the folks over at fenom have developed what they call a "modern absinthe" and it's a totally Miami based product. If you're like "absinthe, like the green fairy drink of the past?" if your imagining men in tights and poufy Kramer shirts (is this another over everyone's head reference?) you're imagining wrong. The miami nice team had a fun filled fenom night clad in jeans, flats, and our usual Monday night attire in A.Valls' bar.
our fenom sponsored party set-up
We first tried it as a chilled shot like the label reads, but I'm not into licorice and as a shot it was a little strong for me, so I grabbed the closest mixer - tonic (even though in the literature it says that you can mix fenom with any mixer, it doesn't actually say tonic, it says Perrier or Club Soda... does that mean fenom and tonic is the miami nice special?!)- and it was good. Really good . Like order out at one of the fancy shmancy places that they're serving fenom out of it's fancy reflective silver bottle.
Keep reading for more on fenom, it's new(but kind of old, my fav kind of new), it's delicious, it's pretty, and it's Miami based:
So, fenom is a product of some laws changing regarding the absinthe in the States, can you explain what happened?
Absinthe was banned in most parts of the world around 1915 because it was believed to contain hallucinogenic properties, which has never been scientifically proven. All of the absinthes available then had an extraordinarily high alcohol content, playing a significant role in many of the myths about the storied spirit. The ban was recently lifted in 2007 allowing the legal distillation and the sale of absinthe in the US. fenom Modern Absinthe is different because it has a lower alcohol content (80 proof) and more enjoyable flavor, making is much easier to drink while maintaining all of the ingredients you would find in a traditional absinthe.
How did you first decide to start fenom? Where you living in Miami? Are you from Miami and if not why is this the place to start it and market it?
We loved the way that traditional absinthes made us fee,l but did not enjoy its flavor, consumption ritual, and lack of versatility. In 2008 we set out on a journey to create something entirely new, an absinthe that was enjoyable to drink, sexy, dynamic, and still gave you the same sensation as traditional absinthe. The liquor industry is saturated with vodka and tequila brands and we wanted to create something entirely unique that the tastemakers could really feel was their own. We all live in Miami currently, and fenom is based on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach. Miami Beach is without question the sexiest city in the world and fenom fits in perfectly. Miami is the perfect place to launch and market fenom.
Miami's club and party culture is pretty diverse, but I think it's safe to say that most people think of South Beach girls in tight spandex with lots of rhinestones, too short skirts, and bad music blasting too loudly all night long (sadly, and of course that's not all there is). But, absinthe has historically been the drink of choice for Parisian artists, writers and the bohemian community. How is a new absinthe product going to fit in that dichotomy?
Fortunately, that is not what the majority of Miami is like. The real culture you'll find is similar to the historical absinthe drinkers. Forward-thinking artists, trend setters and creative people are what Miami is really filled with. That being said, fenom tastes completely different from any traditional absinthe you have ever experienced. fenom is best enjoyed as a chilled shot or as a base for modern cocktails, the outdated consumption ritual involving a water fountain, spoon, and sugar cube is no longer recommended.
Your big coming out party was at The Webster, which is, without a doubt, the new high-fashion mecca of Miami. Can we look forward to any other fun collaborations or seeing you guys partner-up with any other local places, people or venues? Where will we be seeing fenom?
You will be seeing a lot of fenom in the next few months. The bottle itself is very striking and the brand lends itself well to fashion and music. We will be partnering with all of your favorite Miami venues and events. In the meantime you can check out the fenom cocktails on the menus at Prime Italian, Meat Market, the Gansevoort Rooftop, Cafeina and 8oz Burger Bar, just to name a few.
Can you describe an ideal night with fenom?
A perfect night out would start with dinner and fenom cocktails at Prime 112 before heading over to The Florida Room for late night festivities. Our table would obviously be the shiniest table in the bar, with bottles of fenom reflecting all of the action and attracting attention from everyone longing for an alternative to the passé bottles of vodka and tequila on their tables.
A seriously special thanks to the really nice people over at fenom, and you reader's do your part. Try something new, whether that means drinking fenom (responsibly of course) or drink fenom while trying something new.
