Absinthe Mints

by Eric Diesel, Posted Dec 29th 2008 @ 11:03AM

As you've likely been reminded during the last month, mint is unavoidable during the holidays. Everyone thinks you want a candy cane (and to be fair, many people do, and God bless them ev'ryone). If people think you're a southern cook (even when you're not), they are anxious for you to try their handcrafted julep, which makes you anxious to avoid having your face freeze in the chic grimace with which Rosalind Russell greeted those honey-based daiquiris in Auntie Mame. Some will even corrupt the holiest of holies -- chocolate cake -- by whirling peppermint oil into the ganache.

Therefore, today's moral quandry: you love Absinthe (though you are somewhat disappointed that it is now legal) but you don't like mint. Can you, who have heretofore avoided everything minty except Girl Scout cookies and toothpaste, now embrace a breath mint that combines oil of anise with a pungent hit of wintergreen? If they're these absinthe mints, yes, you can.

A tin of them appeared in my Christmas stocking, lurking with green fairy glee among a jumble of banana taffy, jelly nougats, and stripey coconut things. They look like aspirin and taste predominantly of anise, which the sales copy would have us believe is "the predominant flavor of absinthe." Absinthe drinkers who can be bothered to do so will be glad to correct that gross mischaracterization, but as it's the holidays I'm willing to overlook marketing blather over the fact that these little mints are marvelous. Like another mint I do like -- Altoids licorice -- the mint is subdued by the powerful presence of a stronger flavor. The mint provides a cushion for the anise in these mints, much like the vermouth coddles the gin in a martini. As just as the gin caresses the vermouth in response, so responds the anise to the mint.

I can't write as a mint-lover, so I cannot provide a mint approval rating (I suspect that for mint purists, the anise will be too strong). I also suspect that there are many anise-haters who echo my sentiments about mint. Whether your area of expertiese is anise, mint or Absinthe, once you try these darling little devils, leave commentary below to let us know what you think -- even if its just to tell us about the spike in your popularity at the office when you artfully positioned the sexy green tin on your desk.

Filed Under: Ingredients, Drink Recipes, Holidays, New Products
Tags: absinthe, absinthe mint, absinthe mints, AbsintheMint, AbsintheMints, candy, christmas, easter, halloween, hanukkah, spirits

Chew on This

Royal Wedding Cake Details Revealed! - YumSugar

Make Your Own Pop Tarts - CHOW
Denny's Introduces a Maple Bacon Sundae - Eater
Whole Foods Opening Bars in Stores - USA Today
Rules Of Bar Etiquette -- For The Bartender - HuffPost Food

Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-29-2008 @5:09PM Rio Yeti said... But do they contain any absinthe at all ?

I tried the absinthe lollypops from lollyphile, and although they are very sweet and the taste of anise is very strong you can still taste the absinthe.

Is you can on those mints, I'll try to get a hold of them, if not... meh.
Reply