The traditional “French absinthe ritual”

Pour a large shot (1.5 oz/4-5cl) of absinthe into a tall glass. Place a slotted absinthe spoon over the glass and set a cube of sugar on the spoon. Slowly drip ice cold water through the sugar into the absinthe, until it is diluted by 3 to 5 times the amount of the shot and turns completely cloudy. Adjust to your personal taste. By the end of the 19th century, hundreds of styles of pouringabsinthe spoons were designed to compliment the performance of this 'ritual', which for some purists could take up to 20 minutes to complete!

How to prepare an absinthe without sugar:

Pour a generous dose (1.5 oz/4-5cl) of absinthe into a tall glass. Slowly drip ice cold water into the absinthe, until it is diluted by 3 to 5 times the amount of the shot and turns completely cloudy. Adjust dose and water to your personal taste.