I’m sure lots of you have tried or at least seen, heard of Absinthe. It’s one liquor that has infamously hypnotized numerous creative minds including Vincent Van Gogh, Picasso, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. Talented beyond their years, yet all had a streak of madness. Even Jack The Ripper was known to consume this drink during his exploits.

And as I listen to Madeline Peyroux’s Behind The Bars, I wonder if she too experienced similar hallucinations.

Drink up, baby, Stay up all night
Things you could do, You won’t but you might

The potential you’ll be, You’ll never see
Promises you’ll only make, Drink up with me now
And forget all about, Pressure of days
Do what I say, And I’ll make you okay
And drive them away, Images stuck in your head

Fortunately, I’ve never had a maddening experience with Absinthe. But the paranoia of experiencing a bad trip does place Absinthe at the bottom of my drink choices. Not too far off the bottom of the list that I have recently tried and tested is Irish moonshine, Knockeen Hills Irish Poteen. It’s got intoxicating characteristics like Absinthe but less well-known.

Get used to the blur image, this is how you'll be seeing after a shot of Poteen.

This is a 100-proof spirit, colourless and almost tasteless, a little like vodka. It’s traditionally distilled from malted barley grain or potatoes and is one of the strongest liquors in the world. And even though it’s been brewed for centuries, it was only legalised in Ireland in 1989. If poorly distilled, this spirit is known to blind and even kill. Knockeen Hills produces 3 main ranges, starting from the Triple-distilled Farmers Strength at 60% alcohol or 120 Proof, which is what I tried. It goes up to 70%  and 90%.

Only for the brave or really stoopid.

How was it? Let me just say this, one of the guys in our group hit the floor 5 minutes after the first shot. And yes, the rest of us had another shot.