YumSugar

Virgin Takes Flight With the Green Fairy

partysugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:45:32 -0700

While other airlines are cutting back on in-flight services, last Friday, Virgin America added a new alcohol to its menu. Absinthe, the once illegal "hallucinogenic" spirit, is now available on all flights. The strong green liquor can be enjoyed on the rocks or mixed into the Mile-High Cocktail, a "tormenting and satisfying blend of Le Tourment Vert Absinthe, sprite, and lemons shaken and served over ice." Porter Gale, the vice president of marketing at Virgin, is very excited about the partnership. He said:

We couldn’t be more pleased to partner with Le Tourment Vert to become the first airline to offer guests absinthe in-flight. Virgin America is reinventing the typical flight experience with beautiful design, touch-screen entertainment, and an innovative food and cocktail menu – and the addition of Le Tourment Vert absinthe is sure to be a hit with our discriminating guests.

For those sitting first class or main cabin select, the absinthe cocktails are complimentary; in the main cabin, Le Tourment Vert is available for purchase. Although I'm not boarding Virgin America anytime soon, I normally enjoy a cocktail when traveling. It's nice to know that absinthe is an option. How do you feel about the news?

Source

How Much Do You Know About Absinthe?

partysugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 05:50:25 -0700

On today's date in 1915, absinthe was outlawed in France and several other European countries. Although it had been banned in the United States for three years, the French ban was significant because it was the French who popularized the green spirit.

To honor the date, I put together a quiz of absinthe facts. Test your knowledge on the controversial spirit, when you start clicking.

Source

Take the quiz

Yummy Links: From Bacon Wrapped Turducken to Absinthe

partysugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:45:54 -0800

Would you eat this bacon wrapped turducken for Thanksgiving? - Bacon Today
How to host a dinner party on the cheap. - Chow
Can fresh nutmeg be used the same as ground nutmeg? - The Kitchn
Burger King's fake wallet promotion. - A Hamburger Today
Looking for an alternative to pumpkin pie? Consider apple streusel cinnamon swirl cupcakes. - Hostess With the Mostess
Everything you need to know about absinthe and five ways to use it. - Epicurious

Source

Yummy Links: From Party Palettes to Marcel's DUI

partysugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:45:55 -0700

Black, white, and yellow makes for a sophisticated party motif. - Simply Stated
The top 10 ways to chop onions without crying.- The Epi-Log
Get a virtual taste of Starbucks mocha dark chocolate. - Baking Bites
Free ice cream! 90210 helps you cool off. - Serious Eats
Lucid absinthe is a tasty way to get acquainted with the green fairy. - Chow
Interesting tip! Use a serrated knife to slice tomatoes. - The Kitchn
Krispy Kreme cheeseburgers surface at the Google cafeteria. - Slashfood
Plan a patriotic beach party for Labor Day. - Hostess With the Mostess
In case you missed it, Top Chef's Marcel arrested on suspicion of DUI. - TMZ

Source

Happy Hour: Absinthe

YumSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:15:24 -0700

Last week a bunch of us partook in an after work happy hour. We spent the evening at Shanghai 1930, where we ate tasty dim sum morsels, and drank way too many drinks. One of these drinks was a straightforward absinthe service. It's an interesting and dramatic thing to order - the sugar is lit on fire - with a nice, full flavor. However, you'll want to avoid it if you dislike anise flavored things. To see how to properly serve absinthe, click the "Start" button.

View Slideshow ›

Marilyn Mansinthe

YumSugar — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:33:51 -0700

In a "hmmm... surprised this didn't happen sooner" moment, Marilyn Manson will continue to perpetuate his gothic identity by releasing his own line of absinthe called "Mansinthe."

The family-run distillery Matter-Luginbuehl will collaborate with Manson in order to produce thousands of bottles for a worldwide audience. Manson hasn't visited the distillery - which is located in the rural Swiss village of Kallnach - but decided on them after tasting several different absinthes brought by distillery partner Markus Lion.

"The collaboration first arose when Lion asked Manson if he would design a label for one of his absinthe bottles, following a concert by the star in the Swiss city of Basel some two years ago."

The partnership makes sense to me, after all, everything Manson touches seems to turn goth, so I guess it's only appropriate that anything associated with goth turns to Manson. I'm just surprised it didn't happen sooner.

One bottle will be 66.6% proof and will cost 49 Swiss francs (41 dollars, 30 euros) at the distillery's online shop. It initially will not be available in the US (pesky laws!) and most of the exports are for Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Greece and Italy.

What do you guys think of it? Do you think it's a fun idea? Or do you think it's totally tired?

Source: Yahoo News

Yummy Link: Absinthe in the US?

YumSugar — Tue, 22 May 2007 08:29:11 -0700

Believe it or not, but you'll now be able to get your hands on absinthe in the US. It probably has the thujone (the supposed psychoactive portion) removed, but it clocks in at 124 proof which should still knock your socks off. - Liquor Snob

10 Weird Ways to Celebrate National Candy Month

YumSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:00:10 -0700

It's hard to believe it's been a year since our I Heart Candy challenge, but it's true: National Candy Month is here again! Throughout the month of June, we'll be celebrating all that the candy world has to offer, so I thought I'd kick things off with 10 of the weirdest candy offerings I could find. Have you tried any of these? Start the slideshow and tell me what you think.

View Slideshow ›

Jerky: Love It or Hate It?

partysugar — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:00:08 -0700

A couple of Summers ago my mom and I were driving and passed a roadside stand that sold "every kind of jerky" - including bison and venison. We wondered who would stop to purchase the jerky. Fast forward a few hours and we arrive home to find my father snacking on jerky he bought from the stand! Normally I'm not a huge fan of beef jerky, but when I tasted Jamie Lauren's moist and delicious version, which I had at Absinthe, I loved it. How do you feel about jerky?

Happy Hour: Whiskey Lemonade

YumSugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:00:43 -0700

Uncouth as it may sound, whiskey and lemon was the combination that first opened my eyes to the world of alcoholic beverages.

It was freshman year of high school, and the only drink in the world that I hated more than coffee was anything with alcohol in it. Then I developed a nighttime cough that no medicine would cure, and my mother started making me a drink of hot lemon juice, honey, and a splash of whiskey. The whiskey was warming on the way down and had a musky, smoky scent; the lemon left a tart, tongue-puckering finish.

That experience turned out to be just the beginning. Flash forward a decade and a half, and while I now appreciate everything from Campari to absinthe, the combination of whiskey and lemon still holds a special place in my heart. I especially love it in an icy, lemonade-like version for picnics or other Summer outings. See a recipe for warm weather refreshment when you read more.