(This review is of the second formulation, which did not contain the cinnamon overtones which many describe in this absinthe.)



A nice light olive green absinthe, with a mild sweet nose upon opening. Louches well, to a semi-opaque opalescent finish reminiscent of the lighter forms of Chinese Jade. The flavour is much more complex than other absinthes I have tasted, definitely one of my favorites so far. The fennel is slightly less prominent than the anise, with the wormwood being a full flavour without the bitterness. There is a slight citrussy flavour to it, orange or perhaps grapefruit in origion. Very light in it's alcoholic bite, I was able to have a water:absinthe dilution ratio of just about 1:1 without sacrificing enjoyment, this could possibly even be drunk neat if so desired.

When I decided a year or so ago to experience absinthe, my choices here in Greece were quite limited. Czech Absinths on the one hand, which I found quite horrible. My first experience with "true" absinthe was Absente, which was many links above the Czech swill in the food chain, but still quite unsatisfying: the anise was overwhelming, it tasted very much like ouzo - pretty anticlimactic. I was about to give up on absinthe altogether, until one happy day I ran across Montmartre. Compared to Absente, it was like leaving a black and white medicine cabinet and entering an enchanted technicolor forest of herbs and spices. Complete with green fairies.



I have since tried other, and oftentimes better, absinthes, but Montmartre has a special place in my heart as it is the first good Absinthe I have tried. Its color and louche are absolutely first class. The aroma is a bit overwhelming, and could be too floral for many, but it does have a richness that is hard to beat. And several hidden surprising undertones to boot. What I enjoyed (and still enjoy) is Montmartre's finish, which is a pleasant reminder of having enjoyed a superior drink :)

This absinthe kinda grew on me in reverse...at one time, I was really keen on its hyper-citric, and cinnamon-laced uniqueness, but eventually, these wore out their welcome, and it became less, and less often my absinthe of choice.



The louche is fine, and I can't quibble with the color, but the aroma and flavor are just too heavily reliant on that Austrian cinnamon quality, and it's just not as absinthe-like as I'd prefer...it's a great remedy for gum infections, though!