What is an Absinthe Fountain and how does it work?
If you don't know exactly what an absinthe fountain is, then we have all the necessary information for you here.
Absinthe fountains are probably the most professional and extravagant absinthe accessories you can own. Even during the Belle Epoque in the early 20th century, they were only found in particularly fine cafes. For many cafes, they were simply too exclusive and perhaps too elaborate to handle. In bistros, they were used to serve water for absinthe preparation in a stylish and functional way. This is why they are also referred to as "water dispensers" or "absinthe fountains."
The drinking ritual with a fountain proceeds as follows: First, you fill the glass container with water and ice, place an absinthe glass with an absinthe spoon and sugar cube underneath, and then turn on one of the spigots. Now, the cold water drips like from a fountain from the glass container onto the sugar. The sugar dissolves with constant dripping, and the now sweetened water mixes with the absinthe. After some time, the characteristic clouding begins: the absinthe transforms from its original green color into a milky white (this transformation is called "louche"). The Green Fairy, it is said, has been brought to life. Finally, you briefly stir the absinthe with the absinthe spoon one more time, and your glass of absinthe is ready!
With an absinthe fountain, a particularly beautiful louche can be created. This is because the water mixes with the absinthe very slowly through the constant dripping, much slower than, for example, with a conventional water carafe.
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Metal Absinthe Fountains
Generally, one distinguishes between glass or metal water dispensers. A particularly beautiful metal fountain is the "Classic Absinthe Fountain AAA". The fountain is made of solid metal and has a glass body into which the water is poured. From the four side taps, the ice-cold water then flows or drips into the absinthe glasses placed underneath. Furthermore, it is an authentic reproduction of earlier originals. This means that owning and using it is a nostalgic experience.
This classic absinthe fountain (French spelling) naturally also impresses with its particularly high quality. In addition to the particularly high-quality manufacturing, the many small details are also impressive. We would like to explain a few of them in more detail below:
- The glass container of the fountain is made of solid pressed glass. This makes the glass body optimally prepared for temperature fluctuations. So you can safely fill it with ice cubes and cold water.
- The threads of the absinthe fountain are precisely milled. This allows the individual parts of the fountain to be easily assembled.
- The base of the absinthe fountain has foam padding. This ensures that the fountain stands particularly securely in place and also leaves no scratches on your table.
- The taps feature a gripping engraving in the form of the "Triple A" logo, which guarantees safe operation even with wet fingers.
- The taps can be easily cleaned with a pipe cleaner.
- The fountain (French spelling) is highly polished, so it shines in full glory, just like in the Belle Époque!
- The fountain is food-safe, certified by the Fresenius Institute.
The inspiration for the design of the fountain was the famous antique absinthe fountain from the brand Terminus. Terminus was a French absinthe brand from the 19th century. In addition to a first-class absinthe, Terminus also produced various accessories. Among these was a fountain with a Gallic rooster enthroned on its lid. This way, the fountain on every table could be directly associated with the Terminus brand. The Classic Absinthe Fountain also features the Gallic rooster as a distinguishing mark. It symbolically represents absinthe's roots in French culture.
However, and this is the sad news, we unfortunately had to discontinue the production of the fountain. Production costs rose immeasurably, and manufacturing no longer made economic sense. It's a great shame, but it was unavoidable.
What is the quality of other metal Absinthe fountains like?
There are other metal absinthe fountains available on the market. These reproductions look very similar and sometimes even have a Gallic rooster as a lid. Some of the fountains are also offered with a fairy base. This fountain is called "Lady Absinthe Fountain." This fountain is also available in a version as a Green Fairy with wings. Although these metal fountains look nice, we advise against buying them. The quality is very poor. These antique-looking water dispensers were precisely the reason why we decided to produce a high-quality metal absinthe fountain. The inferior quality absinthe fountains are made in India and often have the following defects: improperly manufactured threads, leaky taps, rusting water filters, very fragile glass that breaks at the slightest stress or temperature difference. Unfortunately, all metal fountains offered on the market are the Indian versions. This means that buying them is a real disappointment.
We recommend buying a glass fountain instead. These fountains have the advantage of being smaller and therefore handier, and they have that very special "crystal look." Of course, they are a modern interpretation of classic absinthe fountains, as glass fountains did not exist back then. But they work very well, and we love these absinthe fountains not only for their functionality but also for their precise craftsmanship. Our glass fountains are made in Europe by a glassblower with many years of experience. They are of perfect quality and perfect for drinking absinthe.
Absinthe ALANDIA Époque 700 ml 70%
Like our premium Absinthe Maison ALANDIA, Absinthe Époque was developed in cooperation with the international known Absinthe connoisseur "deep forest". The task for this Absinthe was to create a complex but balanced Absinthe. Smooth and without any bitterness, resulting in a very dignified Absinthe impression. An Absinthe for the finer moments in live. Its name refers to the Belle Époque, "the beautiful era", signifying a period in E...
Where can I order more absinthe accessories and genuine absinthe?
At ALANDIA, you can buy a variety of other absinthe accessories. You can buy absinthe brouilleurs, glasses, spoons, sugar, or carafes. Of course, you can also buy real absinthe in the absinthe store. For those who like it truly exclusive, you can even buy original 19th-century absinthe from us. This vintage absinthe is a true rarity. The bottles are over 100 years old and accordingly rare. In addition to these rarities, you can also order selected antique accessories in our shop. Just have a look around at ALANDIA, the world of absinthe, the place where everything revolves around the Green Fairy! By the way, even if the classic preparation with water and sugar is the original, absinthe can also be served as a cocktail. In the following video, you can see how to properly prepare an absinthe with a fountain: