Mixing Absinthe with chocolate might not be the most obvious choice. Reminiscent of the Necromancer cocktail, the Dark Fairy Cream combines the strong, over-proof spirit like Absinthe with something sweet and mellow.
But that's the beauty of bartending and mixology. There's always something new to discover. And with the legalization of Absinthe in 2007, the spectrum got extended by a truly bewitching ingredient.
Ingredients of the Dark Fairy Cream
The Dark Fairy Cream cocktail is a blend of single cream - or half n half-, chocolate liqueur, Absinthe, and a dash of Vodka. It's rich, sweet, and slightly boozy, with an aftertaste of anise. And, as a dessert cocktail should be, it's also super easy to drink.
Absinthe for the Dark Fairy Cream
If you're new to the Green Fairy and look for reasonably priced quality, I recommend trying St. George Absinthe Verte or La Fee Parisienne with the Dark Fairy Cream.Â
Absinthe is a green-colored, over-proof spirit, usually flavored with anise, fennel, and woodworm.
The spirit invented in Switzerland in the 19th century had once been extremely popular. But Absinthe got banned for more than 100 years due to the common belief that it would cause hallucinations.Â
That ban got lifted in the early 2000s, and since then, Absinthe slowly found its way back into bars. And, as it turns out, it is quite versatile.Â
Chocolate liqueur
Chocolate liqueur might be less mysterious than Absinthe but is incredibly delicious. Also, it is the dominant flavor of the Dark Fairy Cream.
To make the cocktail not too sweet, use dark chocolate liqueur. It is a little less sugary and has more pronounced cocoa notes.
My favorite chocolate liqueur is Mozart, an Austrian brand named after the composer. However, depending on your location, it can be hard to get. In that case, you can also go with the dark chocolate version from Godiva.
And should you have a sweet tooth, you can try their white chocolate liqueur instead. -Using that, you have the benefit of the visual of the green-colored Absinthe.
Vodka in the Dark Fairy Cream
A splash of Vodka - unflavored- will lift the drink. It helps cut through the richness of the cream and the chocolate liqueur. And because Vodka is a neutral spirit, it does not alter the flavor of the Dark Fairy Cream.
Absolut Vodka or Belvedere are two decent mid-shelf products. And if you look for a more affordable alternative, the corn-based Tito's also works nicely.
Half n half
Half and half (around 12% fat content), or single cream (usually about 18% fat content), balances out the alcoholic components.
You don't want your dessert cocktail to be too boozy. And it also builds the bridge between the chocolate and the anise flavor of the Absinthe.
Don't go for heavy cream or any other creamy component with over 20% fat. It will make the cocktail too rich and (no pun intended) heavy.
Other cocktails with Absinthe
Absinthe cocktails are still somewhat of a rarity compared to mixed drinks with other spirits like Gin, Vodka, Whiskey, or Rum.
But if you like to get to know the Green Fairy a little more, try drinks like the Death in the Afternoon, invented by Ernest Hemingway, or the Tuxedo cocktail.
And for a complete overview of our favorites, head over to our list of the top 10 Absinthe cocktails.
Equipment
- 1 Jigger
- 1 Cocktail Shaker
- 1 Hawthorne Strainer
Ingredients
- 1.25 oz Absinthe
- 1 oz Chocolate liqueur
- 0.5 oz Vodka
- 1.25 oz Half and half
- chocolate shavings - for garnish
Instructions
- Put all ingredients into your shaker and add plenty of ice.
- Shake for a few seconds until your shaker is well chilled.
- Strain your drink into a coupe glass and garnish with chocolate shavings.