NOTE: The bottle I reviewed matches this picture. If the US version is the current place for reviews, let me know and I'll move this review over there.

Appearance: The initial color is a very clear yellow green that is heavier on the green side. Typical of Matter's products this is an outstanding initial appearance.

Louche: The louche is great with a very opalescent and blue tinted finished look. There is also a nice retention of the original color.

Aroma: The usual trinity hits up front and smells pleasing if only a bit simple.

Flavor: This is a spot on basic absinthe. Nothing is too complex here and it is done right. You have the trinity as well as the usual coloring herbs showing up. This might be a good starter absinthe but if you are a fan of complexity it will disappoint.

Finish: The finish lingers but doesn't change or show new layers. Again this is not a bad thing, but simple.

Overall: Duplais Verte is a nice basic absinthe. This would be a great place to start diving in to the world of real absinthe.

It's odd that when I first started on this bottle, I would have rated the flavor as a 3. I now find it quite appealing. Color is a deep green, deeper than one might expect. Louche developed quite nicely, layered with not much opalescence. Whatever was present in the flavor that I found initially as undesirable, has vanished. All in all, an enjoyable absinthe. My original misplaced misgivings have fallen by the wayside.

Prepared with no sugar and a slow, ice-cold drip.

Aroma pre-louche: Heavy anise. Very floral, if you will. Well balanced and smooth. There is a dark, musty, dried-fruitiness that is really alluring. On pouring and allowed to breathe in the glass, the aroma thins and becomes more anise than anything else. A slight hint of alcohol becomes more apparent. Something hints at chocolate.

Color: A gorgeous peridot green. No hint of yellowness. Unmistakably absinthe.

Louche: The wormwood makes its first appearance as the louche begins to develop. The aroma returns to the mustiness found before being poured, and becomes very sweet. The louche itself is unremarkable. No real suspense, and the usual layering only lasts a short time. The color is very nice when finished, but more than anything the aroma takes the stage here.

Flavor: All wormwood. No anise. A slight hint of mintyness and fennel. There is an almost off putting back note to the flavor, but only as an aftertaste. There is definitely something spicy and dry that holds back any sweet flavors. In fact, to me, there's almost no perceivable sweetness at all. I think a cube of sugar might help coax forward the more subtle sweetness that seems to be held back by an overwhelming woodiness. Very good mouth feel.

Overall: I really like this absinthe. I wouldn't call this absinthe sweet by any means, but the flavors begin to "cool off" as the glass gets emptier. I think it is good, but missing real complexity. A more blended flavor emerges towards the bottom of the glass that seems to get a handle on the overwhelming wormwood character of this drink. Perhaps not a great starter absinthe, but good. This absinthe definitely benefits from sugar, but still retains a heavy wormwood character. I'm really digging it with the sugar!

From tastings done over the course of the four months this bottle has been open, some with sugar, some without. All carafe pours.

Color: I really like the color of the Duplais; just a shade lighter and it would be a 5 for me.

Louche: I saw gradients, billowing, a well-defined line, though it all ended before 2:1. Still, a nice show while it lasted.

Aroma: All the familiar components are there. There is a freshness to it, kind of like the green fleshy stalk of a plant when it's still young, but it will soon become a more woody stem.

Flavor: I can objectively say that all the appropriate elements are here, but to my palate there is a sharpness I can't get past. These sharp edges need some polishing, even after four months of the bottle being open.

Finish: The sharpness carries over into the finish, which forces me to 3 the Duplais her, too.

Overall: This is an absinthe that has everything in the right place, but they could be more aesthetically pleasing. It's like a well-arranged living room but the color scheme is a little off for me.

While this ranks very well in color and louche, the aroma is nothing special and the flavor too bitter. Even with a sugar cube, I find this challenging to enjoy. The anise flavor is much more subtle and too many other flavors seem to complete for dominance, all of which are bitter. Even the finish leaves a little bit of the bitterness behind. When taste-tested among other brands, I have found the negative aspects of this brand to be more subtle (less offensive). That said, this is not a bad drink; but I don't think its one I would keep in the regular stock.