Imported by Viridian Spirits

Absinthe owes its urban-legend status to wormwood, which supposedly drove drinkers insane with hallucinations. But what good alcohol doesn’t? Turns out, it’s not wormwood that’ll knock you on your butt, it’s the delicious flavor from a 124-proof bottle that’s the real devil. One of the first absinthes legally imported in more than 90 years, Lucid is a taste of history. Created in a restored distillery in France from an old recipe, Lucid is heavy on the licorice, the subtleties of anise and wormwood are overpowered, but the complexity works overall. Add water, and Lucid gives a slow, clean louche as it transitions from light green to milky and opalescent. Don’t light it on fire (that’s so Hollywood), and don’t expect to see green fairies. Just sit back and join history for a drink.