The color is not natural-looking to me, and I wouldn't be surprised if this absinthe had artificial coloring in it (1/5). The louche was also very thin, and looked fake, for lack of a better word (2/5). Anyone who has had really good absinthe will know what I mean when I say that an absinthe's color and louche should seem herbal, thick, oily and nuanced - these qualities go a long way in setting the mood. This one was more like a vodka painted green that turned slightly chalkier when water was added.



The spirit is obviously grain, not grape-based, which makes this absinthe taste harsher and makes it more of a cheap knock-off rather than a recreation of what Van Gogh drank (2/5). The idea of adding eucalyptus is an interesting one, but ought to be tried by a distillery that puts more effort into authenticity. The mint was also far too strong, mint has a strong natural flavor that is too overpowering which is why those 19th century distilleries that used it used only very limited quantities - Pernod Fils had something like one bushel of mint per 10 kg of herbs, I believe.



There was no finish to speak of - literally as soon as I had sipped this drink, all the flavor was gone (1/5).



The only thing that makes me rate this absinthe 2/5 overall is the bottle, which has a very interesting design. Tourment Vert is the missing link between 19th-century absinthe and the "absinth" of the bars in Prague. It was obviously rushed for release on the recently opened American market, and the whole point of a ratings guide is to help people avoid wasting upwards of $60 on something that isn't even authentic. For people who are stuck with a U.S. brand, I would strongly recommend trying Lucid or St. George instead.

This Absinthe is distilled from grain and is partially "hand made" says Bruno Delannoy of DISTILLERIE VINET EGE SA. The color is an artificial green with blue overtones that is somewhat distracting. The louche began almost all at once, however, once it arrived it was first layered and then opaque, again having a bluish tint. I really have begun to like the aroma it's light and straight forward anise with background herbs one being eucalyptus. The taste is pleasant, although lacking somewhat in complexity. No bitterness or excessive alcohol, for some the Wormwood might be too far in the background. All in all I think Le Tourment is a different kind of French style Absinthe that will suit the American taste well, and the bottle it comes in is pretty cool too.



The Vinet Ege web site comments are misleading, I have spoken directly with the distiller who states that they are planing a step by step process to increase production to meet demand and that it is for sale and it will continue to be sold internationally.