When people think of absinthe, it often brings to mind fanciful tales of visual hallucinations, out of body experiences and chasing the elusive Green Fairy. Originally rising to popularity in the 1840s in France, the herbaceous liqueur quickly gained notoriety and was banned in several countries. The lore around absinthe spread like wildfire, resulting in a near total disappearance of the green drink for generations.
The reality of absinthe mania is much less menacing — it is thought today that many of the ‘hallucinations’ caused by absinthe were a result of poisoning from poor quality control and not wormwood. Distillers cut corners with inferior alcohol, which could lead to impaired vision, and some bottles contained copper sulfate, antimony and chloride. But the most likely culprit of absinthe’s fabled reputation? Plain old ethanol.
100 years later, absinthe has reemerged and regained popularity, with several distilleries producing their own versions worldwide. Here at Port Chilkoot, we’ve created our own spin on the famed spirit in our Green Siren Absinthe! Made with hand harvested herbs that grow beautifully in southeast Alaska, Green Siren is rich with flavors of wormwood, lemon balm, and anise hyssop. You won’t find any artificial coloring in our bottle; the natural jade hue comes from soaking fresh botanicals in the spirit after distillation.
Green Siren Absinthe can be enjoyed in a myriad of ways to highlight its unique flavors. With a high proof and bold botanicals, we first recommend trying Green Siren poured over ice with a splash of very cold water. With a natural sweetness of its own, many find that Port Chilkoot absinthe does not need additional sugar.
Curious to try absinthe in the traditional manner? Try what is known as an ‘absinthe ritual’ by utilizing an absinthe fountain or slotted spoon. We prefer the spoon method - it is less fussy but equally beautiful. Absinthe spoons are flat so they can rest on the rim of a glass. Fill a glass with a pour of Green Siren Absinthe and place the absinthe spoon over the top. Balance a sugar cube in the center of the absinthe spoon as you slowly pour ice cold water over the cube, just enough to saturate the cube. As it begins to dissolve, pour more water over the cube, until it is fully dissolved and the desired dilution is achieved. We recommend a ratio of 3 - 5 parts water to 1 part absinthe. Stir together and watch the absinthe change from a clear to opaque green.
If a straight pour is too bold for your tastes, try one of our signature cocktails featuring Green Siren Absinthe! Mix one up at home or stop by our Haines distillery and sip one in our tasting room. The Queen Bee is an herbaceous riff on a Bees Knees, featuring Port Chilkoot 50 Fathoms Gin and Green Siren Absinthe. Follow the recipe below to add the flavors of wormwood to a classic gin sour!
Queen Bee
1 oz 50 Fathoms Gin
.5 oz Green Siren Absinthe
.75 oz Honey Syrup
.5 oz Lemon Juice
Add all ingredients to a shaker. Shake and double strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with an orange twist.
At Port Chilkoot Distillery, we embrace the Alaskan way of life through creating fine spirits. Putting up hand-crafted food and goods comes naturally to people here, and during the Klondike Gold Rush, bootleggers made moonshine. We’re a small team committed to harvesting sustainably from the land, creating our own quality goods, and following our dreams in a place that can be wild and unpredictable. We wouldn’t trade it for anything, and we’re proud to produce exceptional spirits we hope you'll savor. Visit our Haines distillery or order a bottle online today!