INTRODUCTORY NOTE: Tasting samples were louched at 3.5:1 ratio, with ice-cold slow drip and sans sucre. I think it's important to note some discernable differences between this bottle and some previous batches reviewed at this and other sites, particularly color, and louche. See related sections below for more details.

COLOR: 3/5 - Neat, mossy brown. Much too dark for an appropriately colored verte fresh off the production line. Marketing images of this product led me to expect otherwise. This is certainly an issue which could be addressed to get higher marks. No sediment found in most doses.

LOUCHE: 3/5 - Mediocre. Verte green presents itself when louching. Some light oil trails, becoming thicker gradually to produce a louched glass that looks more waxy than cloudy. I had to use a VERY cold and VERY slow drip and was still unable to define a demarcation line of alcohol on top. I have seen others reviews of this product claiming both adequate and inadequate louche, which leads me to believe there may be some consistency issues with manufacturing.

AROMA: 4/5 - Complex! Some grassiness from quality hyssop - some chamomile presumably from the non-conventional presence of genepy. Strong wormwood front, backed by this wonderfully pleasant herbal bouquet, then fennel doux, and finally, waaay back there is the anise.No detectable heat. Neat aroma (does not affect score) has a bit of a medicinal smell, reminiscent of ripping into a sterile gauze package. This quickly fades with the addition of water to give a more enjoyable camphor-like tinge to the aroma.

FLAVOR: 4/5 - Lemon Balm. Honeysuckle. Mint. Light, crisp earthiness. This stuff has a lot going on, and is a real treat! Wormwood goodness with lots of balanced herbal nuances dancing across the tongue. Great tasting, exciting, flavorful drink. I think bolstering the flavor with a stronger anise presence would really put this one over the top.

FINISH: 3/5 - Very little numbing, less creamy than desired due to the somewhat thin louche, and indicative of low or weak anethole presence. Slightly oily feel on the tongue, which transpires into moderate dryness. There is then some noticeable heat on the back of the throat. This is nullified with additional water, but I would advise against that for the sake of sparing all other properties of the finish.

OVERALL: 4/5 - This is a very good introductory Absinthe, especially for those interested in expanding their familiarity with different flavor profiles, and how additional herbal qualities can affect the final taste. It is priced at a very attainable $55, setting a reference for products in this price point. This one does have a very appealing taste and aroma to it, but is lacking an impressive appearance and louche, and the finish could use more oomph. Some of these "flaws", if you can call it that, could be manufacturing-related (i.e. overheating the coloring vat, etc). There needs to be less tolerance for that type of production inconsistency. Attributing to the higher overall score is this amazingly beautiful bottle with glass cork, even though the brew is so dark that the printing on the bottle is rendered illegible.

Color- The color looks like a natural dark green and is very appealing.

Louche- I was frustrated by the variability on the louche. I prepared a few doses by pouring water in with a carafe or small pitcher, and the louche was always barely there. I tried slowing down my pouring speed, but it didn't seem to affect the overall louche. I was able to get a better louche on a slow drip from a fountain though, so that's a plus, but I don't like the inconsistency.

Aroma- The aroma is nice, but a little light on the fully prepared dose. During a slow fountain drip there are nice alternating aromas of the wormwood, the spearmint and the anise.

Flavor- I was a little thrown off by the spearmint at first, but the more I've had of the Vieux Carre, without sugar added, I've noticed that the spearmint and wormwood go really well together and are very balanced. Combined with the anise, all three flavors work very well together in a surprising way.

Finish- The finish is nice and light. The wormwood lingers for a little bit, but that's not a problem.

Overall- I really like how well balanced the spearmint and wormwood are. I was surprised at how well they go together with this absinthe. I think if they portions were different, it could result in something very unappetizing, but the Vieux Carre pulls it off.

And so comes the time when Americans learnt how to colour absinthe, once louched it is too green at the edges but nonetheless fine.

Louche is delicate and persistent

The aroma is built of Kirk's hyssop, some anise, very complex. The absinthe itself is herbal and balanced.

tasting:
Pleasant and with nicely accentuated genepi, pontica, wormwood, what not, and unique, yet not striving towards any style, long-lasting in the aftertaste, different as much as Leopold

Walton Waters and Pacifique are the front, just after them comes VC and Leopold, so not bad, not bad

I hadn’t had a good absinthe in quite a while, and figured it was time to pick up a bottle. After poking around drinkupNY, it seems like fresh US offerings are being released every day, as the selection has gotten vast since my last purchase. Indeed, much to my surprise and delight, among the best of these (Vieux Carré) is from a local operation, Philadelphia Distilling Company. A quick stroll down to the local spirits shoppe, and I had a [rather attractive] bottle in hand.

I should preface this review by noting I haven’t had a great many absinthes to this point. Just Duplais Balance, Lucid, and US Kübler (Balance being far and away the best of them). Enough to more or less know what I’m talking about, but far from an expert.

-Color-
Neat, it tends more toward an aged absinthe’s feuille morte, amber-green, rather than the verdant green most expect. I don’t find this to be inappropriate or unattractive, so no points docked in this regard. However, there’s a notable (some might say significant) amount of particulate. It settles out when given enough time, but even a slight jarring of the bottle brings it all back into suspension. This may be a style/motif Philly Distilling is going for, and I don’t find it off-putting, but all the absinthe’s I’ve tried and seen have been filtered to clarity. I’d give it a five if it was crystal clear, but I’m going to have to dock a point for particulate. I’m tempted not to, as I feel this was a deliberate move on the part of the distiller, but for now it gets a point off.
4 of 5

-Louche-
Occurs fairly fast, as others note. Well on it’s way to complete opacity at 1:1, pretty much there at 2:1, and completely opaque at 3:1. Very nice oil trails, nice layering, and the characteristic opalescence of a good ‘sinthe. Still, though, a bit too quick, and not quite perfect.
4 of 5

-Aroma-
When cracking the bottle, one smells – wait for it – absinthe! It’s quite good, with the alcohol well masked. Alpine meadow is cliché, but nonetheless a good way of describing it. Definitely a step above the Kübler (one dimensional) and lucid (close to one dimensional). Hard to say how it stacks up to the Duplais (which I liked quite a bit), as its been over two years since I’ve had it. In all, I’d stop short of calling it an ephiphanal, room-filling majesty, but still very good, and better than all but the best.
4 of 5

-Flavor-
Very, very good. Sampled at the distiller recommended 3:1, which I found to be about ideal. Refreshing is a good way to describe it. Feels substantial in the mouth, not too thin. Mix of herbs. Nuances to explore. Still not what I’d call perfect, but very solid.
4 of 5

-Finish-
I think the finish is where this one stands out the most. It has a very alpine, almost citrusy effect that lingers for some time. Solid 5 in this regard.
5 of 5

-Overall-
A solid product, at a competitive price point. Definitely one to try, particularly if you’re in PA. Not what I’d consider a “grail” absinthe, but better than all but the best.
4 of 5

Color (3 points): My bottle is a deep green, not unpleasant, and free of sediment, but slightly darker and more amber than I would expect from a relatively new absinthe.

Louche (5 points): Louche action was fantastic, thick, full, strong.

Aroma (4 points): A lovely balance of herbal aromas with an earthy component

Flavor (4 points): Robust and herbal, with an earthy undertone that makes this a very meaty flavor profile.

Finish (4 points): Finish is a nice continuation of the flavor, tingling the tongue slightly, with the strong herbal notes remaining on the throat.

Overall (4 points): Vieux Carré is a wonderful addition to the domestic absinthe market, and is most certainly one of the best values out there at under $60 a bottle. The strong louche and flavor profile make it perfect when seeking something substantive.

Presentation (no points): Beautiful decanter-style bottle looks impressive on any bar, unfortunately the clear glass means keeping it displayed where light can degrade its color is problematic.