What's your drink of choice when out and about?

[TGSCAN]

OR

[Mikegarveyblues]

Bottle of lager for the most part. No real preferences for which one.

On a night out i'll usually dabble in the harder stuff... Double Jack Daniels and Coke is the most likely option!

[LSchefman]

And, according to what I've read, it does result in delusions and hallucinations in some people.

Here's from Wiki, and the article looks pretty well-researched:

"Although absinthe was vilified, it has not been demonstrated to be any more dangerous than ordinary spirits. Any psychoactive properties attributed to absinthe, apart from that of the alcohol, have been much exaggerated"

The reason you couldn't drink the absinthe might be that it absolutely has to be mixed with water; the usual ratio is about 1 part absinthe to 3-5 parts water. The water is poured over a sugar cube that sits on a slotted spoon to get rid of bitterness also. So if you tried to drink straight absinthe, you'd probably have a very bad experience!

In some parts of Europe -- this never happened in the 19th century, it's modern -- they soak the sugar cube in absinthe and light it, then drop it into the water/absinthe mixture.

[sergiodeblanc]

In some parts of Europe -- this never happened in the 19th century, it's modern -- they soak the sugar cube in absinthe and light it, then drop it into the water/absinthe mixture.

This is how I have always had absinthe, it's a fun little ritual that results in a still nasty licorice tasting substance. Pair it with anise cookies for full gross out potential.

[docbennett]

they soak the sugar cube in absinthe and light it, then drop it into the water/absinthe mixture.

Yes...in that Johnny Depp "Jack the Ripper" movie, he used an eyedropper to pour some liquid narcotic on the cube, and let it sit on top of the glass, then lit the cube. It was pretty cool. Brought out similar cravings that remind me never to watch "Scarface". I forgot what the narcotic was, but I do recall that it was a popular opiate-based narcotic in the late 1800's.

Needless to say, shortly after imbibing the mixture, the Depp character had visions of the "Green Fairy".

[dmorton67]

If I can find it I like . I'm in more hoppy craft beers at the moment. So much that it has ruined my taste for any "regular" beer. I just can't drink them. My fall back, like many others here, is always Guinness.