Anisette, grassy, herbaceous
With its ghoulish glow, this is the perfect cocktail for Halloween or a Day of the Dead party. As if by black magic, it pairs well with sushi—it loves wasabi—as well as vinegary dishes like salads and escabeche.
An eerie martini made with absinthe, this drink is the signature cocktail of Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop in New Orleans, the oldest continuous bar in the United States. While some recipes call for Herbsaint or Pernod, absinthe is more traditional. Typically, the Obituary is served straight up, but we prefer it in a rocks glass over a single monster cube. The added ice melt releases grassy notes.
2 ounces (60 ml) gin (Plymouth)
¼ ounce (7 ml) white vermouth (Dolin)
Absinthe, to rinse the glass
Lemon peel, for garnish
Rinse a rocks glass with absinthe and add one large ice cube. Stir the ingredients with ice. Strain into the prepared rocks glass. To garnish, twist the peel over the surface of the cocktail to express the oil. Then, discard the peel.