La Maitresse Rouge - Reviewed by Experts and Consumers at The Wormwood Society
Product Details
Style/Color
Degrees ABV (% alcohol)
Year of Make (if known)
Country of Origin
Distillery
Editor reviews
Buy Bottle, Open, Drink, Repeat... With New Bottle
(Updated: June 19, 2012)
Overall rating
3.3
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
3.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
3.0
Finish
3.0
Overall
3.0
Color
Unlouched, crystal clear, natural, sparkling medium caramel color with a slight brassy push. Louched, skim-milky butterscotch/caramel with a slight orange push. Some slight gradients to bluish-white at the edges and meniscus.
Louche
Slow and cold are the operatives to maximize entertainment with this one. Nice trails from the start, and eventually cloudiness builds, and a clear top layer forms. Nice refractions, and everything is visible until it all goes opaque at about 2/1.
Aroma
Prelouche, pleasant anise with balanced wormwood and herbal backers. Louched, generally subtle and delicate, but clearly present. Anise up front, but the very floral wormwood is right there. A slightly oxidized fruity note. Even though it's not a blockbuster, the aroma is detectable 15 feet away. I thought the sweet spot was approximately 3.5/1, where the wormwood took charge, and the anise and fennel provided good support.
Flavor
Wormwood balanced nicely with anise, and a hint of oxidized red fruit (cranberry?). There's a slightly tart fruity/floral sensation on the attack. A milky light-medium weight mouthfeel, and an easy, delicate pull on the palate. I have to figure this is Pontarlier wormwood, but its impression is more lithe and stylish than the other Emile Pernot offerings I have tried.
Finish
An initial burst of tingly spiciness, followed by a fairly rapid fade of all the primary flavors. There is moderate tongue numbing and drying... well controlled, not harsh. Nicely done.
Overall
Worth the experience. The taster almost needs to reset their gauges to accommodate the unconventionality of this.
My Best Advice About La Maitresse
Oxygen is NOT this absinthe's friend. While the above review is based primarily on my final evaluation, it unfortunately doesn't give you a hint of just how satisfying this was upon opening. Every aspect of this offering was far more impressive the day I opened the bottle. Without belaboring it too greatly, a summary of my first evaluation (12/14/08).
Color
Beautiful coral tinged nougat color. Great nuance, with pinkish glints both unlouched and louched.
Louche
Better by means of the superior coloration.
Aroma
Anise, fennel, minty wormwood with a gorgeous undertone of red fruit and floral. A hint of herbal tea character.
Flavor
Great wormwood, anise, fennel balance. Slight spiciness and a fruity roundness. Mid-weight mouthfeel. Assertive without being pushy.
Finish
Spice, mint, dusty florals. Great subtle balance. Slightly honeyed. Subtle "pinch", easy drying.
Overall
Grounded fresh, feminine point of view. "Like a well-aged Bordeaux is to the wine world" (direct quote from my notes).
If I had another bottle of this absinthe, I would only open it in the presence of a half dozen other absinthe drinkers and finish the bottle on that occasion. While still reasonably enjoyable, my bottle currently doesn't hold a candle to the taste I had the first evaluation. It was so profound, that I can remember it like it was yesterday. I want that absinthe back.
Apparently, there is more to the degradation here, than just color. The aromatic and flavor components of the coloring herbs seem adversely affected by time and air. This is not unlike a "well-aged Bordeaux" or an well-aged Pinot Noir, for that matter. Upon opening, these can be some of the most satisfying wines one would ever drink, however a determined pace of consumption is sometimes called for, since oxygen can cause these to fall apart at quite a rapid pace. You just need to beat them to the finish line.
Done with a 1 ounce dose, and diluted 3/1, 3.5/1, and 4/1, and no sugar.
La Maitresse Rouge 12/14/08, 2/22/09, 4/18/09
The final two evaluations had consistent notes.
Unlouched, crystal clear, natural, sparkling medium caramel color with a slight brassy push. Louched, skim-milky butterscotch/caramel with a slight orange push. Some slight gradients to bluish-white at the edges and meniscus.
Louche
Slow and cold are the operatives to maximize entertainment with this one. Nice trails from the start, and eventually cloudiness builds, and a clear top layer forms. Nice refractions, and everything is visible until it all goes opaque at about 2/1.
Aroma
Prelouche, pleasant anise with balanced wormwood and herbal backers. Louched, generally subtle and delicate, but clearly present. Anise up front, but the very floral wormwood is right there. A slightly oxidized fruity note. Even though it's not a blockbuster, the aroma is detectable 15 feet away. I thought the sweet spot was approximately 3.5/1, where the wormwood took charge, and the anise and fennel provided good support.
Flavor
Wormwood balanced nicely with anise, and a hint of oxidized red fruit (cranberry?). There's a slightly tart fruity/floral sensation on the attack. A milky light-medium weight mouthfeel, and an easy, delicate pull on the palate. I have to figure this is Pontarlier wormwood, but its impression is more lithe and stylish than the other Emile Pernot offerings I have tried.
Finish
An initial burst of tingly spiciness, followed by a fairly rapid fade of all the primary flavors. There is moderate tongue numbing and drying... well controlled, not harsh. Nicely done.
Overall
Worth the experience. The taster almost needs to reset their gauges to accommodate the unconventionality of this.
My Best Advice About La Maitresse
Oxygen is NOT this absinthe's friend. While the above review is based primarily on my final evaluation, it unfortunately doesn't give you a hint of just how satisfying this was upon opening. Every aspect of this offering was far more impressive the day I opened the bottle. Without belaboring it too greatly, a summary of my first evaluation (12/14/08).
Color
Beautiful coral tinged nougat color. Great nuance, with pinkish glints both unlouched and louched.
Louche
Better by means of the superior coloration.
Aroma
Anise, fennel, minty wormwood with a gorgeous undertone of red fruit and floral. A hint of herbal tea character.
Flavor
Great wormwood, anise, fennel balance. Slight spiciness and a fruity roundness. Mid-weight mouthfeel. Assertive without being pushy.
Finish
Spice, mint, dusty florals. Great subtle balance. Slightly honeyed. Subtle "pinch", easy drying.
Overall
Grounded fresh, feminine point of view. "Like a well-aged Bordeaux is to the wine world" (direct quote from my notes).
If I had another bottle of this absinthe, I would only open it in the presence of a half dozen other absinthe drinkers and finish the bottle on that occasion. While still reasonably enjoyable, my bottle currently doesn't hold a candle to the taste I had the first evaluation. It was so profound, that I can remember it like it was yesterday. I want that absinthe back.
Apparently, there is more to the degradation here, than just color. The aromatic and flavor components of the coloring herbs seem adversely affected by time and air. This is not unlike a "well-aged Bordeaux" or an well-aged Pinot Noir, for that matter. Upon opening, these can be some of the most satisfying wines one would ever drink, however a determined pace of consumption is sometimes called for, since oxygen can cause these to fall apart at quite a rapid pace. You just need to beat them to the finish line.
Done with a 1 ounce dose, and diluted 3/1, 3.5/1, and 4/1, and no sugar.
La Maitresse Rouge 12/14/08, 2/22/09, 4/18/09
The final two evaluations had consistent notes.
M
Refreshing and easy to drink.
Overall rating
3.7
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
3.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
3.0
Overall
4.0
I enjoy having a rouge every once in a while. The holidays are a perfect time, as is a hot summer day. It's a very refreshing, flowery beverage. Quite delicate.
The louche builds nicely. If done slow enough, a great layer will form along the top.
The aroma is light and interesting, but has just a tinge of funkiness, which reminds me a lot of other liquors that have flowers. It's not off putting, but not a normal aroma for an absinthe.
Flavor is light, sweet and delicate with hints of flowers and citrus mixed in with the normal absinthe flavors. The wormwood is a very flowery variety as well. Delicious.
The finish got a three only because it was SO light and receded quickly.
The louche builds nicely. If done slow enough, a great layer will form along the top.
The aroma is light and interesting, but has just a tinge of funkiness, which reminds me a lot of other liquors that have flowers. It's not off putting, but not a normal aroma for an absinthe.
Flavor is light, sweet and delicate with hints of flowers and citrus mixed in with the normal absinthe flavors. The wormwood is a very flowery variety as well. Delicious.
The finish got a three only because it was SO light and receded quickly.
User reviews
4 reviews
Overall rating
3.2
Appearance
3.5(4)
Louche
2.8(4)
Aroma
3.5(4)
Flavor / Mouthfeel
3.3(4)
Finish
2.8(4)
Overall
3.0(4)
The Scarlet Woman Lost Some Color.
Overall rating
3.0
Appearance
3.0
Louche
2.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
3.0
Finish
3.0
Overall
3.0
Color: Due to the age of the sample that I got this was more tequila colored than rouge. Maybe a juane color by now. Pictures show a nice red, but the dead leafing is not so much a bad thing. If the color changes then the absinthe was naturally colored which is always a plus. Any way you cut it this is hard to evaluate at this point.
Louche: Clouds build nicely with active oil trails, but when at the correct ratio this ends up very thin. There is a healthy amount of the original color left in the final result as well.
Aroma: On display are the usual suspects of absinthe and some floral notes as well. I am definitely intrigued by the aroma of this one.
Flavor: Tastes like absinthe with a slight tartness to it. The main flavor is the usual trio, so this is not as much of an oddball style as I was thinking. Unfortunately nothing really stands out either. It's a good taste but not great. The tart, which is slight, reminds me more of rose than hibiscus or anything else.
Finish: The finish does stick around for a while but there's not much really going on here aside from a slight bump up in the tartness.
Overall: Not as unusual as I was expecting. This is mainly your usual absinthe with a tiny bit of tartness to it. Maybe the age of the sample changed more than the color but as it stands here this is akin to your average commercial offering that I've come across. On the downside, the louche really needs some help. On the upside, a naturally made rouge, which can't be the easiest thing to pull off by a long stretch.
Louche: Clouds build nicely with active oil trails, but when at the correct ratio this ends up very thin. There is a healthy amount of the original color left in the final result as well.
Aroma: On display are the usual suspects of absinthe and some floral notes as well. I am definitely intrigued by the aroma of this one.
Flavor: Tastes like absinthe with a slight tartness to it. The main flavor is the usual trio, so this is not as much of an oddball style as I was thinking. Unfortunately nothing really stands out either. It's a good taste but not great. The tart, which is slight, reminds me more of rose than hibiscus or anything else.
Finish: The finish does stick around for a while but there's not much really going on here aside from a slight bump up in the tartness.
Overall: Not as unusual as I was expecting. This is mainly your usual absinthe with a tiny bit of tartness to it. Maybe the age of the sample changed more than the color but as it stands here this is akin to your average commercial offering that I've come across. On the downside, the louche really needs some help. On the upside, a naturally made rouge, which can't be the easiest thing to pull off by a long stretch.
E
La Maitresse Jaune?
Overall rating
2.8
Appearance
3.0
Louche
2.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
3.0
Finish
3.0
Overall
2.0
Appearance: The sample I tried was disappointingly yellow due to its age...a very bright golden color.
Louche: It's rather thin, more transparent than translucent. It has a bit of a yellowy cast and is somewhat milkier in the thicker parts of the glass, but overall very weak.
Aroma: It has a good, sweet and clean smell akin to some other good absinthes I enjoy, with a very nice balance of scents, although it is not particularly expansive.
Flavor: Spicy and peppery, with hints of cinnamon. It doesn't entirely taste like an absinthe, but bears a light resemblance to a few other absinthes I've had. Any dilutions less than what I tried were hot and overpowered by alcohol, but it was missing a solid flavor when the heat was gone.
Finish: Not unpleasant but not particularly memorable or lengthy, and no specific elements stuck out to me.
Overall: Sadly this doesn't seem to age well. This means that at the end of the day, when it's no longer beautifully colored it doesn't have the same visual appeal as other rouges, but also is lacking some of the finer characters found in a verte...this makes it hard to measure.
Louche: It's rather thin, more transparent than translucent. It has a bit of a yellowy cast and is somewhat milkier in the thicker parts of the glass, but overall very weak.
Aroma: It has a good, sweet and clean smell akin to some other good absinthes I enjoy, with a very nice balance of scents, although it is not particularly expansive.
Flavor: Spicy and peppery, with hints of cinnamon. It doesn't entirely taste like an absinthe, but bears a light resemblance to a few other absinthes I've had. Any dilutions less than what I tried were hot and overpowered by alcohol, but it was missing a solid flavor when the heat was gone.
Finish: Not unpleasant but not particularly memorable or lengthy, and no specific elements stuck out to me.
Overall: Sadly this doesn't seem to age well. This means that at the end of the day, when it's no longer beautifully colored it doesn't have the same visual appeal as other rouges, but also is lacking some of the finer characters found in a verte...this makes it hard to measure.
A
My first rouge, sort of...
(Updated: February 27, 2009)
Overall rating
3.1
Appearance
4.0
Louche
3.0
Aroma
3.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
3.0
Finish
2.0
Overall
3.0
This glass was prepared with ice cold water at slow drip, without sugar.
Aroma pre-louche: I was expecting flowers. What I got was a delicate sweet perfume that presents anise yet has beneath an unusual quality. I can only presume this is from the hibiscus flowers used in coloration. I sense nothing bad in these first inhalations. It definitely smells like a traditional absinthe, but with some sort of sweet, candy-like secret I can't wait to expose.
Color: The color is completely orange. A pleasant, natural orange, but not red in any way. It is a beautiful, gem-like color with an inviting crystal clarity. Interestingly, from above the glass it almost vanishes completely!
Louche: A ballet of oily wisps holds the louche ab bay. In fact the louche did not even begin until at least a 2:1 ration had been reached. And even then there was no billowy effect; it just was there. The aroma came long before the louche took hold; a wonderful candy-like scent filled the area. I actually salivated. The anticipation of the louche was so strong that the aroma took center stage. Think freezing cold peppermints before dinner instead of after and you'll understand the sensation. It finishes a pleasant shade of off-white. Not took thick and not too thin. The smell right over the glass is unusual.
Flavor: very subtle. velvety. I taste more wormwood than anything else, and even that is rather subdued. Not in a bad way though, and it allows an unusual taste to move forward. There is a hard to describe flavor that dominates the drink, perhaps a distant hint of flowers, I just don't know. The mouth feel is very thin.
Finish: Gone in a flash, this absinthe leaves very little taste considering the amount of questions it brings up. I can't pinpoint any one flavor from the others, and there is no trace of anything once it is gone. The last thing I taste is just another question; "what is that... that... what is that?"
Overall: My initial concern about the bottle of Maitresse I received was the color of its contents. Gone was any trace of the rouge color I was expecting. But after some good advice, and careful contemplation I decided to forgo any misgivings about the totally orange color of this absinthe. I respect the attempt at coloration by using natural products, and as such i cannot penalize this absinthe for losing its color. The taste is unique and rather unremarkable. For me there is nothing at all about this absinthe that makes it stand out over any other I've had. It's not bad at all, but I find my struggle to pinpoint many aspects of it take away from the experience. Unfortunately it tastes nothing like a traditional absinthe, in my humble opinion This absinthe greatly benefits from sugar, but I need to further experiment with the water ration.
Aroma pre-louche: I was expecting flowers. What I got was a delicate sweet perfume that presents anise yet has beneath an unusual quality. I can only presume this is from the hibiscus flowers used in coloration. I sense nothing bad in these first inhalations. It definitely smells like a traditional absinthe, but with some sort of sweet, candy-like secret I can't wait to expose.
Color: The color is completely orange. A pleasant, natural orange, but not red in any way. It is a beautiful, gem-like color with an inviting crystal clarity. Interestingly, from above the glass it almost vanishes completely!
Louche: A ballet of oily wisps holds the louche ab bay. In fact the louche did not even begin until at least a 2:1 ration had been reached. And even then there was no billowy effect; it just was there. The aroma came long before the louche took hold; a wonderful candy-like scent filled the area. I actually salivated. The anticipation of the louche was so strong that the aroma took center stage. Think freezing cold peppermints before dinner instead of after and you'll understand the sensation. It finishes a pleasant shade of off-white. Not took thick and not too thin. The smell right over the glass is unusual.
Flavor: very subtle. velvety. I taste more wormwood than anything else, and even that is rather subdued. Not in a bad way though, and it allows an unusual taste to move forward. There is a hard to describe flavor that dominates the drink, perhaps a distant hint of flowers, I just don't know. The mouth feel is very thin.
Finish: Gone in a flash, this absinthe leaves very little taste considering the amount of questions it brings up. I can't pinpoint any one flavor from the others, and there is no trace of anything once it is gone. The last thing I taste is just another question; "what is that... that... what is that?"
Overall: My initial concern about the bottle of Maitresse I received was the color of its contents. Gone was any trace of the rouge color I was expecting. But after some good advice, and careful contemplation I decided to forgo any misgivings about the totally orange color of this absinthe. I respect the attempt at coloration by using natural products, and as such i cannot penalize this absinthe for losing its color. The taste is unique and rather unremarkable. For me there is nothing at all about this absinthe that makes it stand out over any other I've had. It's not bad at all, but I find my struggle to pinpoint many aspects of it take away from the experience. Unfortunately it tastes nothing like a traditional absinthe, in my humble opinion This absinthe greatly benefits from sugar, but I need to further experiment with the water ration.
P
Quite a rose!
(Updated: August 10, 2008)
Overall rating
3.7
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
3.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
3.0
Overall
4.0
Notes: Maitresse Rouge bottle # 76/400; opened 4-11-2008, tasted 4-12-2008. Prepared with ½ sugar cube and fountain drip. I also tried it with one full sugar cube, as the literature suggests sugar is beneficial, but I found this to be too sweet and the cloying aftertaste from the sugar distracting.
Color:
Before water- In the bottle, a very attractive and natural looking red with a just a tint of orange. The orange becomes much more pronounced when poured into the glass and viewed from an overhead angle.
After water- A delicate and attractive shade of peach pink. The body does not have the sought after strawberry milk thickness I was hoping for, and is on the translucent side of opaque. I did not score it lower, though, because of the beautiful opalescent ruby glints that shine through when backed by a strong light source (such as sunlight). The action and resulting thin final louche is reminiscent of the only other Emile Pernot absinthe I’ve tried so far, the Roquette 1797.
Louche: Nice trails forming and bouncing in a jelly layer dance as a good absinthe should. The louche cloud itself is very slow to appear, however, and until about 1:1.5 when the cloud starts to appear on the bottom, it leaves one worrying if it will actually form. The action itself is great, and the suspense is part of what I enjoy about it! However, as mentioned previously, the end result is not very thick.
Aroma: Before water, I get a dark grain/woodiness with a fruity scent that was a little off-putting due to the “berries-gone-south†tinge. Fortunately, the aroma opens up very nicely after water. I’m getting a much more pleasant red fruit scent commingling with green anise, nice wormwood, and a pleasant background of other herbal notes.
Flavor: In the front, a delicate (just like the pink tint) floral red fruit that makes me think of someone dashing raspberry flavored water drops into the glass. I perceived that this was balanced nicely with green anise, and some very tasty wormwood (which may have contributed to the floral character of the red fruit- once again, it seems very balanced so I can’t really tell).
Finish and Mouthfeel/Body: Not unpleasant or biting in any way, but it’s pretty darn thin. On the plus side, I detect just a little body with a mild tongue numbing. But I really wanted it to be the strawberry milk texture that I was fantasizing about! The finish is refreshing with a good lingering bitterness…I think the fruit tones in the aftertaste might not be to everyone’s liking, though I found it enjoyable.
Overall Impression:
This is the first rouge absinthe I’ve tried (I have now tasted 11 absinthes total, all modern COs), so I can’t compare it to others of this type. Judged by its own merits, though, I found it unique and quite enjoyable. I’m still waiting for that strawberry milk body that I’ve heard about, but I think that facet is one that could be improved, rather than one that actively detracts from the overall experience.
I detect little of the acrid hibiscus-like tones or clashing flavors that I’ve seen mentioned regarding the previous Un Emile Rouge incarnation.
I would not hesitate recommend this absinthe to anyone wanting to try something a bit different, or whose curiosity is piqued by the beautiful vintage Oxygeene Absinthe Rosinette poster. I am very glad that I picked up a bottle.
Color:
Before water- In the bottle, a very attractive and natural looking red with a just a tint of orange. The orange becomes much more pronounced when poured into the glass and viewed from an overhead angle.
After water- A delicate and attractive shade of peach pink. The body does not have the sought after strawberry milk thickness I was hoping for, and is on the translucent side of opaque. I did not score it lower, though, because of the beautiful opalescent ruby glints that shine through when backed by a strong light source (such as sunlight). The action and resulting thin final louche is reminiscent of the only other Emile Pernot absinthe I’ve tried so far, the Roquette 1797.
Louche: Nice trails forming and bouncing in a jelly layer dance as a good absinthe should. The louche cloud itself is very slow to appear, however, and until about 1:1.5 when the cloud starts to appear on the bottom, it leaves one worrying if it will actually form. The action itself is great, and the suspense is part of what I enjoy about it! However, as mentioned previously, the end result is not very thick.
Aroma: Before water, I get a dark grain/woodiness with a fruity scent that was a little off-putting due to the “berries-gone-south†tinge. Fortunately, the aroma opens up very nicely after water. I’m getting a much more pleasant red fruit scent commingling with green anise, nice wormwood, and a pleasant background of other herbal notes.
Flavor: In the front, a delicate (just like the pink tint) floral red fruit that makes me think of someone dashing raspberry flavored water drops into the glass. I perceived that this was balanced nicely with green anise, and some very tasty wormwood (which may have contributed to the floral character of the red fruit- once again, it seems very balanced so I can’t really tell).
Finish and Mouthfeel/Body: Not unpleasant or biting in any way, but it’s pretty darn thin. On the plus side, I detect just a little body with a mild tongue numbing. But I really wanted it to be the strawberry milk texture that I was fantasizing about! The finish is refreshing with a good lingering bitterness…I think the fruit tones in the aftertaste might not be to everyone’s liking, though I found it enjoyable.
Overall Impression:
This is the first rouge absinthe I’ve tried (I have now tasted 11 absinthes total, all modern COs), so I can’t compare it to others of this type. Judged by its own merits, though, I found it unique and quite enjoyable. I’m still waiting for that strawberry milk body that I’ve heard about, but I think that facet is one that could be improved, rather than one that actively detracts from the overall experience.
I detect little of the acrid hibiscus-like tones or clashing flavors that I’ve seen mentioned regarding the previous Un Emile Rouge incarnation.
I would not hesitate recommend this absinthe to anyone wanting to try something a bit different, or whose curiosity is piqued by the beautiful vintage Oxygeene Absinthe Rosinette poster. I am very glad that I picked up a bottle.
G