Verte de Fougerolles - Reviewed by Experts and Consumers at The Wormwood Society
Product Details
Style/Color
Degrees ABV (% alcohol)
Country of Origin
Distillery
Editor reviews
Almost a session absinthe.
Overall rating
3.2
Appearance
3.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
3.0
Finish
2.0
Overall
3.0
This is from a recently-found sample that is at least three years old. Before louching the absinthe is olive-green and hazy. The aroma is watery, with a pineapple character. Anise is dominant.
It louches a fairly opaque, whitish green but not thick enough to leave a residue on the glass. The aroma is now less fruity, more anise-heavy, with a little bit of an ammonia smell that is a reall buzzkill.
The flavour is mostly wormwood, with a little anise beneath--not nearly as much as in the aroma. Due to this, it's more bitter than sweet. Wormwood is a little weird and contributes a dill flavour. To me a lot of wormwood does this to a small degree, but in this absinthe it's pronounced.
The finish is the weakest part; overly numbing, most of the flavour dies quickly. Some wormwood lingers, but it is marred by ammonia-like traces underneath.
It's an okay absinthe but it has some issues. I appreciate its wormwood-forward flavour but it sacrifices complexity to achieve it. This would be perfectly acceptable for a "session absinthe" (think IPA hoppiness and refreshment) but the weird off-flavours hurt it in that regard.
It louches a fairly opaque, whitish green but not thick enough to leave a residue on the glass. The aroma is now less fruity, more anise-heavy, with a little bit of an ammonia smell that is a reall buzzkill.
The flavour is mostly wormwood, with a little anise beneath--not nearly as much as in the aroma. Due to this, it's more bitter than sweet. Wormwood is a little weird and contributes a dill flavour. To me a lot of wormwood does this to a small degree, but in this absinthe it's pronounced.
The finish is the weakest part; overly numbing, most of the flavour dies quickly. Some wormwood lingers, but it is marred by ammonia-like traces underneath.
It's an okay absinthe but it has some issues. I appreciate its wormwood-forward flavour but it sacrifices complexity to achieve it. This would be perfectly acceptable for a "session absinthe" (think IPA hoppiness and refreshment) but the weird off-flavours hurt it in that regard.
A
A decent mid-range offering
Overall rating
3.3
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
3.0
Finish
1.0
Overall
3.0
Color: light green with hints of straw
Louche: using the lady fountain, I got some great layering. Louche was extremely thick: almost too thick.
Aroma: lots of anise with a touch of wormwood behind it. I can't make out much else due to the strength of the anise.
Flavor: First impression is nice, with a well rounded sweetness and bitterness playing out, but at the tail end, it does a 180 and has a bit of acridity.
Finish: There's something that I can't put my finger on, but I don't like it at all. Theres just a bit of lingering bitterness.
Overall: If the issue with the finish were to be corrected, this would be an enjoyable, mid-range absinthe that would probably work really well in an absinthe frappe.
Louche: using the lady fountain, I got some great layering. Louche was extremely thick: almost too thick.
Aroma: lots of anise with a touch of wormwood behind it. I can't make out much else due to the strength of the anise.
Flavor: First impression is nice, with a well rounded sweetness and bitterness playing out, but at the tail end, it does a 180 and has a bit of acridity.
Finish: There's something that I can't put my finger on, but I don't like it at all. Theres just a bit of lingering bitterness.
Overall: If the issue with the finish were to be corrected, this would be an enjoyable, mid-range absinthe that would probably work really well in an absinthe frappe.
User reviews
3 reviews
Overall rating
3.9
Appearance
3.7(3)
Louche
3.7(3)
Aroma
4.0(3)
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0(3)
Finish
3.7(3)
Overall
4.0(3)
The almost legendary verte de Fou
Overall rating
4.0
Appearance
5.0
Louche
3.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
4.0
Overall
4.0
Ideally green feuille morte on the rise.
The louche is too quick, at 1:2 is totally opaque. The finished colour is green and creamy.
The aroma, albeit deprived of wormwood note, reveals a pleasant nose of mint, veronica and anise.
Upon tasting, 1:3 is the best, absinthe is spicy and anisy, slightly heavy but not as much as a blanche. Wormwood well-pronounced, base is not obtrusive, fennel in the back, veronica prominent but not silencing the others.
It is almost an exemplary French verte, but I have no idea what has happened to the absinthe as of now and since they started filtering it.
The louche is too quick, at 1:2 is totally opaque. The finished colour is green and creamy.
The aroma, albeit deprived of wormwood note, reveals a pleasant nose of mint, veronica and anise.
Upon tasting, 1:3 is the best, absinthe is spicy and anisy, slightly heavy but not as much as a blanche. Wormwood well-pronounced, base is not obtrusive, fennel in the back, veronica prominent but not silencing the others.
It is almost an exemplary French verte, but I have no idea what has happened to the absinthe as of now and since they started filtering it.
A
A perfect place to start...
(Updated: February 10, 2008)
Overall rating
3.7
Appearance
3.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
3.0
Overall
4.0
The color is a completely natural, herbal green, but lacks brightness and nuance (3/5). After the louche, it develops into an opaque yellowish-green gradient, growing much more nuanced, but the louche process itself is not particularly smoky/swirly or interesting (4/5). The aromas really fill the room - a good quality about this absinthe - but are heavy on the anise (4/5). Flavor follows the aroma - strong, herbal, grape-based spirit with a pleasant wormwood undertaste, this is definitely authentic 19th-century style absinthe, but too heavy on the anise to really do justice to the other herbs (4/5). There were no unpleasant surprises in the finish, but the flavors did not really linger long enough for my taste (3/5). Overall, a finely crafted absinthe, one of the best on the market when it came out, but does not really stand out in any category. Secondary effects (lucid drunkenness/vivid dreams) were definitely present. Recommended strongly for beginners - you don't want to start with the best stuff right away. At 50 euros, the only quality absinthe that is as much of a bargain is Belle Amie.
Z
Verte de Fougerolles 72
(Updated: December 21, 2008)
Overall rating
3.8
Appearance
3.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
4.0
Overall
4.0
Before water, the Verte de Fougerolles looks like an unusually clear olive oil, and it is perhaps not the most attractive absinthe on the market (especially if one is expecting a bright, peridot green). However, it louches to a pleasing, yellowish jade and when tasted proves a fragrant and flavorful drink. I would describe it as "herbal" and "leafy" and even a little wild. It is far from the most subtle absinthe I've tried, and it's one of the few I prefer with sugar. But if one is in the mood for a bold and arresting absinthe, I think this is a very good choice.
M