Given the summer 08 market for absinthe in the US, I really can't recommend this brand enough, especially given it's the price/volume. The taste is very mild, but full. It finishes nicely, almost like a good wine. The aroma is very pleasant, but light, almost like there is something more to the drink, but my sense of smell is damaged. This one also has the nicest louche of the US-available brands.



I myself am partial to the blanches, and this ranks up there with La Clandestine. I also would recommend this brand to anyone that is new to absinthe. It's balanced flavor should give you a good feel for whether this drink is for you.

I love this absinthe! I find the taste, quality and value outstanding.

as color goes, well.... its clear. what more to say?



the louche was as expected from any real absinthe, but it was definitly fast. i suppost that could be a good thing however.



the aroma was very nice, not too much but definitly there. could possibly be a little stronger.



now for flavor. this is a tricky one. i found thie flavor somewhat different, but very good. on one hand there was a bit too much and it was almost overpowering. but on the other hand, i liked it, so it must be fine.



the finish was just right if you ask me. im not too fond of any drink that leaves you with the taste of it in your mouth the rest of the night. this was perfect, lasting maybe 30 sec or so after each sip. i enjoyed it.



this was my first blanche. i definitly enjoyed it, however it is a bit strong when mixed 3:1, almost overly strong. but at 5:1 its perfect.

Color: Clear, as a blanche should be.



Louche: As a good Absinthe should be, however, comes on fast due to being 53% abv. Nothing grand.



Aroma: Minty, spicy, and some sweetness.



Flavor: Starts out minty / spicy. Alcohol heat there, and numbs tongue. Above average, but not the best I've had.



Finish: Very good. Drawn out, and it goes from minty / spicy to sweetness at the end.



Overall: Fine Absinthe for the price. Very comparable to La Bleue Clandestine, but just below it. In terms of the currently two "legal" available in the US, it is just above Lucid. Head and shoulders above Blanch de Fougerolles.

Preparation
Kubler was my first bottle of a Blanche Absinthe and I was most eager to try it, and of course compare it to the many Verte Absinthe brands I've tried to date and for the most part really enjoyed. The open bottle was left to breathe for thirty minutes or so and a carafe of ice water used to dilute the Absinthe and develop the Louche.
Color Before Water
Crystal clear. Absolutely no sediment. There's the slightest viscosity to it, otherwise it looks and pours much like Vodka or any other crystal clear liqueur.
Aroma Before Water
I really love the aroma, but then I adore Fennel and Anise. I found the Anise and Fennel vapors the most strong and prominent. There are lighter notes which I found hard to place and even harder to describe. It's crisp and there's a far away hint of pine, as for the wormwood or any other herbal or botanical aroma I was hard pressed to perceive it. The heat of alcohol didn't seem to be as strong as I expected. All in all a nice scent, pleasant and uncomplicated.

Louche


Talk about a fast Louche! the Louche begins immediately upon the addition of water and expands dramatically fast throughout the glass. Like a thick white smoke it swirls and rolls, getting thicker and more dense until it reaches a milky white color with the faintest - and I mean faintest hint of blue. It does Louche but the speed at which it happens is a bit of draw back, still fun to watch though. Just don't blink your eyes or you'll miss it.
Aroma After Water
The Fennel and Anise still dominate. But those softer undertones of a Pine like scent were absolutely detectable. The aroma may not be dazzling, but it's appetizing and clean with nothing off putting or peculiar about it.
Flavor
Very sweet, but not in an artificial way. Again the Anise and Fennel really lead the pack and pretty much over power anything else. After a few days and a few tries I would roll the Absinthe around my tongue and it was here that I could pick up a bitter bite of Wormwood to offset the sweetness. I would venture to say that if they boosted the Wormwood a bit more up front, the taste would be more like a higher end Absinthe and less like Sambuca.
Kubler is still a very tasty palatable drink, I would avoid the use of sugar, even if this is your first glass of Absinthe as the natural sweetness is more than enough. This aside I find it delicious and the mouth feel that's very pleasant but perhaps a bit thin.
The Finish
Delicious, although the sweetness lingers it does give way to bit more complexity. Kubler is absolutely devoid of any funky or strange aftertastes.The sweetness does fade and leaves a taste of Anise and Fennel on the palate which is really quite nice.
Final Impression
Kubler is a fine Absinthe - is it top shelf? I wouldn't think so. However it's a quality product and makes for a tantalizing, refreshing drink. I would also say it's most reasonable price point of around $50 makes it an excellent buy as well.