As of this writing, the PF 1901 is the best absinthe I've tasted. To begin, it's a lovely peridot green, very natural and yet a perfect hue and intensity. After water, it becomes a creamy jade green, with hints of amber and blue, and in passing I'll note that the transition is most entertaining to observe. However, it's in the tasting that this absinthe really comes into its own. The aroma is herbal and complex, but also refined and subtle, and the flavor is a perfect balance of spice and the slightest bitterness. The finish is good and slightly numbing. Overall, a delectable spirit -- the best of a very excellent family of absinthes.

There is no question, to me at least, that this is Ted's best effort, to date. Although the marc base that he uses is still a tad more evident than I'd like, there is certainly none of the funkiness that I had a hard time getting past in a few of his previous releases.

The color is a lovely, and vibrant peridot green (although not quite as impressive as I remember it in the Edouard), and enough of it carries over into the full blooming louche to create a bright and minty colored drink.

The aroma is excellent, but there is still a little too much of the base present for me to rate it any higher. High quality green anise, fennel, and hyssop are obviously present, although the wormwood seems a bit muted, and this is also true regarding the flavor. There is a fine marriage of flavors, and the finish is clean, rich, and long.

Overall, this is a top notch recreation of its antecedent, except for the somewhat toned down wormwood, particularly in the finish, and the alcohol base, which doesn't match the level of Pernod Fils...of course, to be fair, what absinthe's base today could?

It is often said that the crafter of the Jades is attempting to replicate historic Absinthes and Absinthe styles rather than simply crafting a scratch Absinthe for the modern palate. If this is the case, then the PF 1901 is a near masterpiece in my book. Having been lucky enough to sample a pre-ban or two, it is my opinion that no other commercial offering comes closer to the PF 1914.



The color is a beautiful light green that looks as though it could easily age into the dead leaf color of a vintage PF. The louche was the "beauty in a glass" that is expected from all the Jades at this point, wonderful oil trails, good layering, opalescent, etc... The aroma and flavor were very similar to the PF 1914. The flavor components were warm and complex, spicy, floral, minty, with a good strong wormwood finish. Many Absinthes have two to three flavor stages, the PF 1901 has many.



PF 1901 is one of the most solid Absinthes available today. It is not quirky or controversial. Anyone who enjoys Absinthe will like it from the newbie to the Ph.D. Absintheologist.

From the bottle the PF 1901 pours a sharp, clear, light spring green. No discernable sediment or haze whatsoever. A slow icewater drip swirls into wonderfully thick oil trails, which appear almost suspended midstream until overtaken by the louche rising from below. The louche itself, while not spectacular, builds well -- pale green, with transients of blue and gold, as it fills the glass. The pre-dilution aroma is evocative of wet tree roots and beckons with earthy tarragon and marjoram, along with hints of allspice. After water the aroma relinquishes floral notes, and additional nuances of vanilla and dry mustard unfold. A 4:1 dilution, no sugar, yields a mellow and rich mouth, not too watery, and not tongue-numbing at all. The first sip is where it all comes to life for me, however, with the requisite sweet anise and fresh wormwood at the fore, smooth citrus filling in, and more of that dry herbal tarragon and marjoram emerging at the end. Just beautiful. The wormwood is deeply entrenched, and hangs on the tongue long after the glass is finished. Even so, one is left with no choice but to drip another immediately, so that one may continue the experience well past one's bedtime. This is by far my favorite of the Jades.