AMARO A category of bitter Italian digestive flavored with a variety of herbs, citrus peels, roots, barks, and spices. Notable brands include light and fruity Amaro Nonino and rich and brawny Averna.
ANISE One of the defining ingredients in absinthe. It’s a naturally sweet herb with a distinctive licorice-like taste.
APEROL A bittersweet Italian àpéritif distinguished by its bright orange color and astringent orange-peel flavor.
BELLE ÉPOQUE In France, the “beautiful era” of art and lavishness between approximately 1890 and 1914.
BRANDIED CHERRY A whole cherry macerated in brandy or a liqueur, with or without the stem and pit. This cocktail garnish is available at well-stocked spirits shops and imported-food markets. And it’s easy to make brandied cherries at home—place cherries (preferably fresh but frozen works) in a jar and cover them with a brandy of your choice. Seal the jar tightly and store in the refrigerator.
CHERRY HEERING A classic, brandy-based cherry liqueur produced in Denmark. In a pinch, substitute a maraschino liqueur or a sweetened, cherry-flavored brandy.
CLÉMENT CRÉOLE SHRUBB A rum-based orange liqueur produced on the Caribbean island of Martinique.
CRÈME DE VIOLETTE A purple liqueur flavored with violets. The classic cocktail ingredient was recently made available again in the United States after a long dry spell. The most celebrated brand is Crème Yvette, which is enhanced by vanilla and other spices.
EMERALD MUSE A nickname for absinthe.
FENNEL A naturally sweet herb with a licorice-like flavor, similar to anise.
FLOC DE GASCOGNE A brandy-based aperitif made in the Armagnac region of France. A suitable substitute is Pineau des Charentes, another brandy-based aperitif that is more widely available.
GENEVER A traditional Dutch spirit flavored with juniper and other botanicals. It’s often called Dutch gin or Holland gin, but it is not as dry as the more common English or American gins.
GREEN FAIRY A nickname for absinthe. In French, la fée verte.
GREEN GODDESS A nickname for absinthe.
GREEN HOUR A period of the day reserved for enjoying absinthe, similar to a happy hour. In French, l’heure verte.
KIRSCHWASSER A dry, colorless, cherry-flavored brandy native to Germany. American distiller Clear Creek makes an excellent version.
L’HEURE VERTE See Green Hour.
LOUCHE The milky, opalescent transformation that absinthe undergoes when water is added.
PASTIS An anise-based absinthe substitute. Unlike absinthe, it’s sweetened slightly before bottling, and it lacks wormwood, a defining ingredient in absinthe. Herbsaint is a recommended brand.
PIMENTO DRAM A spicy, rum-based Jamaican liqueur flavored with pimento berries or allspice.
THUJONE A chemical compound found in wormwood and other herbs, such as common sage. In large quantities, it has been shown to cause convulsions in lab animals. It exists in absinthe only in trace amounts.
WORMWOOD A bitter, woody herb that is a defining ingredient in absinthe.