Mixology 101 Prompt

Eternity’s first impression of the Rabbit Hole is how truly strange it feels to be in its presence when not bustling with customers. At this early hour it is only the waitstaff, bartenders, and any buns who have come in to partake in the bartending lessons advertised on every bulletin, flyer, and sneaky ad space that Burrowgatory has to offer. It almost felt like a steal to be able to sign up— surely these drink recipes should be a well-kept secret, though Eternity has never been one to miss such an opportunity.

Her hooves click on the floor as she approaches the counter, eying the bartender with a narrowed expression, her mouth pressed into an amused line. Hops seems rather busy with something behind the counter. The clicking of glass and desperate shuffling of papers prove distracting enough that Eternity stands unnoticed for a few long moments before she clears her throat.

Immediately, the tell-tale pitch of shattering glass and the bartender curses while ducking down. A second later she pops back up with an embarrassed expression.

“You must be Hops, yes? I’m Eternity. Here for your bartending lessons.” Her tone drags, a hint of amusement mixed with a hint of annoyance. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Eternity holds her hand out over the counter for Hops to take.

“Yes, ma’am!” Hops eagerly presses over the bar to take and shake the presented hand. “I apologize for the mess— glass was a bit slippery from washing.”

Hops drags her hands over a bar towel to dry them before looking around distractedly. She shifts a few things around before making a beckoning motion.

“Please— feel free to come behind the bar! It will just be the two of us, I was just finishing setting up. I was going to show you how to make a Drabsinthe today.”

Eternity gives a thoughtful hum as she circles around the counter into the employee-only area. There are a plethora of alcohols, liqueurs, spirits, and the like all organized under the countertop along with rows of various glasses, measuring tools, stirrers, and the like. Hops busies herself with a short broom to tidy up the broken glass off the floor, dumping it quickly into a garbage can of other sharps.

“Delightful, I haven’t had one before.”

“I love making people their first drink. Well, not their first-first, but the first of its kind.” Hops gives a shy smile with a flush to her cheeks. Her bar rag is tossed across the sink and she slaps her hands together with excitement. “Well, let’s get started!”

She pulls the glass closer between the two of them while opening the absinthe. The glass has a convenient bulb at the bottom for a perfect measurement each time; the green liquid sloshes until it neatly reaches the pinched top of the bulb.

“Now, a lot of it is personal taste. I do the French Method here at the bar which is the traditional way of making it but you can do things a little differently. The glass makes sure you have about the same absinthe each time so you are able to play around a bit with how much sugar and how much water you put in.”

Hops reaches for a slotted spoon and lays it atop the glass, then places a single sugar cube atop it. She grabs a glass of ice water that had been made in preparation for their lesson before continuing to speak.

“Typically you want to do one part absinthe and three to five parts water. Iced is best because it dilutes the spirit and makes it cloudy with the sugar, which is the milky part you end up with. It’s called the louche. Depending on taste you can do more or less water, and more or less sugar.”

Eternity nods thoughtfully. She watches as Hops pours the water slowly over the cube; despite her initial worry, the cool water dissolves the sugar effortlessly and the mixed liquid quickly gains its iconic froth as it mixes with the absinthe. The drink rises in volume to where Eternity half-guesses it would be between three to five parts water, an even four to decide her tastes.

Hops nods at her, and Eternity takes a sip with a thoughtful noise. The bloom of flavor floods through her mouth and down her throat as she swallows. She smacks her tongue to taste.

“I like it— perhaps a bit less water. May I try?”

Hops agrees happily. Within a moment she has another glass ready for Eternity to try her hand at making it herself. Eternity fills the bottom bauble with absinthe and readies the cube. Ice water comes next. She stirs it with the slotted spoon, and as she raises the glass to her mouth, Hops watches with unbridled anticipation.

Immediately she finds the drabsinthe much more flavorful. Without as much water, the louche is less diluted, bringing the black licorice taste forward through the sugar. Eternity takes a hearty swig with a smile on her lips.

“Now that is a good drink.”

The two laugh and share in their mirth. The rest of the lesson is spent fooling around with various other mixtures and drinks, with Eternity taste-testing and tweaking the pours to her own personal satisfaction. When their time finally comes to an end she finds herself a bit tipsier than intended and ever so thankful for the availability of public transport to start her journey home.