SPIRITED AWAY

New Zealand now has its own version of the infamous spirit absinthe. Amber-green in colour, Karven Absinthe features flavours of fresh fennel, lemon balm and aniseed, balanced with bitter wormwood and kūmarahou and a hint of mint. At 65 percent ABV, you might like to try it diluted with icy cold water (three parts water to one part absinthe). Or for a more authentic experience, invest in an absinthe spoon for the top of your glass, on which you place a sugar cube and then slowly pour the cold water over to join the absinthe. 500ml $99, from karven.co.nz.