Musings of an aging fan

That reminds me: I was trying to explain the difference between drinking absinthe the traditional French way and the way Russell Brand does it (at least in a clip I've seen from "Get Him to the Greek") and came up with a tea analogy, which partly fits in with what you said. Some absinthe needs sugar; some can do without. But they all need water, or it is the equivalent of chewing the tea-bag!