4/8/12

Appearance: The color is a wonderful olive tone, very natural looking. It may have been closer to a peridot hue in 2010 when this was bottled and purchased, but that is unknown at this point.

Louche: Very milky and cloudy. This builds up quickly when water is added, likely due to a large anise presence. A lack of a dazzling opalescence keeps this from a higher score.

Aroma: A decadent array of anise, powdered sugar, cola, mint and citrus aspects.

Flavor: Incredible, with very sweet anise, and a nice hint of bitter wormwood springs forth as it coats the mouth. Complex subtleties present include fennel, spicy pepper, lemon mint candy, and some sort of earthiness as wel.

Finish: The somewhat soft initial impression becomes warming and drying on the way down. Again some "ricola' candy type of flavor jumps out. A light pull on the palate certainly leaves me wanting more!

Overall: The best absinthe I've had in a while, after a string of unfulfilled expectations. A little of everything I love about absinthe all in one concoction!

Edited in Feb 2013, after getting halfway through this newer, second bottle.

Appearance: A clear and natural blend of light emerald with a touch of yellow/amber.

Louche: Quick to develop, thick and cloudy. If you take it really slow, it puts on a nice display of smoke and clouds. The final result is thick and attractive. I love thicker louches, and don't feel they should be penalized if attractive.

Aroma: Very nice. Delicate, fresh and clean. It promises lots of anise, light florals,
and hints of citrus.

Flavor: Anise-forward, and packed with flavor. It is powerful, yet has a dessert-like personality. There is a strong presence of citrus, gentle spices, and the wormwood softly pats you on the back behind the scenes. If you enjoy anise-forward absinthes, you'll likely enjoy this quite a bit. There is a lot going on here, plenty of herbal and floral touches.

Finish: A strong build of spice and lemon. The citrus hangs in there forever. Butterfly's mouthfeel is rich and thick, with a pleasant tingle and pull.

Overall, it is an interesting absinthe. It is sweet, and powerful, yet for me, feminine. I enjoy it most with no sugar at 4:1 or thereabouts. It is due to be imported to the USA soon, as I understand. I am happy about this!