quite unforgettable. Incredibly aromatic and mysteriously opalescent in color, a glass of death in the afternoon is arguably a bit indulgent and dramatic. But sometimes that is just what the occasion requires. This potent, and eerily pale green colored, concoction is just perfect for Halloween...or for a special toast on any old dark and stormy night.
Servings 1 drink
Ingredients
- 1 ounce absinthe
- about 4 to 5 ounces champagne or sparkline wine
Instructions
- Pour the absinthe into a champagne flute or coupe glass.
- Slowly top with enough icy cold champagne or sparkling wine to fill the glass.
- Watch the mixture turn mysteriously cloudy, thoughtfully begin to contemplate your mortality or favorite literature, and sip slowly.