In honor of absinthe’s (legal) return to Las Vegas, we drank some! And then “theorized” what hallucinations might occur based on the locale ...
The Artisan Hotel
How it’s served: Absenthe Minded Martini: Absente, Absinthe Refined (the fake stuff) + Bombay Sapphire + Grand Mariner + Dry Vermouth + lemon-peel twist, $14
How it tastes: The death of childhood dreams, but with a kicky black-licorice aftertaste
Have a nice trip: Laughing paintings, walking sculptures, dancing paint brushes
Downtown Cocktail Room
How it’s served: The Huntridge: Plymouth gin + Kubler absinthe + simple syrup + four slices muddled cucumber + juice of one whole lemon + splash of soda + “4 oz. TLC,” $9
How it tastes: Alcoholic salad
Have a nice trip: Crimson and black swirls, coffin lids closing, hellfires blazing
Stir Lounge, Platinum Hotel
How it’s served: The Fear and Loathing: Cherry vodka + Peacock’s Vanilla Bean cello + sugar cube + Kubler absinthe + fire, $13
How it tastes: Tooth-rottingly sweet almond, Essence of Gonzo
Have a nice trip: Snowboarders soar off the flat-screen into the cracked glass plates behind the bar, red suede chairs morph into platelets bumping through squiggly-carpet arteries
Mermaid Restaurant and Lounge, Silverton Casino
How it’s served: 2 oz. Kubler absinthe + sugar + two parts water + crushed ice + highball glass, $8
How it tastes: Straight-up paint-peeling ouzo
Have a nice trip: Grizzly attacks, teal jellyfish floating down from ceiling (sources indicate those jellyfish may be real)