It's been over a year since the government lifted the century-old ban on absinthe and the novelty factor hasn't worn off yet—even though the herbal liquor doesn't really cause hallucinations of green fairies. (Doheny manager Steve Livigni says an absinthe buzz is comparable to the effects of THC.) In fact, the craze has hit a fever pitch. Not only are bars offering traditional servings, where ice cold water is poured slowly over a sugar cube placed on perforated spoon into a glass of absinthe, but bartenders have also gone wild creating specialty cocktails that balance out the black licorice flavor from the anise. Even the folks behind Play have jumped on the bandwagon, going so far as to temporarily close their Hollywood lounge and re-open it in April as a bohemian bar specializing in absinthe.

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