This is my new favorite commercial absinthe. Everything about it is incredibly appealing to me, from the medium peridot color, to its hyssop-y, violet-y aroma, and its creamy body, and rich mouth feel.

There is a genuine upper echelon HG quality to this absinthe which is very immediate in nature, and makes the drinker feel as though he (or she) is sitting down with Cheryl in her little distillery, and being treated to a special alchemical glass from her secret stash.

The vibrancy of this absinthe is quite remarkable, and the drinker is pulled in almost opposing directions (very sweet, and yet even more dry), and the especiallly floral aftertaste is quite remarkable, and created by the wonderful wonderful violet segueing into that fragrant, juicy Virginia wormwood.

What's even more amazing is that this wonder is only a few weeks old! I truly look forward to aging a couple of bottles to see if it can possibly improve even more...only time will tell the tale.

What a treat! Meadow of Love instantly became my favorite absinthe at the first sip! Meadow of Love is an overwhelmingly (in a good way) fragrant and aromatic absinthe, that has a wonderfully blended mix of classic absinthe herbs that will explode in your mouth, leaving you gagging for more! I really can't express how much I love this absinthe. Meadow of Love was docked .5 for appearance because it was delivered to us, still a lovely verte absinthe, but had maybe had too much sun exposure because it was slightly amber. I also gave it a .5 dock on aroma, only because the aroma doesn't do the flavor justice. Fennel overpowers the aroma, but tasting the absinthe there is such an amazing balance of all the herbs and fennel definitely isn't the overpowering flavor. Not only is this absinthe at the top of my list, but it comes from a small distillery in upstate New York, Cheryl Lins distiller, and sipping on this absinthe gives you the feel that you are sipping it with Cheryl herself. Meadow of Love is a MUST try for any absinthe connoisseur.

Updated 27 May 2012 ---

Appearance (5) : Previously a 4.5, I changed this to a 5 after recieving a BEAUTIFUL green glowing bottle of Meadow of Love. Absolutely the most inviting looking bottle out there, but careful the clear glass lets the color fade really quickly.
Louche (5) : Outstanding, beautiful, thick and glowing. Magical.
Aroma (4.5) : This is now the only non 5 star rating I give meadow of love, and only because it just doesn't do the incredible and dynamic flavor justice.
Flavor / Mouthfeel (5) : Flavor is indescribably delicious, and so well balanced. Mouth is delightfully numb, but just enough so that you can still enjoy the complex and complimentary flavors.
Finish (5) : All the best flavors remain on your tongue and you get such a refreshing cool numbing effect for a few minutes after each sip. It is really amazing.
Overall (5) : Still my favorite absinthe. The flavors are incredibly satisfying and there isn't a single quality about great absinthe that is missing, or lacking here. 5 stars!!

Appearance: The coloring of this absinthe is absolutely beautiful! It has a beautiful green color that is achieved without looking artificial nor does it have any artificial ingredients in it

Louche: Excellent louche that comes in like billowing clouds. It reminds me of a summer day and laying out in the grass and watching the clouds rolling by in the sky (not storm clouds mind you)

Aroma: A very heavenly aroma that fills the room and very fragrant, closing my eyes while the water is dripping and the aroma is being released sends me off into a relaxing place

Flavor/Mouthfeel: It has such an excellent taste to it. There's a tiny hint of anise to it with the herbs taking center stage making it a very pleasant taste experience.

Finish: It leaves a tingling sensation in the roof of my mouth and on my tongue. It's note too much of a tingle and not too small of one, it's just right. The tingle doesn't fad real quickly either, it pleasantly lingers

Overall: This is a very excellent and sophisticated absinthe! I take my hat off to Cheryl Lins for making such a wonderful absinthe! It is great to have such a great absinthe here in the US market and not have to deal with mediocre absinthes that you get at a large liquor store chain.

Classic Peridot color, bright and clear
Great louche, even when power louched with 80F water. Opaque on top, translucent at the bottom of the glass.
Nice aroma, with a sweet bit of violet
Flavor is amazing, and complex, with just the right balance of flavors.
Finish is a wonderful cascade of well coordinated notes.

I humbly bow in the direction of NY state, this is truly an outstanding product.

Modified the review after several batches and bottles over almost 3 years.

I tried it at 3.5:1 and added no sugar as suggested by the maker, and a 2nd glass with 1/2 a sugar cube. Delicious both ways.

After over two months open, the color is shifting to a slightly less vibrant green, which is of course not a problem at all. The absinthe if anything, is improving with age.

Appearance: A vibrant, clear and natural light peridot. One of the nicest colors I've seen.
It fades very fast in the bottle, as the glass is clear with no UV coating, this does not affect the absinthe in an adverse way however.

Louche: Strong wisps of smoke building to rolling clouds. A slow steady build, with distinct crystal clear layer at the top right to the very end. When full, it was just the perfect thickness in a opalescent cloud of mild greens and whites. A dramatic louche to watch.

Aroma: Wonderful; clean, herbal and floral. Delicate, inviting and so well balanced.

Flavor: Man, this was good. Gentle, balanced and delicious. Clean, sharp, herbal and floral. There is a floral edge that I assume was impacted by the violet, and a well defined, clean light spice to this as well.

Finish....just wonderful. The mouthfeel is round and smooth, with a powdery light tingle and linger. Wormwood, anise and fennel roll around each other in a light blanket of spice that fades away slowly. At the very end the lightest tang of citrus hangs on the tip of the tongue and back of the mouth. It seems to linger forever between sips, reminding you that there is no hurry here...you can take your time and enjy this glass for a long time.