Absinthe lends a dry, herbal riff to cocktails and, so, deserves some airtime every once and again. Back in the day, you'd ready your ornate absinthe spoon and watch drips of water slide off a sugar cube down into the verdant elixir for hours on end. If you stopped spending your afternoons hallucinating back in the 19th century, though, this old-fashioned preparation might be a bit too laborious. Perhaps, instead, you'll try this new world method for a basic absinthe cocktail.

Line-Up:
1 shot absinthe
one-half or a full shot of sugar water
juice of half a lime (strained to remove pulp)

First, mix equal parts sugar and water until the sugar granules dissolve completely in the water. For a more bitter drink, go with less sugar water (half shot); for a sweeter drink, go with more (full shot). Then fill a shaker with two cubes of ice (per drink) and pour in the line-up. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with lime twist.