Okay, I have a question. Who here ever drinks absinthe straight? No water, no sugar. Just liquor in the glass and tilt. I have been known to do it on occassion, and want to know if I am the only one. I got a flask earlier this year, and the only thing to ever go in it has been absinthe. When I am over at a friends who has sugar and water handy, I louche it out nice, but sometimes, like when I am at work (and loathing my existance) where I just unscrew the top and bolt it.

So. . . who else here has an iron gut?

Sometimes, after dinner, one shot neat, with a single ice cube, as a digestif.

On occaision as a first taste.

Same here ... as a first taste. Then it's back to water and sugar.

DG

Virgin sippage.

Or if I stub my toe, or the sun sets.

Rough days call for absinthe. REALLY rough ones call for absinthe neat.

Yup, virgin sipping always calls for a pure shot.

yeah, every now and then 1 shot after dinner if I've eaten something that may hurt my stomach, though I only use absinthes that haven't fully aged yet...

nope.

i take a little sip of every bottle i buy, but not more than a sip.

took a big gulp of one of moonie's (probably a shot or 2) and i didn't like the sudden hurt to my guttywuts.

so now it's just a sip.

Lower proof absinthes like Segarra and F. Guy can be good that way. Once in a while I will have a shot after dinner. If I recall correctly, Segarra himself suggests drinking his absinthe neat, followed by a glass of water.

The higher proof stuff is just a little too harsh taken that way.

sometimes a half shot or two neat followed by watter is good -- gets you there quick. Then it's louche time.

That's me after a rough day. I'm an impatient guy.

Once with Absinthe Original and never again.
It really ruined virgin sippage for life.

I tried a small sip once or twice out of curiosity, but my self esteem as a man is not dependent on downing nasty tasting undiluted liquiors, so most of the time I just mix it right.