The Return of Absinthe

Absinthe, the supposedly toxic liqueur with the mind-bending buzz (“the green fairy”), has finally reurned in legal form to tempt sophisticates.

Are you interested in exploring the mystique?

The right way to do it is with the classic absinthe paraphenalia I’ve collected here. The same vintage absinthe glasses, measures, and sugar-cube holding spoons that you see in paintings by Manet and Picasso.

(Fascinating to watch little clouds swirl when you pour cold water over the cube to sweeten and dilute your drink.)

Personally, I prefer Pernod, the wormwood-free substitute introduced after France took absinthe off the shelves a century ago. If you insist, though, you might try a reasonably authentic brand like Marteau, or, oh my, Lucide.

And don’t even think of driving.