Jade Edouard - Reviewed by Experts and Consumers at The Wormwood Society
Product Details
Style/Color
Country of Origin
Distillery
Website
Editor reviews
Call This One "Senator"
(Updated: June 19, 2012)
Overall rating
4.6
Appearance
4.0
Louche
5.0
Aroma
5.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
5.0
Finish
5.0
Overall
4.0
I have seen so many commentaries on the Jade absinthes, especially Edouard and PF 1901, and comparisons between the two, that I decided to wrap up my evaluations of both consecutively, in one afternoon. This review, and the review of the PF 1901, dated the same, are intended as a pair, for comparison purposes. Everyone seems to have their favorite, and so do I, at least today.
Color
Unlouched, pale amber/green with slight olive tinge. Very clear, very natural and organic looking. Louched, milky golden amber/green with slight olive tinge. Whitish blue/green at edges and bluish/white at the meniscus. Even though light in color, it has a riveting vibrancy. This is what I imagine "opaline" to be.
Louche
Good thick trails and good action right from the get-go. This is great theatre. Maintains very defined layering until about 1/1, at which point it accelerates in clouding, and quickly becomes opaque. Louche looks Vaseline thick through 3/1, and really needs a dilution of 4/1 to let some light pass and give it a nice glow.
Aroma
COMPLEX! This is so hard to pin down. There's so much going on here, and depending on if it's been sitting, swirled, or if I think about it differently, something else comes to the fore. At first it was herbals up front. Wormwood, dusty, powdery hay, straw, florals... just lots of tan tones. Now, as it warms a little, it's anise and fennel leading the charge. Always a distinct spiciness. Lots and lots of layers. Occasionally, a slight earthy note shows itself.
Flavor
Nice creamy mouthfeel, but not overly so. Tight, dense herbals and a quite spicy sensation. This comes at you like Krug Vintage does, in the Champagne world. Tightly wound power. Like a big fluffy beach towel, but twisted up tight. It's all there, just... well you get the drift! Lots of complexities, just not in an expansive way. Really firm cut. Very aristocratic in texture and impression. As it really warms up, it becomes just a little minty.
Finish
All the stuff from the nose and palate, in a slow fade. A satisfying prickly "pull" on the palate and "pinch" on the tongue from the combination of wormwood and anise. It slowly dries to a powdery finish. There's a beautiful pace to this transition, and I'm sure it's no accident. Finish is very long, and the overall impression is one of very high quality.
Overall
One of the best I have tried. Noble, aristocratic, classic. One of the most impressive things is the frame upon which it is built. All the ingredients are there, however it has a quiet power, and a certain reservation that keeps it from being over the top. As I sip this, my mind's eye sees a classic wood paneled library with flame-stitch and dark paisley wingback chairs. Truly regal, refined, and dignified. I'd say, call this one "Senator"!
7/18/09 Revisit - First, all scores and text of my original review remain intact. I did consider three changes from the original review but decided not. Those are "Aroma", "Flavor", and "Overall". I considered changing both scores for aroma and flavor to 4s due to the evidence of the marc base, which I referred to in my original review as an "earthy note". I've decided that it is not really that intrusive, and adds another complexity to the mix, however if it were any more forward, I would consider it a fault. At room temperature, it is almost not a factor. So consider the 5s in those categories "soft" 5s. Also, at one time I considered a score of 5 in "Overall", and because of the soft nature of the aforementioned scores, I am leaving it a 4. This is still one of my personal favorites. Complex, impressive, and texturally, very distinctive.
Done with a 1 ounce dose, diluted 4/1 and 5/1, and no sugar.
Jade Edouard 11/15/08, 12/15/08, 12/20/08, 7/18/09.
All evaluations had consistent notes.
Some comparisons of Jade Edouard and Jade PF 1901
Ed is just a little pale.
1901 is classic peridot. I get a pair o' "doe eyes", just looking at it!
Ed shows me why the Jade louche is famous.
1901 shows me why the Jade louche is famous.
Ed is very highly complex.
1901 is highly complex.
Ed is more restrained, classy, distinctive.
1901 invokes a little muscle without being brash or clumsy.
Ed finish can usurp your attention for the rest of the evening.
1901 finish makes me feel like a puppy having it's tummy rubbed.
Ed, if you are a fan of Bordeaux.
1901, if you are a fan of California Cabernet.
Ed - "Call me Senator".
1901 - "Call me Bond... James Bond".
Color
Unlouched, pale amber/green with slight olive tinge. Very clear, very natural and organic looking. Louched, milky golden amber/green with slight olive tinge. Whitish blue/green at edges and bluish/white at the meniscus. Even though light in color, it has a riveting vibrancy. This is what I imagine "opaline" to be.
Louche
Good thick trails and good action right from the get-go. This is great theatre. Maintains very defined layering until about 1/1, at which point it accelerates in clouding, and quickly becomes opaque. Louche looks Vaseline thick through 3/1, and really needs a dilution of 4/1 to let some light pass and give it a nice glow.
Aroma
COMPLEX! This is so hard to pin down. There's so much going on here, and depending on if it's been sitting, swirled, or if I think about it differently, something else comes to the fore. At first it was herbals up front. Wormwood, dusty, powdery hay, straw, florals... just lots of tan tones. Now, as it warms a little, it's anise and fennel leading the charge. Always a distinct spiciness. Lots and lots of layers. Occasionally, a slight earthy note shows itself.
Flavor
Nice creamy mouthfeel, but not overly so. Tight, dense herbals and a quite spicy sensation. This comes at you like Krug Vintage does, in the Champagne world. Tightly wound power. Like a big fluffy beach towel, but twisted up tight. It's all there, just... well you get the drift! Lots of complexities, just not in an expansive way. Really firm cut. Very aristocratic in texture and impression. As it really warms up, it becomes just a little minty.
Finish
All the stuff from the nose and palate, in a slow fade. A satisfying prickly "pull" on the palate and "pinch" on the tongue from the combination of wormwood and anise. It slowly dries to a powdery finish. There's a beautiful pace to this transition, and I'm sure it's no accident. Finish is very long, and the overall impression is one of very high quality.
Overall
One of the best I have tried. Noble, aristocratic, classic. One of the most impressive things is the frame upon which it is built. All the ingredients are there, however it has a quiet power, and a certain reservation that keeps it from being over the top. As I sip this, my mind's eye sees a classic wood paneled library with flame-stitch and dark paisley wingback chairs. Truly regal, refined, and dignified. I'd say, call this one "Senator"!
7/18/09 Revisit - First, all scores and text of my original review remain intact. I did consider three changes from the original review but decided not. Those are "Aroma", "Flavor", and "Overall". I considered changing both scores for aroma and flavor to 4s due to the evidence of the marc base, which I referred to in my original review as an "earthy note". I've decided that it is not really that intrusive, and adds another complexity to the mix, however if it were any more forward, I would consider it a fault. At room temperature, it is almost not a factor. So consider the 5s in those categories "soft" 5s. Also, at one time I considered a score of 5 in "Overall", and because of the soft nature of the aforementioned scores, I am leaving it a 4. This is still one of my personal favorites. Complex, impressive, and texturally, very distinctive.
Done with a 1 ounce dose, diluted 4/1 and 5/1, and no sugar.
Jade Edouard 11/15/08, 12/15/08, 12/20/08, 7/18/09.
All evaluations had consistent notes.
Some comparisons of Jade Edouard and Jade PF 1901
Ed is just a little pale.
1901 is classic peridot. I get a pair o' "doe eyes", just looking at it!
Ed shows me why the Jade louche is famous.
1901 shows me why the Jade louche is famous.
Ed is very highly complex.
1901 is highly complex.
Ed is more restrained, classy, distinctive.
1901 invokes a little muscle without being brash or clumsy.
Ed finish can usurp your attention for the rest of the evening.
1901 finish makes me feel like a puppy having it's tummy rubbed.
Ed, if you are a fan of Bordeaux.
1901, if you are a fan of California Cabernet.
Ed - "Call me Senator".
1901 - "Call me Bond... James Bond".
M
Another winner from Jade
(Updated: May 13, 2009)
Overall rating
4.4
Appearance
5.0
Louche
5.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
5.0
Overall
4.0
Color is a very light green. Natural.
Louche produces great oil trails with a gradual louche, ending with a brilliant light green opalescence.
Aroma begins with a little heat without water. After louche, it's ver light and crisp. Rich in anise.
Taste is a little light, but still has nice wormwood and anise flavors with a strong finish. Hints of corriander.
Overall, a wonderful absinthe to have around. Very easy to drink.
Louche produces great oil trails with a gradual louche, ending with a brilliant light green opalescence.
Aroma begins with a little heat without water. After louche, it's ver light and crisp. Rich in anise.
Taste is a little light, but still has nice wormwood and anise flavors with a strong finish. Hints of corriander.
Overall, a wonderful absinthe to have around. Very easy to drink.
User reviews
19 reviews
Overall rating
4.3
Appearance
4.3(19)
Louche
4.7(19)
Aroma
4.2(19)
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.2(19)
Finish
4.1(19)
Overall
4.2(19)
The most austere of the Jades
Overall rating
4.3
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.5
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.5
Finish
4.5
Overall
4.5
Nice and clear, somewhere between golden-yellow and peridot. The louche looks thick and milky -- every drop of water releases a miniature bloom upon breaking the surface of the absinthe.
I didn't appreciate the greatness of the Edouard when I first tried it. It's the most austere of the Jade line, leaving a prickly sensation in your mouth more so than the others. The mouthfeel is fantastic -- I'd almost describe it as "structured" the way one would describe some wines as structured. Similar to the 1901, the flavors of the Edouard are darker-toned, but there's more emphasis on the wormwood here. In hindsight, this is probably my second-favorite of the Jades, right behind the 1901.
I didn't appreciate the greatness of the Edouard when I first tried it. It's the most austere of the Jade line, leaving a prickly sensation in your mouth more so than the others. The mouthfeel is fantastic -- I'd almost describe it as "structured" the way one would describe some wines as structured. Similar to the 1901, the flavors of the Edouard are darker-toned, but there's more emphasis on the wormwood here. In hindsight, this is probably my second-favorite of the Jades, right behind the 1901.
S
Favourite - Absolute Stunner
(Updated: October 31, 2014)
Overall rating
5.0
Appearance
5.0
Louche
5.0
Aroma
5.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
5.0
Finish
5.0
Overall
5.0
What can I say? This is everything a complex, quality, traditional absinthe should be. Hands-down a "5" across the charts for me.
Reviewed with a 2013 bottle.
It's difficult to not compare this to the Jade PF 1901 - but there are great similarities here. While both absinthes are absolute top-tier... I'd probably choose Eddy over PF for it's additional complexity. Very rich and "stoic"... if an absinthe can be said to possess such qualities. Incredible work.
Reviewed with a 2013 bottle.
It's difficult to not compare this to the Jade PF 1901 - but there are great similarities here. While both absinthes are absolute top-tier... I'd probably choose Eddy over PF for it's additional complexity. Very rich and "stoic"... if an absinthe can be said to possess such qualities. Incredible work.
J
General tasting notes concerning Edouard cf. 1901
Overall rating
4.4
Appearance
5.0
Louche
5.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
4.0
Overall
4.5
Since there already is a wealth of information about this highly regarded product, I thought it more useful to highlight the distinct qualities of the Edouard in relation to its sister, the PF1901. Thus, a finicky buyer (like me) will hopefully be able to reach a conclusion as to the eternal question of which Jade to buy.
L'Espirit D'Edouard is at once strikingly similar to the PF1901, with the pronounced flavour of the same marc base readily apparent midway through the first sip. The colour is more greenish as opposed to the slightly paler 1901, a perfect hue that is in every way pleasing to the eye. Upon the addition of water, the absinthe louches at a moderate pace until the glass is half full, upon which clouds of opalescent green start to flocculate throughout at a tremendous pace. The result at 1:5 is a slightly verdant-grey and completely translucent.
Edouard hits harder than the 1901 in the palate, with immediate spicy notes battering the tastebuds, and then receding to a alpine cocktail of herbs which is harmoniously balanced with plenty of subtle flavours. The finish is primarily anise, and then traces of wormwood after the tongue dries. For a 72% ABV, the alcohol heat is almost unnoticeable, once again speaking volumes about the superior quality of the product. Unfortunately, I recall that the aftertaste does not linger for more than ten minutes, so in this regard the 1901 will probably be the more satisfying.
The final verdict is that the 1901 is probably more suitable as a summer digestif: floral, incredibly balanced and refreshing when taken very cold. Edouard will fare better, as I suspect, in the wintry months, with its potent herbacious and spicy notes perking the taster up. It must be reiterated that both of them are very close in their similarities (as opposed to other marques) and few individuals, other than the most discerning of absintheurs, will find that the slight difference warrants heavy consideration.
L'Espirit D'Edouard is at once strikingly similar to the PF1901, with the pronounced flavour of the same marc base readily apparent midway through the first sip. The colour is more greenish as opposed to the slightly paler 1901, a perfect hue that is in every way pleasing to the eye. Upon the addition of water, the absinthe louches at a moderate pace until the glass is half full, upon which clouds of opalescent green start to flocculate throughout at a tremendous pace. The result at 1:5 is a slightly verdant-grey and completely translucent.
Edouard hits harder than the 1901 in the palate, with immediate spicy notes battering the tastebuds, and then receding to a alpine cocktail of herbs which is harmoniously balanced with plenty of subtle flavours. The finish is primarily anise, and then traces of wormwood after the tongue dries. For a 72% ABV, the alcohol heat is almost unnoticeable, once again speaking volumes about the superior quality of the product. Unfortunately, I recall that the aftertaste does not linger for more than ten minutes, so in this regard the 1901 will probably be the more satisfying.
The final verdict is that the 1901 is probably more suitable as a summer digestif: floral, incredibly balanced and refreshing when taken very cold. Edouard will fare better, as I suspect, in the wintry months, with its potent herbacious and spicy notes perking the taster up. It must be reiterated that both of them are very close in their similarities (as opposed to other marques) and few individuals, other than the most discerning of absintheurs, will find that the slight difference warrants heavy consideration.
S
A solid absinthe with no faults.
(Updated: October 09, 2011)
Overall rating
4.3
Appearance
4.0
Louche
5.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
5.0
Overall
4.0
A good absinthe, with solid 4s in all categories, except the louche, where in typical Jade fashion is amazing. The downside to us was that it wasn't great in aroma or flavor, which at this price-point was a bit of a letdown for me. There is a loud bitter note in the flavor, that just doesn't sit right.
Edit: Bumped finish to 5, it is really extra ordinary.
Edit: Bumped finish to 5, it is really extra ordinary.
M
One of my favorites!
Overall rating
4.8
Appearance
5.0
Louche
5.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
5.0
Finish
5.0
Overall
5.0
Color: This is a very nice green. It is bright but not light, solid but not opaque, and in fact very clear. It is definitely a natural color and is full. This is a strong verte hue that is still bright and clear. Magnificent.
Louche: The louche is slow to start but has lots of oil trails. A nice gradient performs with the clouds starting at the bottom of the glass. The louche ends with a nice thickness and depth. Tints of the original color are left if you look hard enough in the right light.
Aroma: This is a very distinct aroma. It is definitely spicy and still very herbal, which is just my type. Fennel, anise, and wormwood are up front with other spices in the background, including something nutmeg-ish. Higher dilution displays more wormwood, lower dilutions have more anise. Even at higher ratios there is some alcohol heat detected in the smell.
Flavor: Unbelievable! This is a complex gem of a drink. It tastes like it smells with spicy notes puncturing just before the rising bitter-sweet blanket of the main herbal mixture. And yet it is smooth with an almost almond flavor and texture. Every part of the tongue can enjoy this drink. A bit higher ratio is preferred even by me not only due to the high proof but also to allow more of the drink to breathe and come to life. Usually I like my absinthe stronger but the flavor is so rich I don't have to let it be that way and I can get the benefit of a higher ratio while still getting strong flavor.
Finish: The finish lingers around for a good bit of time with the fennel showcasing itself mostly at this stage along with a rising sweet tone. The finish numbs the mouth a bit but doesn't force itself at all. Smooth and delightful.
Overall: This is an amazing drink. It is complex and definitely one to savor. It plays on just about every part of the tongue and is rich with subtle flavors to taste with each sip. Very well done!
Louche: The louche is slow to start but has lots of oil trails. A nice gradient performs with the clouds starting at the bottom of the glass. The louche ends with a nice thickness and depth. Tints of the original color are left if you look hard enough in the right light.
Aroma: This is a very distinct aroma. It is definitely spicy and still very herbal, which is just my type. Fennel, anise, and wormwood are up front with other spices in the background, including something nutmeg-ish. Higher dilution displays more wormwood, lower dilutions have more anise. Even at higher ratios there is some alcohol heat detected in the smell.
Flavor: Unbelievable! This is a complex gem of a drink. It tastes like it smells with spicy notes puncturing just before the rising bitter-sweet blanket of the main herbal mixture. And yet it is smooth with an almost almond flavor and texture. Every part of the tongue can enjoy this drink. A bit higher ratio is preferred even by me not only due to the high proof but also to allow more of the drink to breathe and come to life. Usually I like my absinthe stronger but the flavor is so rich I don't have to let it be that way and I can get the benefit of a higher ratio while still getting strong flavor.
Finish: The finish lingers around for a good bit of time with the fennel showcasing itself mostly at this stage along with a rising sweet tone. The finish numbs the mouth a bit but doesn't force itself at all. Smooth and delightful.
Overall: This is an amazing drink. It is complex and definitely one to savor. It plays on just about every part of the tongue and is rich with subtle flavors to taste with each sip. Very well done!
E