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Earthquake (French Tremblement de Terre)

french-tremblementdeterreThis intense potion is adapted from one served at parties by the French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

3 oz cognac (90 mL)
3 oz absinthe (90 mL)

Stir cognac and absinthe in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with a lemon twist.

Makes 1 cocktail.

Cook's Notes:

  • Method: Originally, the cocktail is made by mixing the ingredients and then pouring them into a chilled cocktail glass. Still, today, a common practice is to shake the ingredients with ice to dilute the drink and then strain it into a glass.
  • Variations: The original recipe calls for equal parts of cognac and absinthe, 3 oz each. However, some suggest this is too strong and advise to lower the amounts to 1 oz of absinthe and 1 oz cognac. Also, gin is often added to the cocktail and Pernod can be used instead of absinthe.
  • Drinkware: Cocktail glass is the drinkware of choice for this cocktail, although using a brandy or an absinthe glass will also work.