17 Best Absinthe Cocktails

Ahhhhh… Absinthe cocktails. I know how silly it sounds, but there’s a part of me that loves absinthe cocktails simply because of their names.

It also could be because absinthe was illegal in the United States for much of my early drinking years. 

Seriously, though, how cool (and creepy) are these names? Death in the Afternoon. Necromancer. Corpse Reviver. Chrysanthemum. Smoke and Mirrors. 

I’m sorry, but most cocktails don’t get awesome names like those. And that is precisely why I love drinking absinthe cocktails.

Also, in case you’ve never had it, absinthe is a gorgeous, bright green drink (“The Green Fairy”) that tastes strongly of black licorice, thanks to the anise.

Easy Absinthe Cocktails & Drink Recipes

1. Absinthe Suissesse

Despite absinthe’s emerald green color, this drink is a creamy, frothy white that almost looks like a glass of milk. 

If you need a little hair of the dog, you’re in luck with this drink because many people enjoy it for breakfast or brunch.

It has a milkshake-like texture and a flowery, nutty taste that’s hard not to like.

Ingredients: absinthe, orgeat syrup, egg white, orange flower water, heavy cream, crushed ice

2. Chrysanthemum

If you’re looking for a light, slightly spiced aperitif with a delicate flavor and a somewhat low alcohol content, the chrysanthemum is the drink for you.

Unlike most drinks, which use dry vermouth as little more than an afterthought, that’s the base for this dry, gentle drink.

It’s a great before-dinner drink, but it’s so tasty and mild that you’ll probably want another one after dinner, too! 

Ingredients: dry vermouth, Benedictine, absinthe, orange twist

3. Death in the Afternoon

Ernest Hemingway was a notorious drinker, so if he invented a drink, you know it’s good and strong. Death in the afternoon is both. 

It’s a simple, three-ingredient drink that combines absinthe, simple syrup, and champagne (or Prosecco). 

It’s beautifully bubbly and has a sweetened black licorice taste that every fan of the ropy candy will adore.

Its eerie, monster-green color also makes it ideal for Halloween celebrations.

Ingredients: absinthe, champagne or prosecco, simple syrup

4. Necromancer

To have such a devastatingly spooky name. After all, necromancers raise the dead! This drink is surprisingly light and aromatic.

The alcohol content is reasonably strong, so it packs a nice punch, but the drink’s flavor and smell are just delightful.

It even has a light pink, almost translucent color, for goodness’ sake. 

But remember that no matter how charming it looks, smells, and tastes, this drink features absinthe, wine, elderflower liqueur, and gin.

It’ll knock you on your butt!

Ingredients: absinthe, Lillet Blanc, St. Germain, lemon juice, gin

5. Absinthe Frappe

Coffee lovers, don’t get too excited just yet. 

This frappe is a frappe in the traditional definition of the word: “an iced beverage that has been shaken, blended or beaten to produce a tasty, foamy, and refreshing drink.”

There’s no coffee in it – just absinthe, ice, simple syrup, and a mint sprig. It’s cold, minty fresh, and heavily licorice-flavored.

Ingredients: absinthe, simple syrup, crushed ice, gin

6. Fairy Godmother

Because people often call absinthe “the green fairy,” many absinthe cocktails have the word “fairy” in their names. 

The fairy godmother is a combination of absinthe, elderflower liqueur, pineapple juice, lemon juice, and lime juice.

It has a sweet, tropical, citrusy flavor and smells fantastic.

Don’t let the drink’s sweet, floral-like flavor deceive you, though.

It’s a seriously strong drink, and you won’t need more than one or two to feel the buzz.

Ingredients: absinthe, elderflower liqueur, pineapple, lemon, lime

7. Garden Fairy

If ever a mixed drink could be called “garden fresh,” the garden fairy would be the one. 

Thanks to the cucumber liqueur, lime juice, grapefruit bitters, and aquavit (made from potatoes), the garden fairy tastes like someone tossed their whole garden in the blender. 

It has a clean, fresh taste, and of all the absinthe cocktails on the list, this one probably tastes the least like absinthe. 

So if anise-flavored drinks aren’t your thing, this might be the absinthe cocktail for you.

Ingredients: absinthe, cucumber liqueur, lime juice, aqauvit, Suze, grapefruit bitters

8. Original Sazerac

Although you’ll only use absinthe to rinse your glass when making the Sazerac, I couldn’t leave this classic drink off the list. 

To me, absinthe and New Orleans go hand-in-hand, and this is the New Orleans mixed drink.

It’s a slightly sweet, primarily bitter drink that tastes strongly of alcohol (in this case, cognac, though you can make it with whiskey, as well). 

Ingredients: absinthe, cognac, simple syrup, Peychaud’s bitters, lemon peel

9. White Elephant’s Cocktail

If you are a fan of contrasts, then you will undoubtedly appreciate the white elephant’s cocktail. 

You’ll make it with Bacardi white rum, simple syrup, lime juice, absinthe, and a large twist of grapefruit.

It is slightly sweet, but that sweetness is offset entirely by the half-salted rim and the striking bitterness of the grapefruit. 

Plus, the bright, citrusy notes of the lime and grapefruit are a perfect complement to the rich, licorice-like taste of the absinthe.

Ingredients: Bacardi white rum, simple syrup, lime juice, grapefruit, absinthe

10. Corpse Reviver 

As you might have guessed from their similar names, the corpse reviver and the necromancer are pretty alike in terms of both taste and ingredients. 

While strong, the corpse reviver isn’t quite as potent as the necromancer.

But they both have the same sweet, citrusy, lightly floral, and anise flavor. 

Ingredients: gin, lemon juice, Cointreau, dry vermouth or Lillet Blanc, absinthe

11. Swamp Thing

The swamp thing is another darkly named drink that’s unbelievably light, fresh, and crisp.

It almost tastes like herb-infused cucumber water with a rich absinthe kick.

It’s not overly sweet, but if you prefer a more sugary drink, you can always add a bit more simple syrup. 

If you enjoy your mixed drinks with more zesty, citrusy notes, add a little extra lime juice instead.

Ingredients: light rum, absinthe, lime juice, simple syrup, sliced cucumber

12. Smoke and Mirrors

The smoke and mirrors is basically a daiquiri, but it has an absinthe and mint twist to it.

It’s super simple to make, requiring just a few minutes of work. 

The drink is best when served as icy cold as you can get it.

It’s a light-colored drink with a bubbly top, and it almost looks like light beer in the glass.

In fact, it’s hard to believe that such a depth of flavor can come from something so pale.

Ingredients: Islay Scotch, scotch whiskey, lime juice, simple syrup, absinthe

13. Sleepy Hollow Absinthe

A quick little note on me: If you ever set down a drink in front of me that has something smoking in it, I’ll love it, even if it tastes abysmally bad.

The creepy aesthetic is just way too cool for me not to like it. Fortunately for me (and for everyone else who tastes it), this drink tastes as good as it looks.

Since you’ll only use the absinthe to coat the glass, the drink doesn’t have a strong anise flavor.

Instead, it tastes spicy and smoky and just a little bitter.

Ingredients: absinthe, mezcal, allspice dram, Angostura bitters, rosemary sprig

14. Inside Job Cocktail

The inside job is sweet and smoky, but it’s a little hard to describe beyond that. 

Have you ever seen a movie where a frustrated man sits down at a bar, orders a drink, knocks it back in one gulp, and then slams his empty glass down sharply on the table? 

Of course, you have; we all have. It’s pretty much a staple of any drama or action movie.

Well, that’s what this drink tastes like — whatever that man on TV is drinking.

Ingredients: bourbon, maraschino liqueur, sugar syrup, Angostura bitters, absinthe

15. Neptune’s Wrath

This mostly sour, somewhat herby, and lightly anise-flavored drink is strong, sharp, and not for everyone. It’s a bit of an acquired taste.

I suppose it’s called Neptune’s wrath because of the sea-like colors of the ingredients used to make it. 

However, once you mix everything, there’s not much of a color to it. It looks more like an extremely light lemonade with a bit of froth at the top. 

You might actually feel a little cheated that it doesn’t look more like stormy waves.

The bright, interesting taste will soon give you something else to ponder, though.

Ingredients: gin, absinthe, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white, green chartreuse

16. Foghorn Cocktail

There are three primary flavors in a foghorn cocktail: gin, ginger, and absinthe. If you like one or all of those things, you’ll like this drink.

If you don’t, you might want to find another absinthe cocktail to try.

Of course, it’s simple enough to make.

All you’ll need is Rutte dry gin, triple sec, Lillet Blanc, La Fee Parisienne absinthe (or your own favorite brand), and chilled water or ice.

It takes practically no time to make, even if you add the cute lemon peel twist for a garnish.

Ingredients: dry gin, triple sec, Lillet blanc, absinthe, chilled water

17. Absinthe Drip

And last, but certainly not least, we have the absinthe drip.

This is the traditional way to drink absinthe (similar to how Johnny Depp’s character drinks it in the bathtub in From Hell, only without the laudanum drip).

For this method, you’ll need absinthe, a sugar cube, a slotted spoon, and ice-cold water.

Pour your absinthe into the glass, then set the sugar cube on top of the slotted spoon.

Slowly drip the cold water onto the sugar cube so that it melts into your glass.

This sweetens the absinthe and waters it down just enough so that the intense anise flavor isn’t overwhelming.

Ingredients: absinthe, sugar cube, water