I found Lucid to be okay, but not great. It is not one I would consider stocking regularly. The color and louche are generally average, and nothing really stuck out. The aroma was not at all appealing to me. While it did have some of the complexity of an absinthe, none of the components in that complexity was particularly pleasant. The flavor comes across very similarly. It is as if every flavor in the drink is individually muted and blended instead of stirred. The finish lingers, unfortunately and the bottle just looks kind of silly, compared to any of the better brands. It's almost like some marketing MBA got the design job and felt a bad boy image would be needed to reintroduce Absinthe in the US market.



I've served Lucid at home tasting parties and it generally ranks poorly. Mediocre is really the best word to describe this product.

Lucid's a pleasant drink but value comes into question, considering you can get 3 bottles of the [superior] Duplais Balance for 56 each through LdF at the time of this writing. By contrast I paid $70 for the bottle of Lucid. For someone who only wants a single bottle that price is hard to beat. Update 2014: There's now more competition on the market. Lucid isn't as much of a value proposition anymore.

Regardless, I'll get down to the brass tacks of the review. I'm sure anyone reading this is not interested in budgeting tips. I was on the fence regarding color...3 or 4? I gave it a three because, in my opinion, it has a certain lack of clarity, a kind of very faint white prelouche, if you will, that I don't think should be there. Not unattractive, but if you hold it up to the light it's not exactly clear, and, thus, not exactly a four. No nuclear fluorescents, which is what I was expecting when I first heard of Lucid.

That aside, the actual louche was close to spot on. In fact I'd say this is Lucid's best quality; it puts on quite a nice show. One point shy of the mark because it wasn't quite the epiphany-in-a-glass I'd expect from perfection.

With the aroma, I was again on the fence. When I smelled it neat, it certainly reminded me of the Duplais I've had in the past (ie: it smelled like absinthe should). However, there was something not right. It seemed too simple. In the glass, diluted, there's not much more complexity. One reviewer somewhere mentioned there was a slight odor of Mexican spices. Underneath the peppery scents, I do detect something vaguely reminiscent of cumin. Granted, I don't think Breaux is tossing taco kits into his vats, but this odd smell is still present, if one looks for it. Ultimately, I'm sure it would pass for a four in some cases, but not with me. A solid 3...not terrible by any stretch, but certainly not great. Good on a good day, passable on every other.

Flavor was a dead ringer for a four rating: "correct, pleasant, enjoyable." I really could not have said it better myself. Of course this is about as subjective as it comes, and handicapped by my lack of experience, but I find Lucid to be all of the above. My palate isn't developed to the point where I can identify the individual nuances of the respective herbs, but with Lucid there aren't too many nuances for me to focus on. In this sense, although it is quite pleasant and enjoyable, it falls short of the European varieties. I can't call it one-dimensional, because it's quite a step up from that, but when push comes to shove I'm sure the die-hard absinthe enthusiast would give Lucid a 3, or even a 2 for flavor, but as a casual sipper, I give it a four with no reservations.

With the finish, "present, but unremarkable" sums it up quite nicely. As others have said, fennel bomb. Not out of line for an absinthe, per se, but not distilled genius either. If I were to drop pretensions and be true to my taste buds, I'd give it a 3.5, but as I don't have that option, I'll just keep my nose in the air.

Overall, I think one needs to consider this absinthe is being hocked, first and foremost, to the bar crowd. Second in line come the curious. A distant third are those who actually enjoy drinking absinthe. Fortunately for us here on the third tier, whomever was behind Lucid had Breaux come up with the recipe. It's quite obvious cost, and the apparently degraded American palate, came into effect during its development, but the end result isn't bad.

In fact, when I first got wind of Lucid I dismissed it immediately as a gimmick, but when I heard Breaux was behind it, I had to try it. Now that I have, I can't say I have any regrets. Would I buy it again? I haven't come close to finishing the bottle, so I couldn't really answer that, but who knows? (ie: most probably) It's not bad, like I said, but I'd be so much more willing to spring for this if it was $50 as opposed to $70. I suppose when you stack this against its European counterparts it is of dubious value, depending on several factors. If you like absinthe and haven't spoiled yourself with the top of the range I'd say grab a bottle, you probably won't regret it. Lucid is also ideal for the uninitiated. If you hate Lucid, chances are you won't like any other 'sinthe.

We'll see if it grows on me, but in summation Lucid gets a solid threeish, with no points given for value or any of that. Hovering around three, on a scale where PF 1901 or Belle Amis is approaching five, is not bad at all. Indeed, for the first US absinthe to even be compared to those greats is quite a testament to its validity.

This is an absinthe that I genuinely enjoy drinking, even though I would not list it among my very favorites. Visually, it's unremarkable. It begins a pale peridot, natural but not extraordinary, and it louches to a substantial jade green (with a slightly yellowish-grey undertone). The aroma is clean and refreshing and maybe just a little peppery, but though not bad I do think it is a bit unusual. The taste is an enjoyable mix of sweeter herbs and bitterness. It's not as complex as the various Jades are, but it is nonetheless pleasing. The finish is likewise good and interesting, and there is no obtrusive bitterness in the aftertaste. The numbing quality is comparatively strong, however.

Overall, I feel Lucid shows a lot of promise and is a worthy introductory absinthe for the US market. And there is no denying it: it's as affordable as absinthes get.

Preface- This is my first real absinthe. I feel I may have weighed my final score to keep room open for when I try other products. I did not want to write this review just after my first glass because I was afraid the awe and wonder I was experiencing would stilt my judgment.



Color- Very nice natural looking pale green. Better than any substitutes I have seen.



Louche- I louched veery slowly from a drop bottle to fully savor the effect. The oil tendrils were entrancing and gave way to a slow smoky louche rising from the bottom of the glass. After five minutes of slow drip when the louche was complete I found it to be quite opaque with little opalescence.



Aroma- I give this my lowest score. Although I could easily smell the anise and fennel, but these and other aromas where tainted by what I could only describe as a spicy mexican food scent that seemed entirely out of place. Almost sweaty. This was the smell in the bottle, after letting it breath in the glass for a bit this weakened, it was further diminished after the louch- becoming understudy to the prettier ingredients that had been waiting in the wings. Still, if I knew nothing of absinthe and was offered a whiff of the bottle it is unlikely I would have partaken in this spicy smelling liquor.



Flavor- (Unsweetened) Tasty! Overall very well balanced, no note overpowered another. Even the spicy imp that hid at the bottom of the glass danced happily around the maypole in my mouth with the others. Also, Lucid has offered the finest mouthfeel of any liquor I have ever sampled (yet). It coated my mouth nicely and only slightly numbed my tongue, to pleasing effect.

(Sweetened) I could see many people enjoying Lucid with a cube of sugar. However I found that adding sugar seemed to kill half of the nuances in the drink, like covering a finely grilled and seasoned portobello with catsup. Still enjoyable, though cloying.



Finish- The ghosts of my last sip lingered on my palate for a pleasing amount of time once I had finished, enticing me into another cup. I found no alcohol burn on the way down at the strength of 4:1.



Overall- I am very thankful this product has made it to the US market. It would have been a very long time before I could order anything comparable.

I would suggest Lucid in a heartbeat, and I will. Just don't smell it before the louche.