Our absinthe fountains are imported from France. Most of the fountains are historical replicas of absinthe fountains used in bars and cafes in France during absinthe’s hay day. During this time, waiters would bring out an entire set to a table should someone order a glass of absinthe. The set would include a pour of absinthe, an ice-water carafe or fountain, glasses, a bowl of sugar cubs and absinthe spoons. The fountain would be placed in the center of the table and filled with ice-water. The patron(s) could then place their glasses and spoons underneath the robinettes (faucets) of the absinthe fountain and allow the ice-water to slowly trickle over the sugar cube atop the spoon and cascade into the absinthe in the glass.
This means of slowly adding ice-water to absinthe creates a louche ( a cloudy emulsion of water and the essential oils released from the absinthe). The means and methods for creating the perfect louche were considered a time mastered skill. There were many different contraptions used to deliver the ice-water to the absinthe but no are as beautiful as an absinthe fountain. Using a fountain lends itself to the social context of a group of people enjoying a glass of absinthe together. There is something special about friends sitting around an absinthe fountain and watching their glasses slowly transform into a nice louched serving of absinthe. This enjoyable setting only get better with each glass of absinthe consumed.
|
|
