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.
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