"we've started with the traditonal 1800's recipes and herbs to give our absinthe superieure the clean notes of a classic blanche the went with the unsual, including citrus, tarragon (dragon wormwood) and red hibiscus for floras tones and colors.
Full Version: CORSAIR Red Absinthe
The smell is extremely unusual. I almost want to say beets. It's kind of a weird veg smell with a With a hint of somethig sweet I think the citrus. My bottle was batch 3 and bottle number 63 as you can see in the photos. I will right up my review after I finish this glass. I just wanted to spread the word before I drank up.
"we've started with the traditonal 1800's recipes and herbs to give our absinthe superieure the clean notes of a classic blanche the went with the unsual, including citrus, tarragon (dragon wormwood) and red hibiscus for floras tones and colors.
"we've started with the traditonal 1800's recipes and herbs to give our absinthe superieure the clean notes of a classic blanche the went with the unsual, including citrus, tarragon (dragon wormwood) and red hibiscus for floras tones and colors.
Nice, can't wait to read the review.
An interesting color. Made in Kentucky! I'm glad you took the plunge for us.
I'm anxious to read your review. That would be something to have in my cabinet if it proves to be decent.
Good luck and drink responsibly.
*smile*
I'm anxious to read your review. That would be something to have in my cabinet if it proves to be decent.
Good luck and drink responsibly.
*smile*
Most of what the manatee wrote.
Res, have you tried the Maitresse Rouge yet? I think a lot of what you're smelling is the hibiscus.
I received a bottle of batch 1 yesterday. I'll report back soon too!
Made in the town of my birth!
I received a bottle of batch 1 yesterday. I'll report back soon too!
Made in the town of my birth!
QUOTE (Brian Robinson @ May 24 2009, 08:05 PM) 
Res, have you tried the Maitresse Rouge yet? I think a lot of what you're smelling is the hibiscus.
I received a bottle of batch 1 yesterday. I'll report back soon too!
Made in the town of my birth!
I received a bottle of batch 1 yesterday. I'll report back soon too!
Made in the town of my birth!
Yea thats what it is very floral. And no I haven't I may have to look into it one I hear your take.
Good man, Jason! 
Can't wait to hear both of your thoughts.
On a related note, I've been working with the New York Spirits Awards and have been told they are entering this...we'll see if it is good enough to take home a medal in their first competition!
Can't wait to hear both of your thoughts.On a related note, I've been working with the New York Spirits Awards and have been told they are entering this...we'll see if it is good enough to take home a medal in their first competition!
I'm very interested in how this turns out. Maitresse was hideous to my palate, so I'm still looking for a non-artificial colored red.
Another interested party, though one who has yet to have his first rouge. I like hibiscus tea; a friend let me try their Senegalese version of it. Yum!
Thanks for trying it!
Batch 3 is actually part of the second batch, for silly reasons. As you probably know, when making absinthe via traditional steps you reserve the end portion of your distillate from each batch and add it to the next. This section of distillate is very oily (but not too tasty) and improves the mouthfeel and louche of the next batch of spirit. As the oils build up batch by batch, you get a richer spirit.
That's the main difference between Batch 1 and Batch 2+3. It's subtle, but the louche is thicker in the later batch and oils coat your tongue more, so the various botanical flavors are actually more distinct in the earlier batch. My best guess is that by batch 5 the louche and flavor should be about where it's going to stay.
Best,
Andrew
Batch 3 is actually part of the second batch, for silly reasons. As you probably know, when making absinthe via traditional steps you reserve the end portion of your distillate from each batch and add it to the next. This section of distillate is very oily (but not too tasty) and improves the mouthfeel and louche of the next batch of spirit. As the oils build up batch by batch, you get a richer spirit.
That's the main difference between Batch 1 and Batch 2+3. It's subtle, but the louche is thicker in the later batch and oils coat your tongue more, so the various botanical flavors are actually more distinct in the earlier batch. My best guess is that by batch 5 the louche and flavor should be about where it's going to stay.
Best,
Andrew
Hope you have a very, very successful first year Andrew!
I'm just all tingly that I just learned something about what leads to a good louche... for the 10 seconds it took me to read that, I was fascinated!
Dang, I wish I was able to try some of the batch 3. A lot of the critiques I have seem to have been improved upon in the new batch.
-Color-
Before Water: Pale rose water color. It appears much daker in a full bottle than it does once it is in a glass. It is a very light oor almost clear , but it is reassuring considering the unusual color. When I heard "red absinthe" I honestly expected a more artificial look to it.
After Water:The drink ow takes on a more upfront white cloud, much like you'd expect from a blanche. It is almost pure white with only a slight tint of red when examined over a light source.
-Louche-
A little quicker than I expected, but I think I could have used a slower drip too. The louche starts at the bottom and a white cloud and slowly bellows up to the top moving from the outer sides of the glass inwards until the whole drink takes on a nice fluid white color.
-Aroma-
Before Water: A very unusual aroma. The hibiscus is the main note I picked up here. Kind of over powers everything else before water, but I didn't see that as a bad thing. It seemed a foreshadowing of what was to come next.
After Water: The hibiscus really comes out as the water is added, but it is much more balanced. It now takes on a sweet floral aroma. I felt as though I was walking into a nursery, with the subtle anise (Very subtle) and citrus aromas all swimming together you get a very nice earthy smell that is very inviting.
-Flavor-
Surprisingly smooth. Even though it smelled absolutely delightful I was prepared for the perfume trick: It smells delicious but you would be a fool to put it in your mouth. But, happily the taste is not a far cry from the taste. It was very floral and surprisingly sweet. The taste is kind of tricky for me to describe because I am not sure what the dragon wormwood is supposed to taste like. For the sake of completing the review I will assume it is not that distinct from Artamesia Absinthium. The taste is an interesting merging of the hibiscus, lemon and what I'm pegging as anise, but anise certainly is a side note here. The hibiscus might be a little strong for some as it is definitely the main attraction here.
The mouth feel was a bit light on this glass, but not terribly light, just not the creamiest.
I may have added a bit too much water to this glass because it was a bit lighter than my first glass from last night, so I may come back and alter this review slightly later.
-Finish-
The finish is mostly floral again. I have to equate the finish to sort of herbal tea. During the majority of the drink you get the nice marriage of flavors and then it finishes with a subtle sweetness that either you added or came with the drink to help with the naturally bitterness. Of course that's not to say there is not natural bitterness but that adds to the intriguing floral flavors.
-Overall-
I am not the most experienced member here, but I'd have to say it was a GREAT absinthe to have as a learning tool.I love how different it is. I wish the anise was a bit stronger but that may be an easy fix with some water ratio altering. For a mere $33 it is one of the most affordable Absinthes you'll find, that is if you can find it!
Before Water: Pale rose water color. It appears much daker in a full bottle than it does once it is in a glass. It is a very light oor almost clear , but it is reassuring considering the unusual color. When I heard "red absinthe" I honestly expected a more artificial look to it.
After Water:The drink ow takes on a more upfront white cloud, much like you'd expect from a blanche. It is almost pure white with only a slight tint of red when examined over a light source.
-Louche-
A little quicker than I expected, but I think I could have used a slower drip too. The louche starts at the bottom and a white cloud and slowly bellows up to the top moving from the outer sides of the glass inwards until the whole drink takes on a nice fluid white color.
-Aroma-
Before Water: A very unusual aroma. The hibiscus is the main note I picked up here. Kind of over powers everything else before water, but I didn't see that as a bad thing. It seemed a foreshadowing of what was to come next.
After Water: The hibiscus really comes out as the water is added, but it is much more balanced. It now takes on a sweet floral aroma. I felt as though I was walking into a nursery, with the subtle anise (Very subtle) and citrus aromas all swimming together you get a very nice earthy smell that is very inviting.
-Flavor-
Surprisingly smooth. Even though it smelled absolutely delightful I was prepared for the perfume trick: It smells delicious but you would be a fool to put it in your mouth. But, happily the taste is not a far cry from the taste. It was very floral and surprisingly sweet. The taste is kind of tricky for me to describe because I am not sure what the dragon wormwood is supposed to taste like. For the sake of completing the review I will assume it is not that distinct from Artamesia Absinthium. The taste is an interesting merging of the hibiscus, lemon and what I'm pegging as anise, but anise certainly is a side note here. The hibiscus might be a little strong for some as it is definitely the main attraction here.
The mouth feel was a bit light on this glass, but not terribly light, just not the creamiest.
I may have added a bit too much water to this glass because it was a bit lighter than my first glass from last night, so I may come back and alter this review slightly later.
-Finish-
The finish is mostly floral again. I have to equate the finish to sort of herbal tea. During the majority of the drink you get the nice marriage of flavors and then it finishes with a subtle sweetness that either you added or came with the drink to help with the naturally bitterness. Of course that's not to say there is not natural bitterness but that adds to the intriguing floral flavors.
-Overall-
I am not the most experienced member here, but I'd have to say it was a GREAT absinthe to have as a learning tool.I love how different it is. I wish the anise was a bit stronger but that may be an easy fix with some water ratio altering. For a mere $33 it is one of the most affordable Absinthes you'll find, that is if you can find it!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Resiakk (and nice formatting too 
). I hope this one gets picked up by DrinkUPNY, I'll not hesitate to check it out.
). I hope this one gets picked up by DrinkUPNY, I'll not hesitate to check it out.
QUOTE (Green Baron @ May 26 2009, 10:51 PM)
I hope this one gets picked up by DrinkUPNY.
Thanks for doing the review; is there an entry for it on the main review page? Also, for that price I have no doubt it would make it in a DUNY order of mine!!!
Great review! From what you've described, I'd definitely buy a bottle if a few ever pop up in my area, however unlikely.
You said it had a tea-like quality in the finish...I think that can be as large a factor as the hibiscus when it comes to personal preference. The sample of Redux distiller's proof I tried had a definite tea-like quality to it as well, which is something I have tasted in few absinthes.
You said it had a tea-like quality in the finish...I think that can be as large a factor as the hibiscus when it comes to personal preference. The sample of Redux distiller's proof I tried had a definite tea-like quality to it as well, which is something I have tasted in few absinthes.
QUOTE (pt447 @ May 26 2009, 08:59 PM)
Thanks for doing the review; is there an entry for it on the main review page? Also, for that price I have no doubt it would make it in a DUNY order of mine!!!
I went to the review page but I couldn' find it to review, and I'm not sure how to get it added.
It's quite easy. Just go here, then click 'add new listing' on the right.
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