Scott's Case Files

Marteau: Absinthe de la Belle Époque

 It has been a while since I've made any absinthe posts, so this blog is just about due.  Good timing, in fact, as a new and authentic absinthe has recently hit the market - Marteau: Absinthe de la Belle Époque made by none other than Gwydion Stone, founder of the Wormwood Society.  Ever since I joined the Wormwood Society, I figured that it was really just a matter of time before he made his very own brand.

The timing was good and Gwydion's (he lets me call him Gwydion) absinthe is not only available in the US, but it's also distilled here!  While I do enjoy my French- and Swiss-produced absinthes, the idea that the US is taking back part of its almost forgotten heritage does something for me.  Absinthe makes "made in America" really mean something to me again.

I had my first taste of Marteau at Tales of the Cocktail in 2008.  I really don't want to review it yet, as the flavor and scent of it are not fresh in my mind months later.  A bottle of my very own will soon arrive and I'll review it then.  I will say that when prepared traditionally with dripped ice-water and sugar (though I prefer all absinthe sans sugar cube) it was, in a word, refreshing.  I also had several opportunities to taste it used as an ingredient in both historic and modern cocktails and the Marteau added just what the mixture needed to complete it.  Gwydion should be very proud of his creation.

Definitely give Marteau a try.  If you're lucky enough to be reading this and have never before tried a traditionally-made absinthe, you're in for a treat.  My order will be arriving from DrinkUp NY- a good place to order from if Marteau or other absinthes are not available in your area.  Also, be sure to pipe up at your local liquor store and ask them to stock Marteau!

The Atlanta Adventure: The Journey Home

As the gathering was breaking up, you couldn't turn without seeing a hug going on.  There were even tears here and there.  I was okay with things, though it was sad to break up the proverbial band.  I mean, it's not like the friendships end just because why physically go our separate ways.  Everyone is another blip on the map when I'm passing through.

Because of the overwhelming heat on the ride down, I decided that it would be smartest for me to ride at night.  So Sunday night the remaining gang - Oscar, Hissykitties, and AndrewT - walked me out to my bike to send me off.  It was touch and go when I couldn't seem to get the damn disk lock off of the motorcycle, but Oscar took over and it was off in no time.  Everyone got a Scott Hug and I thanked them for everything.  It was only then that I felt those tugs at the heart-strings and needed to get out of there before I got way too emotional...

The Atlanta Adventure: The Stay

From the moment that Hissykitties and Oscar took me into their home, they officially became the most incredible hosts in the history of Scott.  I felt at home instantly and, if anything, my only regret is that I couldn't have contributed more to making their lives easier during my stay.  Of course that was mostly because they just wanted me to be there and enjoy myself and leave the hosting to them.  House rules.  I can live with that.

The other guests began to arrive and with each new arrival I put a face to a forum name.  AndrewT, Dakini Painter, Peridot, Mr.Defo, Ophelia, Elfnmagik, Fixedspiral, Verlock, OMG Bill, Jaded Prole, Auguru, and eventually Shabba and Nymphadora.  Friday was supposed to be a beer and BBQ night, but it turned into a any-already-opened-bottle-of-absinthe-is-fair-game and BBQ night.  I tried to take up the slack on the beer side, though, and will be hunting for some of those delicious Belgian brews soon.

The first thing that I was reminded of at the gathering was not to judge a book by its cover.  It's one of the first lessons that your parents (should) teach you but it's also the one that you forget the easiest.  Several of the gang were decked out in their finest hardcore heavy metal regalia and I remember thinking, "Oh, isn't this going to be fun" before I so much as talked to any of them.  The metal contingent definitely loved their death/acid/etc metal but that was just one of their many facets.  All of them were pretty impressive individuals and they kept everyone entertained with music and stories throughout the gathering.  In addition, they turned out to be some of the more refined palates when it came to absinthe.  And add onto that, they were avid RPGers.  They even introduced me to some new varieties of metal and even got me hooked on Tyr (which is also now my favorite gaming music).  They did make the rookie mistake of inviting me to crash at their place if I'm ever in the neighborhood of Birmingham.  <insert evil laugh here> If they only knew of their folly...

The Atlanta Adventure: Getting There

Yes, I survived my Atlanta ride for any who weren't positive due to this delayed post.  In summary, the ride down was HOT, my time spent in Nashville and Atlanta made the ride down well worth it, and the ride up was pleasant.

On the ride South-bound I had a short respite in the morning hours (6am-ish) but as soon as I saw any real sun I was swathed in high-90s to 100 degree weather.  I always ride in my heavy leather jacket (you know, the one with the thick leather and Kevlar pads to keep me safe(er) in a spill) and the air venting was doing me no good.  I took the jacket off for about an hour and the temperature was the same and all I ended up accomplishing was burning my arms to a crisp.  At best, the extra wind whisked away some of my perspiration and cooled me off marginally, but mostly it just helped to dehydrate me.  So the jacket stayed on for the duration and rest stops for water were plentiful.

When I finally tooled into Nashville, Tennessee it was mid-afternoon and I was hot, drained, and achy.  Then I got to my CouchSurfing contact's home and things were much better.  Nate and his girlfriend were great and not only fed me dinner and housed me, but relaxed me with good conversation and more tidbits for my Southern education (Are ya' pickin' up what I'm puttin' down?  Are ya' ridin' in my taxi?).  Later that night, Nate took me to downtown Nashville to the honky-tonks and enjoyed a beer and some decent Country music.  As it turns out, Nashville is the country musician's version of Hollywood - everyone wants to be a country music star and has a day-job to prove it...

The Scott Went Down To Georgia

The Scott rode down to Georgia
He was lookin' for a soul to steal (or rent at a reasonable rate)...

Yeah.  Soon I'll be leaving for my motorcycle ride down to Georgia.  It's just about 830 miles spread out over two days, which will be very manageable.  I could probably do it straight through, but I figure that I have the time so why strain myself.  It's vacation, after all, and I am looking to make a stop in Nashville.

Once in Atlanta I will enjoy the company of fellow Wormwood Society members as we begin the gathering for the Hot August Nights II celebration.  My hosts, known on the WS forums as Oscar and hissykitties, have invited any and all members that can make it to Georgia to partake of the festivities.  When I contacted them, they assured me that I would have a place to stay and that all they wanted of me was my presence.  I will definitely be glad for their hospitality once I get down there.  I do, however, believe that it is the duty of a traveler to share something with their hosts so I arranged to have some Milwaukee Usinger's sausage and other goodies sent their way.  It's the very least that I could do for all that they are doing.  As Oscar pointed out in a recent post, this gathering is their gift to the absinthe community.

The idea of finally getting to meet in person individuals who I've only otherwise communicated with via the WS forum will be incredible.  As great as technology and the internet is, there is no substitute for a face-to-face meeting.  Truly.

Add onto this that there's also a mini-party on Friday night for those who will arrive by then - BBQ and beer and camaraderie.  Nice combo in this guy's book, let me tell you!

Not a bad way to spend a week of vacation!

Vive l'heure verte!

Pernod Fils 1905

I just received my sample of Pernod Fils absinthe bottled in about 1905.  That's just over a century old, for those of you without enough fingers to count on.  Ever since I started my research into absinthe and started chatting online with those in the know, I have wanted to sample genuine pre-ban absinthe.  Pre-ban meaning produced before the legal ban on absinthe in the country in question, which in this case is France's ban in 1915.

Before I get into the main part of the post I wanted to reference a couple of links to my readers.  The first is the main site of a gentleman who works under the moniker of Oxygénée (after a classic brand of absinthe). He runs more than a few different sites dealing with absinthe, from its history to sales of both modern and antique absinthiana.  When people in the absinthe community have a question as to an absinthe-related antique's authenticity, they are generally sent to "Oxy" from what I have seen.  He is also the largest purveyor of pre-ban absinthe, as well as other rare spirits, that I am aware of and it is from him that I purchased my own pre-ban sample.  He also was kind enough to give me permission to post the picture of the bottle from which my sample came here on my blog.  Thank you on all counts, Oxygénée!

The purpose of this post isn't to give a review on my sample - I want to wait until I have some quality me-time before indulging.  Sampling this pre-ban will be a very special moment for me.  This post is more about why absinthe is important to me, beyond just the fact that I enjoy the taste and scent of it...

Green Fairy Dreams

It's been a while since I've ordered absinthe.  I still have several delicious bottles at home and have been slowly draining them over time.  Looking at a few brands of absinthe that have made it on the market recently, though, I broke down and made an order.

Coming soon will be an absinthe that's been around for a while - Francois Guy.  I've never tried it, but it's been on my list so I figured that now was the time.

Also arriving will be a bottle of Eichelberger 68 Verte.  I love vertes and this is one of the new brands of absinthe out there.  It was apparently a home-brew from Germany that won a contest amongst German absintheurs and the creator decided to go commercial with it.  The reception of this absinthe, from reviews given by people I trust on this kind of thing, is outstanding.  I'm definitely looking forward to sample this one.

More on these treats when they arrive!

Wild About Wilde

What a fascinating character Oscar Wilde must have been!  In that question about what historical figures you'd want to have lunch with he'd be at least one of them.  In reading his work (did you know he is the author of The Picture of Dorian Gray?) he would come across as a very shallow person if it weren't for the fact that it takes a man of supreme intellect, wit, creativity, and depth to write what he did.  Genius!

I figured I'd take this time for another quotable quotes post, this one dedicated to Oscar Wilde.  He spoke and wrote alot, so even my favorite picks are many.  Click on the continuation to get to my favorite Wilde quotes!

Fanatic of Dune

It was probably the coldest night I can remember where there was no snow.  It was about minus thirty degrees Fareinheit but still my father took me out to the movies as he'd promised me.  As a boy growing up, when my father promised a thing, he delivered.  Just he and I, a "boys night out" of sorts, we went to the movies to see the movie I'd been dying to see ever since I saw a review on Siskel & Ebert (way back when Siskel was still alive) - Dune.

I loved the movie so much that I went out and got the book and read it.  To this day it remains my most favorite science fiction novel - I can't imagine how anything could top it.  Frank Herbert created an entire society different from any other that was created before it with a rich history that you knew through inference without ever reading it directly.  He was a master, Herbert.

Recently, during my vacation in Portugal, I shared that novel with my nephew who enjoyed it as well (though certainly not to my degree).  Just something that I was able to pass on to the next generation.  I am pretty sure he'll be reading the other novels as well.

I'm even re-reading the novel as we speak and may even check out the others as well, though the first is undisputably the best by far.  I've just been enjoying everything Dune lately.  I'm am the Fanatic of Dune...

Blanche de Fougerolles 74

Blanche de Fougerolles 74 was the third absinthe that I've tried.  I was sampling some last night and figured it was a good idea to try out a review.

A little background on this selection.  For one, it's a grape-based alcohol which harks back to the days before the fin de siecle.  Prior to the wine shortage, absinthes were made with a grape-based alcohol.  It was only after the wine famine (where the vines experienced several diseases for several years, raising the price of wine) that absinthes switched their alcohol base to grain alcohol which made it far more economical than its competitor - wine.  By the way, the 74 in it's name indicates it's undiluted alcohol percentage, not the proof.  So it is 74 percent alcohol, or 148 proof out of the bottle.

Cost: About $64 depending on how strong the dollar is against the British pound.

Read the continuation for the actual review...