The Green Fairy

I love absinthe.  I first heard of it through Moulin Rouge, (excellent movie by the way) and have been fascinated ever since.  It has such a rich history, that wonderful Parisian, bohemian tradition.  Not to mention, nearly all the really great artists and writers of the 20th century seem to have had some relationship with the Green Fairy.
Normally, I abhor black licorice, but something about this beauty really works for me.  The traditional preparation involves pouring an amount of the absinthe into a glass, then placing a sugar cube onto a slotted spoon and pouring ice water over the cube, filling the glass.  One notable quality of good absinthe is the "louche" effect, or the cloudy texture the drink takes on when mixed with ice water.