Absinthe Artisan takes a little finding (it’s towards the Elgin Bridge end of Boat Quay, above a convenience store) but its old world French elegance makes the journey worthwhile. They only serve absinthe, but in a variety of ways to get you better acquainted with it. Individual glasses (served traditionally with a water drip and a sugar cube) and cocktails cost $18-22, and they also have a cocktail flight ($75 for four drinks) which includes a fruit-based concoction, an absinthe martini garnished with bak kwa (the combination actually works) and an absinthe-spiked coffee. For the more experienced, you can go for unadulterated tastings at introductory ($60 for four glasses), premium ($90 for six glasses) and connoisseur ($110 for six glasses) levels. They have over 20 labels on offer, from the basic La Fée Parisienne to the whimsical Australian Moulin Rooz, the complex Absinthe DuVallon and Black Cat coffee absinthe from Spain.
