While there are some lovely aspects to this absinthe, such as the thick, and gradually unfolding louche, and the unusually fruity anise, there is, unfortunately, an overbearing grassy (vegetal) presence (in both the nose, and the flavor) that has caused me to sink more than one glass.

I suspect this is due to the assemblage method, since I can detect it in all of the Devoille absinthes. The color is somewhat on the darkish side, but I don't believe La Coquette was over-colored to such an extent as to cause this strong a flavor. Perhaps the veronica is also a factor, and I'm not a big fan of that particular herb.

This edit reflects the latest batch I purchased in 2012, which was aged in oak. It is simply amazing.

What a wonderful, delicious absinthe! The first thing I noticed was the deep emerald color, deeper than any I've had so far. Clear and chrystaline, natural and lovely. After louche it was the perfect shade of green. The louche was dazzling and enjoyable to watch. Swirls of smoke and distinct layers. Thick and inviting.

The aroma was really special as well, florals and fruit mix with the anise and wormwood. Gentle, fresh, and crisp aromas wafted up as water was added.
A lovely aroma, and I would have given it a 5 were it a tad more room filling.

Flavor...wow! So nice. Distinct and powerful. At lower dilutons like 3:1 or 3.5 :1
I found it a little too vegetal, but once I went to 4:1. and even 5:1, it opened up like a flower. Sweet, refined and balanced. The anise and wormwood are so well matched, the fennel right behind. The fruity and lighly spicy elements dance around in your mouth. Quality elements.

The finish was very clean and tasty. Plenty of fennel here, with fruity overtones and a delicious anise. A gentle build and slow fade. As I liked this absinthe at a higher dilution, the finish was not quite as strong as it might be at a lower one. I was close to giving it a 5

I really like this. I enjoyed it most between 4:1 and 5:1, with one sugar. This is an absinthe everyone should try.

This Review is based upon a blind sample.

Color
Very close to Emerald, absolutely gorgeous and natural looking. It has a lens like clarity making this this Absinthe a real pleasure to behold.

Aroma
Rich and intriguing. It's heady with notes of Licorice from Fennel and Anise. There's something deep and herbal that strikes a nice balance. The heat of alcohol is strong but doesn't compromise the bouquet at all. Tantalizing and fresh. I would have liked some of the more floral or alpine herb notes but this is nit picking - the aroma is excellent.

Louche
Extremely beautiful Louche. Lots of swirling trails of different shades of green from the lightest Peridot to deeper currents of Emerald - all quite beautiful. Nice shimmering Opalescence to the finished Louche which is creamy and delicious looking, dense without being dull - the color is a definite plus. A light green with a few swirling trails of darker green hues that remain until that final stir. Mouth feel is wonderful, creamy and luscious without being milky or sticky.

Flavor
In a word - Delicious. This is not a delicate Absinthe. The Wormwood gnashes at your tongue and the bitterness is quite pronounced even with sugar. There's a gorgeous balance of sweet Fennel and lovely Anise to balance it out quickly and a soft bite at the back of the throat that's refreshing. I was impressed with this Absinthe very much - it's powerhouse of flavor and those initial flavor notes hit you up front and hard. As I finished my glass I could detect lot's of other herbs but I can't think to name them. I can tell you the taste is well rounded, rich and anything but subtle.

The Finish
Not as smooth as I would have expected, the heat of the alcohol has a definitive bite that lingers. But fortunately the delicious sharp taste of the wormwood entwines beautifully with sweeter notes. No peculiar aftertaste just clean and bright.

Final Impression
I loved this Absinthe. It has so many of the characteristics I look for but usually only find one or two in one brand and then others in another brand. The great pleasure for me here was, they were all together. The taste is dramatically bold even at a 4:1 water ratio. I was tempted to add some additional water but didn't want to lose the full throttle flavor. In short this is an Absinthe I could drink regularly without getting bored in the slightest.

Color- Very natural Green/yellow color. Deeper than an olive oil. Of coarse it's not a vivid peridot but I like the change of pace from the PF1901.

Louche- Great oil trails. At about 1/1 the reservoir is thick yellow/white & the top of the glass has thick white tendrils falling through the original unlouched color of green/yellow. Very nice.

Aroma- Citrusy with a medicinal wormwood smell. Light amounts of fennel, anise & other herbs I can't make out are present. Maybe the Citrus comes from coriander?

Flavor- Again it tastes like it smells. Fennel and anise in the background rounded out with the wormwood. Citrusy right off the top. I think the flavors could have been more 'rounded' or 'soft'. Maybe I'm just not as familiar with this flavor profile type.

The finish is probably the best part of this absinthe. The flavor stays on my tongue for what seems like forever. Citrusy (again) with a slight tongue numbing and 'bite'. The bite is just perfect however.

I really enjoyed this absinthe. I could see myself continuing to drink it on special occasions. Actually I'd like to drink it daily if the Visa balance wasn't so high..........

La Coquette was enjoyed with 3.5 parts water and a sugar cube.

La Coquette is a delightful absinthe. Before water, it presents a lovely, dark peridot green, tinged with olive. I wanted to give it a score of 4.5, and I vacillated quite a bit before settling on 4. The louche forms nicely, with all the usual visuals, and ends up a thick jade with olive tones. Overall, the appearance of this absinthe is quite pleasing.

In the aroma and flavor, however, La Coquette really stands out. The fragrance is intensely herbal but fresh, clean, and not overwhelming. It opens up nicely with the addition of water. The flavor is likewise herbal and lively, but in no way grassy and without any wrong notes. This absinthe falls into the "herbal" rather than "spicy" category, but lacks nothing in the way of interest.

The finish is a trifle bitter, and might be improved with sugar, but even though La Coquette is not quite my ideal absinthe, I really would not change a thing. Do not miss this one!