The green scene

It's no coincidence that in just the past week, I've received two publicist pitches promoting the return of absinthe, that green liquor potion portrayed in movies and pop culture as mind-altering. (Graphic)

In the 1952 classic film MGM musical "Moulin Rouge" starring Jose Ferrer and Zsa Zsa Gabor, Ferrer plays famed artist Toulouse-Lautrec who becomes drunk after a few sips of absinthe, known also as "The Green Fairy."

And in the 2001 remake of "Moulin Rouge!" by 20th Century Fox, Nicole Kidman's character is amused when Ewan McGregor's character falls into a drunken haze and is taunted by a floating green fairy played by Kylie Minogue after his absinthe experience.

After being banned for close to 100 years, absinthe is legal in the United States once again. The devilish and delightful green spirit has been given many nicknames like The Green Fairy, because it literally comes from European forests made from the flowers and leaves of an herb called wormwood, which gives the precious liquid its distinct green tint.

The chosen drink of bohemians and artists, it once was rumored to cause madness in anyone who drank it, but, luckily, no such fate awaits today's spirit connoisseurs.The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau relaxed the U.S. absinthe ban in 2007, and approved several brands for sale, including one U.S. distillery both producing and selling absinthe, the first U.S. company to do so since 1912.

"Since its revival, absinthe has become the trendy new drink of the socialite crowd, and bars devoted solely to the green libation have sprung up across the country," according to Chicago publicist Caiti Carrow. "If you want to join in on this new trend, or simply discover what all the fuss over this once-banned drink is all about, Brian Rosen of Sam's Wines & Spirits in Chicago can explain the history of the drink and how to prepare this special spirit. From the traditional preparation (which includes lighting the liquid on fire and the inserting a sugar cube) to more modern interpretations of the drink, the preparation of absinthe is as diverse as its history."

She said Rosen's two favorite absinthe concoctions are "Boho Madness" and "Green Muse."

Another Chicago publicist, Susie Riskind, also contacted me to remind that "Absinthe is back, and Chicago's Viet Bistro and Lounge's Mixologist Rashed Islam is not afraid to use it."

Motivated by psychedelic '60s music and John Keats poetry, Islam concocted The Green Fairy ($15), a hypnotic blend of North Shore Absinthe, cactus pear juice, and coca liquor from Bolivia, garnished with an orange slice. This potent martini just became available at Viet Bistro in July.

For reservations or more information, call (773) 465-5720.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

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