St. George Absinthe
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3.2 |
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3.4 (18) |
Product Details
| Available in the US? | Yes |
| Style | Verte |
| Degrees ABV (% alcohol) | 60.00 |
| Year of Make (if known) | 2007 |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Distiller/Manufacturer | St. George Spirits |
| Web site | http://www.stgeorgespirits.com/ |
| Comments from the Maker/Distributor | Today we announce the sale of the first domestically produced absinthe since the ban in 1912, St. George Spirits Absinthe Verte!
St. George Spirits Absinthe Verte is made with fine brandy, star anise, mint, wormwood, lemon balm, hyssop, meadowsweet, basil, fennel, tarragon and stinging nettles. This infamous liquor reveals seductive flavors of anise complimented with sweet grassy tones, light citrus, white pepper, and light menthol notes. |
Editor review
A whopping flavor.
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42 of 46 people found the following review helpful
Updated review 10-3-09:
Not much has changed other than the color is now a bit too dark for me and the louche is just way too thick, bringing the color and louche down a bit for me.
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Updated review 9-13-08:
Overall, much of my original opinions persist, however, it seems like the recent batches have been made a bit thicker. Maybe additional star anise? Either way, I'm having a hard time drinking it while properly diluted now. It's just too thick on the tongue. If I overwater it, the mouthfeel is better, but the flavor is thin. This has brought down my reviews for flavor, finish and overall from 4's to 3's. Updated overall score: 3.5
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Original review: This is a very intriguing absinthe. A highly respectable first absinthe from the US in ages.
Color is a deep peridot green. Quite appealing.
The addition of ice cold water via dripper brought about a quick forming louche. The trails were quite nice. The color after louche is a milky greenish white. Very appealing.
The aroma is one of the nicest things about this absinthe. Extremely crisp and clean. Lots of floral notes. The lemon balm comes through quite clearly. The basil adds a nice depth as well.
The flavor is extremely spicy. It's going to be a dividing factor I think. Those who enjoy unique flavored absinthes like Montmartre will really like this. Others may think its a bit overpowering, but sugaring will help even it out. There's a nice wormwood bitterness that's enhanced by the nettles and tarragon. It's quite intriguing. Although I don't add sugar to my absinthe, I do believe that this one will highly benefit from it.
The finish is a combination of light sweetness from the basil and just a touch of astringence from the wormwood. It's really a great aftertaste, although I'd like it to last a bit longer.
Overall, this is a great start for US absinthes. It's certainly setting the bar high for other US based producers. I think the strength of flavors might drive a small few away, but I think it will garner a lot of attention from those with sophisticated palates. OVERALL RATING 4.2
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| Overall rating: |
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3.2 |
| Color: |
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3.0 |
| Louche: |
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3.0 |
| Aroma: |
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4.0 |
| Flavor: |
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3.0 |
| Finish: |
|
3.0 |
| Overall: |
|
3.0 |
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User reviews
View all user reviews
Average user rating from: 18 user(s)
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To write a review please register or login.
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| Overall rating: |
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3.4 |
| Color: |
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3.6 |
| Louche: |
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3.4 |
| Aroma: |
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3.4 |
| Flavor: |
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3.3 |
| Finish: |
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3.4 |
| Overall: |
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3.4 |
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St. George's Prayer
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
4/25/10 - Please allow me to preface this review by saying that aside from Absente this is the only other Absinthe/Absinthe-like product I have tried so my palette is very limited.
As noted in one of the listed comments for a YouTube video from this distiller, I kept from adding sugar and I would agree that this absinthe doesn’t really need it. Though, for good measure, I will try it with sugar in the future for a friendly comparison.
The color is of a deep earthly green, though more earth than green I would say. As an artist, if one were to mix a bright orange with an emerald green they would likely get the color of this absinthe which is interesting considering its citrus like over tones to the smell and taste.
The louche was a milky green and it was opalescent, cloudy, and mesmerizing to watch. Many of the other reviews mention the louche being quick which I think I now understand what this means. In regards to the adding of water I added just enough to complete the louche effect, which possibly seemed like a 2:1 (water:absinthe) ratio. And despite not adding any sugar the drink still had legs (coated the walls of the glass), which I imagine is due to its Brandy base.
The aroma seemed to have hints of anise, orange, and lemon and instantly struck me. When I smelled this absinthe I knew exactly where my money went. The distinct difference in aroma to Absente was extremely noticeable (as it should be) and I was pleased to become personally enlightened to this fact. There was much more to the smell of this absinthe than simply licorice, which had been my previous experience. However, I was unable to detect any notion of sage or basil which many other reviews mention about this product, though I realize at this time my palette is limited.
I found the flavor to be peppery with the hint of anise. It also had the taste of an orange rind -if one has ever bitten into one- of which didn’t bother me and I thought this gave it a nice quality. I also found it to be thick and somewhat syrupy, which was possibly due to the small amount of water I added which almost seemed like a 2:1 as I mentioned earlier.
As far as the finish in concerned, it has a unique quality which makes it stand out. To me, the finish was whiskey-like due to its warm, peppery quality which started with the anise flavor. I also found it to be sprinkled with citrus trails. Like I mentioned briefly it was also thick, but I don’t mind this quality. After all, if a drink is meant to be savored why not have it drink slowly, why would one prefer it to be any other way.
Overall, I was extremely pleased by this product, which could be due to my inexperience, but I would purchase a bottle of this Absinthe again and think that the people at St. George have a unique product on their hands. As far as my current local selection goes, this is by far the best absinthe that I will find on the shelf at a local seller and am now finding it difficult to finish my previous purchase or to give any other local option a chance. I say definitely give St. George a try!
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| Overall rating: |
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3.7 |
| Color: |
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4.0 |
| Louche: |
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3.0 |
| Aroma: |
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3.0 |
| Flavor: |
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4.0 |
| Finish: |
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4.0 |
| Overall: |
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4.0 |
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Underrated — Different, Very Natural and Tasty
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Color: A nice greenish amber. Very nice. After louche, a thick completely opaque green, not the most attractive, but I am not bothered by this.
Louche: Some nice oil trails end quickly with a thick cloud-forming louche. Drink ends up quite opaque. Not as delightful as say, Pacifique or Absinthe Duplais Verte, but so what? The show is only a small part for me.
Aroma: Wonderfully complex. Peppery basil up front, some sweetness from a very high quality brandy. Non-offensive, classic brandy/alcohol odor, but it's clearly not overpowering.
Flavor: The very nice combination of the herbs listed on the label — "Star Anise, Mint, Wormwood, Lemon Balm, Hyssop, Meadowsweet, Basil, Fennel, Tarragon, and Stinging Nettles" — would seem to be all apparent; admittedly, I forget what Meadowsweet tastes like. This is an original recipe and I think it's very special. Certainly, the star anise, mint, lemon balm, basil and fennel are apparent, and the wormwood, which I tend to feel more than taste is certainly apparent. The fact that this is an original American recipe should be celebrated. What makes it sooooo American? The stinging nettles. It's native plant. (It's also native in other areas of the world, too). I consider St. George Absinthe Verte to be on a par with Pacifique, only different. Pacifique is an excellent American take on the classic French absinthe. It's the most "French" of the absinthes that I've tasted, even considering some supposedly authentic French ones. But this St. George has fine qualities, and would seem to go better with Italian food than anything I've tried. I'm not thinking red sauce, but perhaps sauteéd garlic, olive oil and then fresh Parmesan cheese over linguine, with a side arugula salad? It would be fab no doubt. St. George is a superior spirit in general — and it IS true absinthe!
Finish: One is not left with as intense of a wormwood numbness after imbibing St. George, as compared with some of the other higher rated brands. But sometimes such an overpowering feeling is not desired. The herbs are fresh and clean and leave no bad aftertaste. The brandy is quite fine. Very good, but could it possibly benefit from a bit more grand wormwood? Too much wormwood is not desirable for me!
Overall: What the heck, there is no 4.5 score here, so I'm going to give it a 5. It's just a very fine drink engineered apparently by a true master. Very clean and fresh, the herbs are all tasty, apparent and desirable. The brandy is absolutely fine. This is an American original! I'm much more impressed than I thought I would be based on the reviews of others. More grand wormwood might help it slightly, but it's debatable point. I am not complaining one bit! Thank you Mr. Winters.
Final note: Drink was prepared in an absinthe glass with brouillier at about 3:1 dilution. Two "dot" sugar cubes were used, but one might do. Sweeten to your own taste. St. George is not so good when it is over-diluted, and it needs at least some sugar to more fully bring out its unique and excellent flavors. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
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| Overall rating: |
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4.2 |
| Color: |
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4.0 |
| Louche: |
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3.0 |
| Aroma: |
|
4.0 |
| Flavor: |
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5.0 |
| Finish: |
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4.0 |
| Overall: |
|
5.0 |
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Drinkable and different
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
The color was bit dark..a medium/dark olive oil green. When louched, it was a bit of murky yellow/white with a drab hint of green. Thick.
Louche was interesting, but very fast. Strong trails were quickly obscured by clouds that went to a thick heavy solid very fast. Like watching a great louche in fast motion.
Aroma...strong Italian herb up front...basil? Sage? I'm guessing basil. A nice floral element, but I had to hunt for the subtler details. Also an edge of citrus (a soft lemony trace?) Before louche, a strong alcohol up front.
Flavor was interesting. Different, yet drinkable. The anise was a bit too sweet for me, and again I got the feel of basil. There is a slight sour citrus edge as well...again that soft buttery lemon... This isn't going to be for everyone. My guess is you'll like it or you won't. I'm struggling on a 3 or 4 here, I'm going with a 3 because it isn't bad, but it isn't great. There can be conceptual variances in absinthe as long as they aren't ugly. I personally find the basil edge a bit much, and there's almost a dentyne gum flavor (am I dating myself?) a spicy cinnamon edge aftertaste that is a bit too much. Hey...it's a big world.
The finish was not as long or interesting as I'd like. Just a tingle on the tongue,
strong anise, and again that sour tang of citrus, Dentyne gum, fading to a quick light powder, then gone. Not bad, just not as long or full as I'd like. I felt my tongue get more numb as the finish progressed.
Overall, I missed the lovely alpine aroma and herbs I've come to love in other absinthes. These were replaced by that basil edge, so if you like Italian food, you'll probably find this interesting. Not bad at all, just not what I would reach for on a regular basis. Bear in mind, as an apperitif, it might go wonderfully with certain food flavor profiles.
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| Overall rating: |
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3.2 |
| Color: |
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3.0 |
| Louche: |
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3.0 |
| Aroma: |
|
4.0 |
| Flavor: |
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3.0 |
| Finish: |
|
3.0 |
| Overall: |
|
3.0 |
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The Saint in question should be offended
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4 of 12 people found the following review helpful
colour is right, some golden reflections, ends gray green that is helluva opaque
Louche is THICK as hell, badiane excess's evident
Aroma:
Huh? Sage, pine, nothing like absinthe
Tasting:
Ewww, cloying, not alcoholic, but very grassy and heavy. There is everything we know from kitchen, but not from absinthe.
Interesting herbal liqueur, but too weird and too sweet for a herbal liqueur even. Have no idea whjat in reality it is
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| Overall rating: |
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2.3 |
| Color: |
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5.0 |
| Louche: |
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4.0 |
| Aroma: |
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1.0 |
| Flavor: |
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1.0 |
| Finish: |
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1.0 |
| Overall: |
|
2.0 |
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Not a bad choice for my fifth absinthe.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
This review is based on bottle opened two weeks ago by someone else...I was a bit late on tasting it myself. It was prepared 3:1 sans sugar.
Color- Kind of an unusual color here, atl least comapred to what I’m used to so far. Kind of a brownish yellow. I had a comparisson but because I enjoy St. George it was less than favorable. I assume the color is due to the brandy since it has a dark murky tone to it.
Louche- A nice louche here. It starts with some billowing white clouds
and some nice fluid oil trails. The full louche seemed to come at about 2:1. And the color is much improved. It turns to a more traditionally expected milky green. When held against natural light I noted some shades of yellow, green and brown flowing in the light against the milky white backdrop of the louche. Very attractive.
Aroma- Very very bad representation of this absinthe. There is a decent mixture of herbs but I continually take in a fake "plasticy" cinnamon-like smell. This may be to the extensive amount of herbs used.
Flavor- The taste was pretty unexpected. Much more enjoyable than the smell led me to expect. It starts off tasting like a anise’s spicier-feistier lil brother and continues with a sweet wash that is almost citrusy with a light wormwood bitter feel on the back of the tongue.
I’m not sure what stinging nettle is ut I have a feeling it helps the herbs like basil play off of the wormwood bitterness and keep a nice even flow between with the sweet anise and brandy flavors. I’d imagine this is what an Italian restaurant would serve if Absinthe became more common place, it seems as though it would go great with a nice zesty pasta.
Finish- Basil fennel and wormwood work beautifully together ending the drink with a spicy warming bang. There was a it of tongue numbing with the finish but with the spiciness of the herbs it actually seems enjoyable..Welcome even.
Overall- This a good American offering. IF you know anyone who says that there are no good Absinthes distilled in America pour them a glass of St. George, they’ll thank you. I’ve heard it sai and I must agree that this is quite an unusual absinthe. It may be a bit spicy for some, but regardless I think it’s worth a try I will definitely keep it on my good list.
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| Overall rating: |
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3.9 |
| Color: |
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3.0 |
| Louche: |
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4.0 |
| Aroma: |
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3.0 |
| Flavor: |
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5.0 |
| Finish: |
|
4.0 |
| Overall: |
|
4.0 |
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Nice, creative absinthe!
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful
Color- Light brown, looks slightly like watered-down brandy. Darker then any absinthe I've seen. No sediment. Probably not to everyone's liking but I think it's pretty nice.
Louche- Thick, swirling clouds developing from the top. Thin meniscus lasts till about 1.5 OZ of water.
Aroma- Very very bad representation of this absinthe. There is a decent mixture of herbs but I continually take in a fake "plasticy" cinnamon-like smell. This may be to the extensive amount of herbs used.
Flavor- Much improved over the aroma. Anise starts off on the tip of your tongue and a multitude of vegetable spiciness coats your mouth during the finish. A bit of wormwood pinch at the end. I like this.
Finish- Basil, fennel and a mixture of other herbs are present. There is a bit of tongue numbing and the finish is VERY savory. Kind of like a quality mixture of spices on a roast. What didn’t work well for the aroma and flavor worked perfectly for the finish. Very long. I’m impressed.
Overall- This is a good American-made absinthe. It is very unique and the flavor profile is creative. However, this stuff is way overpriced compared to other offerings available on the internet. If you find it for a good price add it to your cabinet.
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| Overall rating: |
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3.3 |
| Color: |
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4.0 |
| Louche: |
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4.0 |
| Aroma: |
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2.0 |
| Flavor: |
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3.0 |
| Finish: |
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5.0 |
| Overall: |
|
3.0 |
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Great product made here in the US!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Color: I really liked the color to this one, reminds Me of a pre-ban like color, almost caramel look to it. Didn't give it a five though since it was almost brown though, not as "green" as it could be, but very attractive.
Louche: Awesome louche, from the slow oil trials to the billowing clouds rolling upwards from the bottom, nice and slow just how it should be. One of the best louches I've seen!
Aroma: Not over powering when first poured in the glass, and as soon as you start to louche it up, a wonderful spring-time essence mindful of the floral hills of California itself during that time. You can tell that it produced in that area.
Flavor: This one is really smooth, which I would contribute to the brandy base used. Starts off with a well balanced anise flavor, along with basil and tarragon giving it a "spiciness" to it; which I am a major fan of. Great mouth-feel, nice and thick across the pallet. I believe that is due to the brandy base used as well. The rest of the herbs used are not as detectable as other brands of absinthe I've tried, but still there.
Finish: Great finish, you can really pickup the lemon balm, light wormwood, and the stinging nettles here. Great after-taste, keeps you wanting more!
Overall: Really great for those wanting to try something different, and I think this shows how unique someone can get with absinthe. I wouldn't advise this one as a first timer's absinthe since it is quite different then most, but I don't think you can go wrong with this one. I will certainly keep a bottle of this on hand.
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| Overall rating: |
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4.3 |
| Color: |
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4.0 |
| Louche: |
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5.0 |
| Aroma: |
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4.0 |
| Flavor: |
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4.0 |
| Finish: |
|
5.0 |
| Overall: |
|
4.0 |
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Great Absinthe, Great Price
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2 of 7 people found the following review helpful
I found this absinthe on sale for 55$ at my local wine shop and decided to give it a try. I was extremely pleased! Great Flavor, Louche and color for a verte! Not to mention it is made in the good old US of A! What else could you ask for from an alcoholic beverage? This blows Lucid, Grande Absente, Le Tourment and Kubler out of the water. Give it a shot, it wont disappoint...and if it does, move to France and change your name to Pierre.
[editor's note- removed needless disparaging remarks about other brand]
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| Overall rating: |
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3.8 |
| Color: |
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4.0 |
| Louche: |
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3.0 |
| Aroma: |
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4.0 |
| Flavor: |
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4.0 |
| Finish: |
|
4.0 |
| Overall: |
|
4.0 |
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Certainly Unique
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Prepared 3:1 (water:absinthe) with one sugar cube on a slow drip.
The pre-louche color is a deep, rich jade. Well accomplished, to be certain. In examining the bottle there is a bit of visible sediment, which, for me personally, lends to the overall impression of this absinthe as a very ‘earthy’ creation.
The pre-louche aroma is fairly intense, with a fair bit of heat on the nose, but with some pleasant, readily detectable wormwood and an array of other herbs and spices. I wouldn’t describe these as ‘meadow herbs,’ per se, but the overall aroma is something more dark and earthy than woodsy. My guess is that the tarragon is a key component of this.
The louche was speedy, with some decent swirling, but a very quick dissipation – a little too quick for my taste. Nothing remarkable in this department, I’m afraid. The ending color is a decent milky green.
The aroma opens up a bit and softens, post-louche. Some of the more unusual herbs in this earthy concoction are then fairly readily distinguishable.
This absinthe has a truly unique flavor. While it is not at all traditional, it is definitely intriguing. The basil and tarragon are both definitely detectable (perhaps a little too much so), and unfortunately much of the wonderful wormwood I expected based upon the initial aroma gets lost amidst these other herbs in the tasting. Throughout the glass I kept wondering at a particularly mysterious herb flavor, which I could not place. It was almost musty, but not in a bad way. I don’t know how else to describe it other than truly unique, as I had not tasted this in any absinthe before (or in anything else, for that matter). After I finished the glass I went to the bottle to read the list of herbal ingredients – which, by the way, are conveniently printed in nice, bold font on the side of the bottle – in order to determine what this mysterious flavor was. The last herb listed there was ‘stinging nettle,’ and, since I am familiar with the flavor of all the other herbs listed save this one, I can only assume that the unique flavor of this verte comes from the inclusion of the nettle, in addition to the basil and tarragon. The overall flavor, after letting it sit on the tongue a bit, is somewhat rounded out with hyssop, lemon balm and star anise, but, again, the wormwood is buried, which to me is one of the primary faults of this absinthe.
The finish is, unfortunately, rather poor. The tongue-numbing is substantial – a little too substantial to warrant an acceptable rating in this department. The only thing I found at all pleasant about the finish was the aftertaste of that mysterious herb – presumably the stinging nettle. Personally, I found this intriguing enough for it to be enjoyable, despite the otherwise slightly over-heated and excessively numbing components of the finish.
In conclusion, though it certainly has its drawbacks, this is a truly unique absinthe, and worth trying at least once. For me the experience was enjoyable, and while I would not likely spring for a bottle, this seems like a verte that could be well enjoyed from time to time, simply for its unique – if not occasionally puzzling – attributes alone.
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| Overall rating: |
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3.2 |
| Color: |
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4.0 |
| Louche: |
|
3.0 |
| Aroma: |
|
4.0 |
| Flavor: |
|
3.0 |
| Finish: |
|
2.0 |
| Overall: |
|
3.0 |
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Strange, Good, in it's own Class
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5 of 10 people found the following review helpful
This is a really strange, but quite good, product. The bottle is beautiful, but the color could use some artificial coloring to hide its jaundiced verte status. The aroma is like an italian dinner and my very first sip was almost a spitter. However, by the time I finished the glass, and on subsequent glasses, I was thoroughly enjoying it. Many people find this to be the most interesting flavor at tasting parties, but enthusiasm for the second glass tends to be lacking. In general, nobody hates it, but people react either indifferently or love it. It is one I plan to stock regularly for the effect.
The louche is similar to most other brands, but nothing special or memorable. The flavor is hard to describe, but oregano or tarragon seems to dominate the palate. The flavor works in cycles more so than any other brand I've tasted. It starts with a slight anise, followed immediately by the oregano, and closure with the wormwood. Other flavors come and go and as far as mystic goes, this brand takes the cake. You will just have to decide whether mystic is all it's cracked up to be. The finish is superb, leaving the entire bouquet on the tongue with a gentle fade. Personally, I found this to be very good and enjoy it fairly regularly, but it is not typical of most absinthes out there.
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| Overall rating: |
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3.3 |
| Color: |
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2.0 |
| Louche: |
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2.0 |
| Aroma: |
|
3.0 |
| Flavor: |
|
4.0 |
| Finish: |
|
5.0 |
| Overall: |
|
4.0 |
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ST George - The Best of Intentions
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7 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Preparation
I filled my fountain with ice cold filtered water and ice, I gave the bottle a good half hour to breathe while I set up. I used a very slow drip of about one drop every two seconds. No sugar and I stopped the drip when I had a nice demarcation line of the of the Absinthe green on top. I then sped up the drip a bit until the line was gone, stopped the water and gave a quick stir.
Color Before Water
Murky at best, drab and disappointing. In the video located on the St. George web site - master Distiller Lance Williams says "it was either go for color or go for taste ~ I went for taste" I do admire him as an artist but take issue with his disregard for color. We dine and drink with our eyes as much as our bellies. Now maybe a disregard for the color of a Verte is easier, but easier doesn't mean better.
Aroma Before Water
I was a bit disappointed as it seemed weak and a bit off putting. Any trace of Anise is over shadowed by a "grassy" aroma, kind of like the way the smell of a fresh cut lawn would taste. The brandy base is nice and smooth - but any distinctive aroma seems hidden behind a heavy citrus note and the eclectic and unconventional assortment of herbs.
Louche
Sluggish, dull and in no way awe inspiring.
Aroma After Water
Faint and diluted. It's not offensive by any means but nor is it appetizing. The aroma seems to lack the fragrant bouquet I've found with most every Absinthe I've tried thus far from the Lucid to the Jades both the 1901 and the Edouard.
Flavor
In my opinion the lemon balm is a too bright, I think of Absinthe as an Anise based drink but you really have to search your taste buds to find it. Perhaps Star Anise doesn't have the impact needed or perhaps the odd selection of herbs - especially the tarragon and Basil lend to it's unusual and to me anyway, off putting flavor. Mr. Williams attests that he's "not interested in Mass appeal and looks to find a small population of admirers for his new Absinthe" I certainly respect that, and have little doubt he'll find his fan base. What puzzles me is why, given the chance to produce one of the first legal Absinthe in the US one would choose to deviate so far from recipes that have defined Absinthe for centuries.
The Finish
Decent at best, a bit of a peculiar after taste, but the lingering notes of citrus are quite nice actually.An interesting drink no doubt - just not for me.
Final Impression
Great bottle, Great label and web site http://stgeorgespirits.com and although after a while it did grow on me ~ just not to the point I would buy it again. I think St. George will definitely find it's niche. It's a quality, well made product. Made with love and great affection. However it's attributes were lost on me. I'm sure St George will find it's place on the shelves of those who delight in unconventional - even odd offerings. I wish them luck
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| Overall rating: |
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1.9 |
| Color: |
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1.0 |
| Louche: |
|
3.0 |
| Aroma: |
|
1.0 |
| Flavor: |
|
2.0 |
| Finish: |
|
3.0 |
| Overall: |
|
2.0 |
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different
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1 of 9 people found the following review helpful
The finish of this absinthe has got a heat I am not sure I care for. Almost black pepper and minty at the same time. I find this absinthe more enjoyable when sipped with sugar in an absinthe pipe and a splash of water than prepared the traditional way.
[editor's note: There is no such thing as an absinthe pipe. The tourist gimmicks being sold as absinthe pipes are actually port sippers. Absinthe should not be drunk neat. ~ Hiram]
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| Overall rating: |
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3.4 |
| Color: |
|
5.0 |
| Louche: |
|
3.0 |
| Aroma: |
|
5.0 |
| Flavor: |
|
2.0 |
| Finish: |
|
2.0 |
| Overall: |
|
3.0 |
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Greenhousesinthe
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6 of 10 people found the following review helpful
The colour is bright golden green. Far more attractive than any pictures I'd seen of it. The louche action is ugly and fast. I started the drip and looked away from the glass for 5 seconds. When I looked back it was completely opaque and hadn't risen out of the reservoir of my Pontarlier glass. As I added water I could see more clouds swirling and thickening in the already-thick absinthe. The result is an extremely thick, mustard-yellow drink.
Aroma before louche is star anise dominant with a bit of heat. Sweet and candy-like. Notes of wildflower honey and something that resembles artificial cinnamon like in Big Red gum. After louche I think I can kind of smell a little bit of wormwood, but otherwise the other flavours are simply stronger than before. No floral wormwood.
Flavour is dominated by that Big Red flavour, which seems to be a result of the combination of distilled anise, basil, and tarragon. Mostly basil. As it lingers on the palate the flavours separate so that they're more individually distinct. Star anise gives it an acrid, absenta-like attack and it's very numbing. The flavour reminds me of the aroma in my parents' greenhouse in North Carolina when I was 6. I can detect a faint wormwood camphour but it's well-hidden. The sweetness of the aroma doesn't really carry over into the taste; it's dry and slightly bitter.
The finish is dominated by basil with hints of wormwood peeking through. It's not very complex or lasting. What does last is the tongue-numbing effect.
I'm very perplexed by this absinthe. It tastes very wrong to me but I am enjoying it for what it is. All the more unusual because I'm not generally a fan of star anise. It's unlike any other absinthe I've ever had. In fact, of any I've had it strays the farthest from a traditional absinthe flavour while still being absinthe. I think it needs some tweaking; pull back the basil some (I'm a fan of basil but it's a little out of balance), bring forward the wormwood, and substitute at least half of the star anise with green anise and I think it would be quite a good product. As it is I think it's nice and interesting enough but not worth half its price tag.
Edit: As I continue my glass it seems gradually sweeter. I wouldn't go so far as to remove my comment that it's more dry, but it definitely is changing as I slowly sip it. I suppose that's not a bad thing.
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| Overall rating: |
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3.2 |
| Color: |
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4.0 |
| Louche: |
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3.0 |
| Aroma: |
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3.0 |
| Flavor: |
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3.0 |
| Finish: |
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3.0 |
| Overall: |
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3.0 |
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Quirky and delicious
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
The color is a very attractive feuille-mort. Very clear, bright and natural.
The louche is very fast and the action is not very exciting. A wall of clouds rises up from the bottom, and is complete by about 2 to 1. The louched color, though, is very nice with greener hues than the original color seemed to promise. Looks very rich and creamy to me.
The aroma really knocked me out. There is an amazing bass note of honey, new-mown grass, and clover up front. Later you smell the anise, basil, tarragon, lemon balm. It makes me hungry. I want to eat a giant plate of lasagna and drink the whole bottle. God, I dream about this aroma and wake up wanting more, no kidding.
The flavor is not exactly what the aroma promises. The anise comes on fast with a minty heat and is immediately overtaken by the wormwood. So much for first impressions. If you wait a moment longer the other flavors of basil and tarragon start asserting themselves. The bitterness lingers but is not out of balance. If you believe in the holy trinity of anise, fennel and wormwood, you may find this completely over the top. But I am digging the complexity.
The finish is more abrupt than the aroma. The wormwood bitterness lingers along with a somewhat hot antiseptic taate from the basil, and the alcohol seems a little more predominant at this point than is really desirable.
Overall, this is a *very* interesting departure from the path blazed by the new absinthe distillers. It is astonishingly good with food. Pour an ounce in your spaghetti sauce and you will weep tears of joy. I bought a second bottle right away just to make sure I don't run out. It is definitely quirky, and you may not like it. Or like me, you may find that the aroma penetrates your dreams and drags you back again and again. As others have said, maybe this is a uniquely California take on absinthe, as the Taboo is uniquely Canadian.
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| Overall rating: |
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4.3 |
| Color: |
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4.0 |
| Louche: |
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4.0 |
| Aroma: |
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5.0 |
| Flavor: |
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4.0 |
| Finish: |
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3.0 |
| Overall: |
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5.0 |
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drinkable, but anise dominant
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
I received a 4 oz sample of the St George from a friend. I think it is the second batch. It was diluted 4:1.
The color out of the bottle was a nice amber feuille mort, very nice. Clear, clean, without sediment.
I'm only rating the louche a "3" as it was far too fast, and too heavy. Looking at the finished louche there are some golden highlights within it, and some blueness at the air-water interface. But I just didn't find the louche action itself very interesting. It just went very quickly to a heavy opaque cloud rising from the bottom.
I rated the aroma only "3" again as it really wasn't very strong, or floral. Definitely seems like some alcohol on the aroma and some other notes. But it wasn't something to make you say oh, that's nice, and promise something for when you drink it.
On the flavor, a "3" again. It's mostly star anise, which is much less interesting than green anise, with some brandy notes, and a bit of the other herbs. There's no wormwood to speak of that I can tell. When I took the first sip, swirled it around, chewed it, my response was "That's it?" Lots of tongue numbing from the star anise, but at least it doesn't scrape across the tongue leaving incisions in it's wake like star anise can do. There's no sense of tails, and the drink is quite smooth. So it's very drinkable.
Again a "3" for the finish. Too much star anise, some tingling, a little bit of the mouth saying "yes that's nice". But I can feel that it's fading already. In a couple minutes it may be gone.
Overall a "3". I couldn't find myself giving it a "2" as I did finish my drink. I didn't find it as terrible as my friend. It's somewhat unusual, but I really find the major flaw to be too much reliance on star anise. More AA would be good, but it really seems more like what pastis might be like. Maybe a very good one. I'm not so familiar with pastis so I can't comment further.
If I was going to buy just absinthes available on my local store shelves, I would keep this around. It's certainly well made, and a pleasant, easy to consume drink. If the flavor and finish were more like absinthe, and there were more of those qualities, I'd probably rate it a "4". Because it's so anethole dominant, it probably doesn't seem as weird as some have said. At least not to me.
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| Overall rating: |
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3.2 |
| Color: |
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4.0 |
| Louche: |
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3.0 |
| Aroma: |
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3.0 |
| Flavor: |
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3.0 |
| Finish: |
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3.0 |
| Overall: |
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3.0 |
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