Immersive Van Gogh Chicago Partners with Absente Absinthe for Authentic “Absinthe Ritual”

Like many artists of his time, Vincent van Gogh had an affinity for inebriation. His drink of choice: Absinthe, a spirit known colloquially as “the green fairy” due to its green hue and rumors of the drink causing mild hallucinations. In partnership with Absente absinthe, the first absinthe in the U.S., the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit at Lighthouse ArtSpace (108 W. Germania Pl.) is rounding out the experience by offering absinthe drinks to guests, made complete with an accompanying absinthe ritual.  

To perform the ritual, trained mixologists pour two ounces of Absente absinthe into a glass with a reservoir in the stem. They then lay a specially designed absinthe spoon over the glass and place a sugar cube above it. Three ounces of ice water are then poured over the sugar cube until it is dissolved. A quick stir with the spoon, and one is left with the same green-tinted concoction that Van Gogh sipped throughout his life. This exclusive absinthe experience is only available at Immersive Van Gogh Chicago. 

“The cultural impact of this late-19th century elixir cannot be understated,” said Genna Shabshis, manager of the bar and lounge at Immersive Van Gogh Chicago. “In addition to Van Gogh; Ernest Hemmingway, Oscar Wilde, Edgar Allan Poe and Pablo Picasso were all fond of absinthe.”