The Phoenix Sipping Pipe was created to celebrate the revival of the artisanal craft of absinthe. It was inspired by absinthe enthusiasts all over the world. It was designed using science and art fused together to create a traditional purist form of ritual while creating an easy way to conveniently enjoy absinthe in today’s modern era.
While a traditional-minded absintheur may be initially perplexed by the idea of a sipping pipe for preparing absinthe, the experience is actually very close to the normal louching process… but with a modern twist. Absintheuers have a wide assortment of accessories at their disposal; fountains, brouilleurs, carafes, spoons, see-saw drippers, and so on. The sipping pipe is a newer concept that does well to enforce proper absinthe preparation through a unique implementation of traditional preparation methods.
Just as with a glass; a measure of absinthe is added to the pipe, then an optional sugar lump, followed by a pour of ice cold water. The effect is very similar to a bubble glass, with the absinthe slowly louching up into the water with lovely, smoky trails which eventually collect at the top of the pipe. There is a lot to like about the show this accessory displays during the preparation of a favorite absinthe with the wispy trails rising from the absinthe reservoir to eventually balance out with the water above, creating a nice, fully louched drink. Additionally, there is a sort of hypnotic, pneumatic action within the pipe straw as the absinthe level rises and falls after each sip.
The pipe itself is made of thick glass and interchangeable glass straws which together form a really elegant piece of glassware which conforms well to the hand. Most importantly – this accessory does well to prepare a nice, traditional drink of absinthe for the absintheur to enjoy in a unique and leisurely way. Sitting right alongside glasses, spoons, and other varied absinthiana in my collection; this piece does well to reinforce proper absinthe preparation in continuation of the modern absinthe revival.
Check them out at https://slipstreamabsinthe.com/!
I have produced a video demonstrating the preparation and lovely louche action produced:
There is a reason I chose to use the Jade Terminus Oxygénée Absinthe Supérieure for this example video. It is a new absinthe released just a month back and is a homage to an absinthe of 100 years ago which was “highly publicized as having been subjected to a specialized hot oxygenation process originally believed to render the final spirit hygienic, and therefore free of any potentially deleterious properties.” It was an innovation at its time – similar to how the glass sipping pipe is an innovation in our time.
In full disclosure, I was provided a pre-launch sipping pipe for review.