This absinthe frappé is made with non-alcoholic absinthe, fresh mint, simple syrup, and a splash of club soda. It’s light, refreshing, and wonderfully bubbly!
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What is an Absinthe Frappé?
An absinthe frappé is a combination of absinthe, club soda, mint, and simple syrup. All of which is served over crushed ice. It was invented in New Orleans in the 1800s by Cayetano Ferrer at the Old Absinthe House. Originally, people drank it as a morning pick-me-up, but that’s not really a common practice anymore (for obvious reasons). However, with this recipe, you don’t have to worry about drinking it at a socially acceptable time because this one is alcohol free.
While this drink might not taste as strong as the real deal, it’s still a nice refreshment to enjoy on a warm sunny day. The bubbles from the club soda make this drink nice and crisp, while the mint and absinthe give it a unique, refreshing flavor. It’s perfect for those who’ve been curious about absinthe, but don’t want any of the alcohol.
Ingredients
This cocktail is made with very few ingredients and you can get most of them at the store. You may even have some in your house already! Check the FAQ section below for where to find the absinthe.
- Non-Alcoholic Absinthe
- Simple Syrup
- Fresh Mint
- Club Soda
- Crushed Ice
FAQ
As far as we know, the only non-alcoholic absinthe on the market is the Lyre’s Absinthe which is what we used in this recipe.
It tastes a bit like anise or licorice which is the flavor typically associated with absinthe. While we’ve never tried the alcoholic version, we know that this one is a lot less potent in flavor due to it being low-ABV.
Yes, you can use one in place of the other. The main difference is that sparkling water (or mineral water) is naturally carbonated while club soda is not. They both have minerals and generally taste similar. However, depending on which brand you get, the taste can vary due to the amount of minerals in it. Just find one that you like and use that. We wouldn’t recommend using tonic water since it’s a lot more bitter and usually has some sort of sweetener added to it which would alter the taste of this drink.
– Cocktail shaker: Any cocktail shaker such as a cobbler shaker or Boston shaker will work
– Strainer: If your shaker has one built in, you don’t need an extra one
– Jigger: this measures small amounts of liquid for cocktails
More Non-Alcoholic Cocktails You’ll Love
If you like refreshing cocktails, try our cherry gin cocktail. It’s made with fresh cherries, mint, and club soda.
A Few Tips
- If you don’t have crushed ice, you can always get a mini ice cube tray.
- Another way to get crushed ice is to place a bunch of ice into a blender. Then cover it halfway with water. Pulse until you get small chunks of crushed ice. Then strain out the water. Store in the freezer until you’re ready to use it. Ta-da! Easy crushed ice!
📖 Recipe
Non-Alcoholic Absinthe Frappé
Ingredients
- 3 oz (90 ml) Lyre's non-alcoholic absinthe
- ⅓ oz (10 ml) simple syrup
- 2 mint leaves
- 2 oz (60 ml) club soda
Instructions
- Place the absinthe, simple syrup, and mint into a shaker. Shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds.
- Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice.
- Top with club soda and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
Notes
- How to Make Crushed Ice: Place a few cups of ice into a blender then cover halfway with water. Pulse until you get small chunks of ice (about ¼ inch). Strain out the water using a large fine mesh sieve.
- You can also use a mini ice cube tray to get small pieces of ice.
- This drink is typically served in an absinthe glass, but a sherry or hurricane glass is fine.
- Don't add ice to the shaker. We're doing what's called a dry shake which is when you shake up all the ingredients without any ice. Since non-alcoholic absinthe is not as potent, we don't want to want to dilute it too much. Especially since we're topping it off with club soda.
Tammie S says
Can’t wait to try this out ! How did you achieve the green color at the bottom ?
fancifuleats says
Hi Tammie! The non-alcoholic absinthe we use (Lyre’s) has a green tint to it. When you add the club soda on top, the green sits on the bottom. We recommend stirring it up a bit though before drinking it. Hope you enjoy! 🙂