This is one of my favorites. Although I had to detract some points in the color and louche categories, this product more than makes up for it in flavor. While the color approaches that medicine green you see in a few other brands, it doesn't look artificial (or minimally so). The louche is slightly more sophisticated than average and although the aroma is nice, it doesn't fill the room with a bouquet of scents. The flavor is superior. It is complex, but not overly so. It is rather sweet, with a dominant anise flavor, completed by a subtle bitterness of wormwood. And the finish is very clean. In many ways, it's difficult to even taste the alcohol and no aftertaste is left behind.



All this, and it comes in a really nice bottle. This is one brand I intend to keep stocked.

Color - Light green and natural looking.



Louche - Thin. A very slow drip does improve it but it still didn't get where I wanted it.



Aroma (Before louche) - Upon first opening the bottle the alcohol (not surprisingly) dominated all else. After getting some air into it the spicy, herbaceous notes came forward.



Aroma (After louche) - These spicy herbaceous notes poured out during the louche. Not room filling but it makes it's presence known.



Flavor - I wouldn't quite call this an herbal bomb like the original batch of 1797, but it certainly maintains that crisp, herbaceous tonic character. This time around it has better balance as the flavors are more well rounded. I thought it was delicious.



Overall - Obviously a quality made product and among my favorites.

Although I have not had the first edition of 1797, I have been told these two are like heaven and earth and so they are. However, if I am to score that absinthe as it is, I must point out certain flaws it definitely possesses.

The colour of the sample I was given is so pale, that it is difficult to call it even jaune. Nevertheless, it is natural and not that neon-like which we can come across nowadays.

Using a frozen water method of preparation, it had to louche somehow and so it has, unfortunately whereas it could strive more towards some green nuances it went Payne's grey, not even white.

At that point, we might assume faint colour and louche are the most discernible errors that have been made with this absinthe. Nonetheless, there is the 3rd culprit which made me feel uneasy-the aroma, neat: it is a tragedy, uninviting, very pungent and what is worse, it does smell of neither anise nor wormwood.

However, that changes completely when water is added, the aroma transforms beutifully into a nice combination of anethole buddies and very pleasant spiciness, that very moment the absinthe gets rescued from being critized further.

Its flavour, if not that much complex, is quite inviting and traditional, wormwood could be more pronounced, though.

The finish is probably the best, very silently the orchestra of wormwood, pontica and mint are rising to evolve into one note and fade into the aforementioned spiciness.

All in all, that absinthe is interesting but due to some lacks might not be preferred over other brands that are currently on the market.

Louching was done with a Carafe as my fountain was drying and taken apart. No sugar added either. glass used was a cordon.



Preparation:

I opened the bottle and let it breathe for a good 10-12 minutes while I stocked the dishwasher and put on some light jazz. After the 12 minutes. I poured it into the cordon glass and let it breath for an additional 10 minutes.



Color:

Color was a very natural emerald green with crystal clear transparency. Better than some of the others I've seen which also reside on my bar. No traces of residue other than a small speck of wax from the t-cork sealant (but you didn't need to know that did you, because it's my fault it got in there). After holding it up to the light you can really see it's transparent properties. Overall very pretty:



Aroma Before:

Aroma before louche was actually a bit unexpected. While not terrible, based on what I'd read I figured it'd be a bit more characteristic and in line with the praise often awarded to the Jades. While the traditional anis notes were present with a supporting herbal bouquet, there was a bit of an overpowering alcohol note which when didn't even out even after letting the bottle and glass breathe for a 10-12 minutes each. While still not as "alcohol" based as the fragrance from the Un Emile 68. It was not something I was expecting from the Roquette.



Louche:

This is where it started to get good. Total Louche time was 9 minutes and change from a carafe. The first 3 minutes I was treated to quite the active dance of oil trails. This is probably one of the most active and mesmerizing louche-introductions I've seen to date. Louching started after about 3.5 minutes of dripping the water slowly. The Louche itself took some time to develop and was a bit on the thin side while still maintaining opacity from the side. Not terrible by any means but even when fully louched some depth could be seen from the side of the glass. Reservoir was outlined with a slight amber hue and a bit more translucent than the main portion of the glass.



Looking top down I could faintly see the bottom of the glass a bit. A thin louche seems to be a characteristic of this absinthe, though as I said. It's not at all ugly. for a 9 minute drip. I didn't even notice that I was losing feeling in my right arm. It was interesting and lively to watch.





Aroma After:

This is what I used for the judging scale as is stated in the guidelines. As usual, the louche really opened up the bouquet which permeated throughout the air as a most desirable fragrance. Gone were any traces of alcohol notes which were present pre-louche. The fragrance was quite herbal with strong notes of anis/fennel, also with supporting compliments from a seemingly complex array of herbs. The ever-so-slightest trace of what seemed to be citrus was also present.





Flavor:

Very Desirable. Sweet enough to possibly even warrant sugar lovers to try it without. While this is a bit sweeter than some, it doesn't at all taste artificial or overpowering. Just the natural sweetness of Anis/Fennel with prevalent notes of wormwood. There is definitely a spicy note worth mentioning, but even so still offers a refreshingly clean and well complimenting taste. All elements that make up the Roquette's flavor really complements one another. There is a definitely sense of balance with the Anis/Fennel/wormwood leading the pack as they should be.





Finish:

Feels good in the mouth with a quick swirl or 2. Not thick and syrupy, even a bit thin while still maintaining a smooth and creaminess. Upon swallowing one will observe a dryness which almost states that the Roquette has cleaned up after itself without leaving any unwanted aftertaste. A subtle taste of sweet anis is all that's left in one's mouth after a few short moments.





Overall:

Aside from the initial Alcohol notes observed during the pre-louched fragrance, and louche which finishes on a bit of the thin side, the Roquette definitely proves to be a great absinthe through and through. Definitely one of my favorites thus far along with the Duplais. Looking forward to my next glass sooner rather than later.

I'm very, very impressed with the 1797. To begin with, it's a gorgeous peridot green: clear and bright, but perfectly natural. With a slow drip of ice cold water, it louches to a pleasing jade green. Yes, the louche is a little on the thin side, but really only very slightly, and the lava lamp-like oil trails by which the louche builds are nothing short of mesmerizing. The aroma is clean and spicy and very pleasing, but could perhaps be a little more intense. The flavor, however, is absolutely delightful: an exquisite blend of spiciness and bitterness, with an arresting herbal intensity that nevertheless is never intrusive. The finish is slightly bitter but complex; this is where the "tonic" really comes through, but it only adds interest. There is nothing intrusive or distracting about this absinthe.



Yes, I'll have another, thank you. Christmas just got happier!