Review Detail
2.9 1 0.5
Traditional Absinthe
A good (Czech) step in the right direction but....
(Updated: October 29, 2024)
Overall rating
3.0
Appearance
3.0
Louche
3.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
2.0
Finish
3.0
Overall
3.0
Color : nice dark olive with an amber tint but too deep.
Louche : louches correctly with slow iced water drip and specially with sugar. Quickly overwaters, needs great care. A very light (or almost none) louche without sugar and regular drip. So let's say it does louche decently if carefully prepared (hence the 3 stars).
Aroma : Alcohol is not overpowering, nice floral bouquet (thanks Veronica!), just lacks a little something in the balance, like a rich wormwood or a savory green anise aroma.
Flavor : that's where it hurts. Not unpleasant but clearly shows some flaws. Over-distilled that conducts to a non-existent wormwood flavor and almost non-existent anise and fennel flavors. Over-colored that conducts to overpowering pontica/hyssop/veronica flavors. Result : totally unbalanced.
Finish : ok the veronica leaves a nice finish, but again it lacks something like a nice sweet and biting anise finish.
Overall : It's not a bad product per se, and I'm sure Martin can easily improve it by lightening his distillation method and by having a less heavy hand on the coloration step.
This is the best Czech absinthe I've ever tasted (ok, easy one) and (I hope) soon to be a good absinthe as such.
Louche : louches correctly with slow iced water drip and specially with sugar. Quickly overwaters, needs great care. A very light (or almost none) louche without sugar and regular drip. So let's say it does louche decently if carefully prepared (hence the 3 stars).
Aroma : Alcohol is not overpowering, nice floral bouquet (thanks Veronica!), just lacks a little something in the balance, like a rich wormwood or a savory green anise aroma.
Flavor : that's where it hurts. Not unpleasant but clearly shows some flaws. Over-distilled that conducts to a non-existent wormwood flavor and almost non-existent anise and fennel flavors. Over-colored that conducts to overpowering pontica/hyssop/veronica flavors. Result : totally unbalanced.
Finish : ok the veronica leaves a nice finish, but again it lacks something like a nice sweet and biting anise finish.
Overall : It's not a bad product per se, and I'm sure Martin can easily improve it by lightening his distillation method and by having a less heavy hand on the coloration step.
This is the best Czech absinthe I've ever tasted (ok, easy one) and (I hope) soon to be a good absinthe as such.
M