Black Squirrel

First time I went to this place, I felt very “at home”. What a nice atmosphere.

My artist and writer friends had a ‘lets try Absinthe’ party, and invited me along.

I had the burger, which was a very good value at twice what they charged me (I went on a Thursday, when burgers are half off during the designated hours).

Also, try the mac n cheese.

Go. Say ‘hi’ to Amy, the lady boss.

I hear the Absinthe is something to experience.

THE ONE-TIME FORBIDDEN DRINK COMES TO ADAMS MORGAN

Absinthe, the alcoholic beverage steeped in legend and myth, has found a home at The Black Squirrel after U.S. regulators lifted the 95-year-old ban on it in 2007.

The licorice-flavored liquid was incredibly popular among 19th-century European artists, notably Pablo Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh, who extolled the creative property of the beverage and put it to canvas.

The 136-proof drink eventually succumbed to its wild and crazy image, plus the erroneous claim that it produced hallucinations, and was banned in the U.S. in 1912.

Absinthe consumption is steeped in ritual. The Black Squirrel serves absinthe in the following manner: An ounce of absinthe is poured into a glass. An absinthe spoon carrying a cube of sugar is placed over the glass. Another half ounce of absinthe is poured over the spoon carrying the sugar. Icy water then drips onto the spoon and melts the sugar to complete the concoction dubbed the green fairy.

The Black Squirrel carries two brands of absinthe: French-based Pernod and Swiss-based Kubler.