Vieux Pontarlier - Reviewed by Experts and Consumers at The Wormwood Society
Product Details
Available in USA?
Style/Color
Degrees ABV (% alcohol)
Year of Make (if known)
Country of Origin
Distillery
Wormwood Society Editor Comments
***PLEASE NOTE: IN RECENT YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF VERY NOTICEABLE OFF-FLAVORS AND AROMAS WITH ALL PRODUCTS MADE AT EMILE PERNOT. PLEASE REFER TO THE DATE OF THE REVIEWS WHEN DETERMINING IF THIS IS AN ABSINTHE YOU'D LIKE TO BUY. THIS WARNING WILL REMAIN POSTED UNTIL THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN RECTIFIED.***
Editor reviews
New set of strings.
Overall rating
4.0
Appearance
5.0
Louche
5.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
3.0
Finish
3.0
Overall
4.0
The colour out of the bottle is a perfect peridot with no debris or haze. It smells alcoholic. A bit minty with some anise, some perfume. Grassy.
The louche starts slow and then explodes. Thick, opalescent green. Beautiful. I expected the aroma to really open up with water but it didn't. It's relatively light. Fruity anise with minty wormwood in a good balance. Sweet but earthy.
It has a much stronger flavour than expected. Fruity and almost too bright (jangly in fact), yet creamy in texture. Very numbing. Loads of citrus. Wormwood is hard-hitting but tasty.
I'm not finding the finish as quick to recede as others have, but rather that it's unremarkable and indistinctive. More of the same, just paler and thinner. As it fades the wormwood sort of begins to taste like dill.
I'm enjoying this but it's like playing guitar on a brand new set of strings. Some people like that but I find it irritating, buzzy, and piercing. It's not a deal-breaker but it definitely impacts my ability to enjoy its best attributes.
The louche starts slow and then explodes. Thick, opalescent green. Beautiful. I expected the aroma to really open up with water but it didn't. It's relatively light. Fruity anise with minty wormwood in a good balance. Sweet but earthy.
It has a much stronger flavour than expected. Fruity and almost too bright (jangly in fact), yet creamy in texture. Very numbing. Loads of citrus. Wormwood is hard-hitting but tasty.
I'm not finding the finish as quick to recede as others have, but rather that it's unremarkable and indistinctive. More of the same, just paler and thinner. As it fades the wormwood sort of begins to taste like dill.
I'm enjoying this but it's like playing guitar on a brand new set of strings. Some people like that but I find it irritating, buzzy, and piercing. It's not a deal-breaker but it definitely impacts my ability to enjoy its best attributes.
A
Another enjoyable verte
Overall rating
4.1
Appearance
4.0
Louche
5.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
3.0
Overall
4.0
Color: A very nice, vibrant peridot green.
Louche: Great louche build. Completely louched by about 2:1. Deep, opalescent and vibrant with tints of green still showing through. Very nice.
Aroma: an appetizing blend of ansie sweetness with some earthiness and a bit of peppery spice.
Flavor: Quite sweet, even without sugar. A nice dose of white pepper spice at the back of the tongue. Nice wormwood, but I'd like it to be a tad bit more prominant.
Finish: I pick up the wormwood a bit more on the finish as it plays nicely witht he anise. Some definite anethole numbing, with some warmth going down the throat.
Overall: Quite enjoyable! Definitely a keeper. A smart buy for anyone looking for a traditional absinthe profile.
Louche: Great louche build. Completely louched by about 2:1. Deep, opalescent and vibrant with tints of green still showing through. Very nice.
Aroma: an appetizing blend of ansie sweetness with some earthiness and a bit of peppery spice.
Flavor: Quite sweet, even without sugar. A nice dose of white pepper spice at the back of the tongue. Nice wormwood, but I'd like it to be a tad bit more prominant.
Finish: I pick up the wormwood a bit more on the finish as it plays nicely witht he anise. Some definite anethole numbing, with some warmth going down the throat.
Overall: Quite enjoyable! Definitely a keeper. A smart buy for anyone looking for a traditional absinthe profile.
Pretty Good Stuff
Overall rating
4.1
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
5.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
3.0
Overall
4.0
After three glasses on three different days, I think this is a very good absinthe. I don't think it is particularly remarkable but it is quite pleasing. It is pretty in glass both before and after adding water. The louche is pleasant. The mouth feel is a little thin but certainly nice enough. The Wormwood jumps to the forefront but it's not the most pleasing flavor, more bitter than floral. The finish instead of lingering, fades away quickly and it doesn't really beckon for another sip.
Certainly it is a well-made absinthe and deserving of consideration. It's very good, just not really remarkable.
Certainly it is a well-made absinthe and deserving of consideration. It's very good, just not really remarkable.
J
A Winning Traditional Verte!
(Updated: September 12, 2012)
Overall rating
4.2
Appearance
5.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
4.0
Overall
4.0
Color
Beautiful lighter (but not pale) golden-green with flawless clarity. Very jewel-like and breathtaking in how natural a "new leaf" essence it exhibits.
Louche
Very nice initial louche. Great oily looking trails. Clear delineation of layers... Cloudiness on bottom, roiling trails in the middle, and clear unlouched layer on top. Very entertaining and pretty. At 1:1, things start happening more quickly, and drink is mostly opaque by 2:1. Very creamy looking louche. Final color is a very pearlescent yellowish-green with yellow highlights and milky white at the meniscus.
Aroma
First impression is clean and fresh. A hint of citrus, florals, creamy, fruity (yes, I finally get that fruity thing!) wormwood, and a slight hint of vanillins. A little swirl brings the anise/fennel duo into play in excellent balance. This absinthe doesn't feature one herb in a starring role with a great supporting cast. It is a perfect ensemble performance, yet each herb is clearly identifiable. Now that's a neat trick! The aromas of each component are very fresh, herbal, floral and immediate, but not heavy handed, and together are brought into focus by a slight hint of lemon curd and mint.
Flavor
First of all, just creamy mouth-feel with a nice tension created by the "pull" and drying of the wormwood and hyssop. Everything the nose tells me is present in the palate. Anise leads the charge by an iota, but all other herbs are clearly present and accounted for. As with the nose, the flavors are very immediate and fresh. Nothing timid here, however this absinthe is not trying to make it's impression by horsepower alone. There is a nice spice and a beautiful very high grade drying impression from the wormwood. As I review my notes for all evaluations, three things are a recurrent theme... finesse, complexity, and balance.
Finish
Beautiful and satisfying gentle wormwood "pinch" on the palate to wrap up the whole package. The finish, as a whole, follows the nose and palate perfectly, with very good length and just a little additional burst of spice. Again, nothing about this is heavy handed or clumsy. The word "fine" keeps coming to mind. Do I want another sip?... Sorry, already took it!
Overall
So much to like and admire here. This goes down way too easily. I guess now I'm going to have to order the Jades just to dial some perspective in to this end of the spectrum. This is everything any great beverage is made of... high quality, balanced, distinctive. Has a real artisanal presence. In my third evaluation, at one point I got up and left the room. On my way back to my desk, I couldn't help but notice (from 6 feet away) how extraordinary just the color was. That's what I'm talking about. Artful from every angle. This is a fine traditional offering.
7/05/09 Revisit - While most of my initial impressions persist, well... I did order the Jades, and several other elite-tier absinthes since my initial review of VP. An additional eight months as an absinthe taster, and experience with a broader range of offerings has demonstrated to me that my initial scores of 5s for Aroma, Flavor, and Finish here were not warranted, so I have changed them to 4s. No offense to VP, it is still a well above average offering and provides plenty of bang for the buck. Overall a real winner!
Done with a 1 ounce dose, diluted 3:1, 4:1, and no sugar.
Vieux Pontarlier 10/31/08, 11/03/08, 11/09/08, 7/05/09.
All evaluations had consistent notes.
Beautiful lighter (but not pale) golden-green with flawless clarity. Very jewel-like and breathtaking in how natural a "new leaf" essence it exhibits.
Louche
Very nice initial louche. Great oily looking trails. Clear delineation of layers... Cloudiness on bottom, roiling trails in the middle, and clear unlouched layer on top. Very entertaining and pretty. At 1:1, things start happening more quickly, and drink is mostly opaque by 2:1. Very creamy looking louche. Final color is a very pearlescent yellowish-green with yellow highlights and milky white at the meniscus.
Aroma
First impression is clean and fresh. A hint of citrus, florals, creamy, fruity (yes, I finally get that fruity thing!) wormwood, and a slight hint of vanillins. A little swirl brings the anise/fennel duo into play in excellent balance. This absinthe doesn't feature one herb in a starring role with a great supporting cast. It is a perfect ensemble performance, yet each herb is clearly identifiable. Now that's a neat trick! The aromas of each component are very fresh, herbal, floral and immediate, but not heavy handed, and together are brought into focus by a slight hint of lemon curd and mint.
Flavor
First of all, just creamy mouth-feel with a nice tension created by the "pull" and drying of the wormwood and hyssop. Everything the nose tells me is present in the palate. Anise leads the charge by an iota, but all other herbs are clearly present and accounted for. As with the nose, the flavors are very immediate and fresh. Nothing timid here, however this absinthe is not trying to make it's impression by horsepower alone. There is a nice spice and a beautiful very high grade drying impression from the wormwood. As I review my notes for all evaluations, three things are a recurrent theme... finesse, complexity, and balance.
Finish
Beautiful and satisfying gentle wormwood "pinch" on the palate to wrap up the whole package. The finish, as a whole, follows the nose and palate perfectly, with very good length and just a little additional burst of spice. Again, nothing about this is heavy handed or clumsy. The word "fine" keeps coming to mind. Do I want another sip?... Sorry, already took it!
Overall
So much to like and admire here. This goes down way too easily. I guess now I'm going to have to order the Jades just to dial some perspective in to this end of the spectrum. This is everything any great beverage is made of... high quality, balanced, distinctive. Has a real artisanal presence. In my third evaluation, at one point I got up and left the room. On my way back to my desk, I couldn't help but notice (from 6 feet away) how extraordinary just the color was. That's what I'm talking about. Artful from every angle. This is a fine traditional offering.
7/05/09 Revisit - While most of my initial impressions persist, well... I did order the Jades, and several other elite-tier absinthes since my initial review of VP. An additional eight months as an absinthe taster, and experience with a broader range of offerings has demonstrated to me that my initial scores of 5s for Aroma, Flavor, and Finish here were not warranted, so I have changed them to 4s. No offense to VP, it is still a well above average offering and provides plenty of bang for the buck. Overall a real winner!
Done with a 1 ounce dose, diluted 3:1, 4:1, and no sugar.
Vieux Pontarlier 10/31/08, 11/03/08, 11/09/08, 7/05/09.
All evaluations had consistent notes.
M
User reviews
20 reviews
Overall rating
3.8
Appearance
4.2(20)
Louche
4.1(20)
Aroma
3.5(20)
Flavor / Mouthfeel
3.8(20)
Finish
3.4(20)
Overall
3.8(20)
Probably my measuring stick absinthe
Overall rating
4.0
Appearance
4.5
Louche
4.0
Aroma
3.5
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
4.0
Overall
4.0
Appearance- A nice, light, slightly yellowish green.
Louche- Thick louche, can't see through the glass. As it louches it's a good display.
Aroma- Very much what I expect from a good, drinkable absinthe, although it didn't seem to fill the room during louche like others I've had. Very inviting when holding glass up for a drink. Slightly fruity and maybe a really subtle mint.
Flavor- After a bottle I consider this to be my standard against which all other absinthes shall be measured. It's not the greatest but it's very good. For me, just good/acceptable absinthe is often not really worth the price. This is. Not very or complex, but not lacking, like a sort of basic essence of what absinthe should probably be. Very fresh, again slightly fruity, nice balance of anise, and a little creamy. Good stuff.
Finish- Seemed really dependent on the water ratio, which is probably always true. I tend to enjoy the tongue numbness and with a low enough water ratio it delivered. No foul or 'off' after-taste of any kind, just a nice end to a pleasant drink. I believe I did notice the wormwood a bit more here.
Louche- Thick louche, can't see through the glass. As it louches it's a good display.
Aroma- Very much what I expect from a good, drinkable absinthe, although it didn't seem to fill the room during louche like others I've had. Very inviting when holding glass up for a drink. Slightly fruity and maybe a really subtle mint.
Flavor- After a bottle I consider this to be my standard against which all other absinthes shall be measured. It's not the greatest but it's very good. For me, just good/acceptable absinthe is often not really worth the price. This is. Not very or complex, but not lacking, like a sort of basic essence of what absinthe should probably be. Very fresh, again slightly fruity, nice balance of anise, and a little creamy. Good stuff.
Finish- Seemed really dependent on the water ratio, which is probably always true. I tend to enjoy the tongue numbness and with a low enough water ratio it delivered. No foul or 'off' after-taste of any kind, just a nice end to a pleasant drink. I believe I did notice the wormwood a bit more here.
M
Regaining Its Balance
Overall rating
4.0
Appearance
4.5
Louche
3.5
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
4.0
Overall
4.0
This is the second absinthe I ever tried, and with the bottle's contents now dwindling, it's time to do a review. Reviewing this absinthe's history, there was a lot of praise early on, and then some seeming production problems with funky/veggie odors and tastes of the tails end of the distillate. I haven't noticed this issue with my bottle, so perhaps EP has rectified the issue with this absinthe.
APPEARANCE: Very pretty, a nice, slightly-lemony peridot, very vibrant and clear, no haze or debris whatsoever. Rotating the glass and exposing it to light reveals turquoise, lime and other colors to the eye. Certainly not too light, nor too dark, this is a very bright and attractive absinthe whose color is thoroughly natural in appearance.
LOUCHE: Not too thin but perhaps a bit too thick, some light does pass through the bottom of the glass but refractory elements are limited. There is a nice, red-orange line where light passes through at the very bottom of the glass, very reminiscent of fire opal. The final, louched glass is milky green that retains a good deal of depth and color. Aside from the reds and oranges noted earlier, however, there are no other refractory elements present.
AROMA: The aroma from the bottle is caramel, sugar, anise and some alcohol. Pre-louche, in the the glass, it's almost all alcohol. During the louche, the aroma blossoms nicely from the glass, and post-louche there is a nice mix of herbal scents. Anise and pine hit first, with subtle notes of lemon and mint, and a general floral quality weaving its way through and around the rest. No funk, alcohol or vegetable notes - very clean. It's not perfect, and could perhaps stand to have a bit more "oomph" to it, but it's a very refreshing and enticing aroma.
FLAVOR/MOUTHFEEL: Anise, piquant spice and a mild bitterness introduce themselves in that order. The taste is clean and light without being lightweight, and is refreshing. There are no tingles or prickles as of star anise and the flavors, while not particularly complex, are perfectly in tune with one another. No "off" tastes are present, nor candy-like flavors. Very enjoyable.
FINISH: Smooth at first, then some mild heat and mild bitterness, followed by a lingering sweetness and spice. Very mild numbing on the tongue, only noticeable if focused upon, and the pleasant aftertaste lingers for awhile and primes the palate in desiring another sip.
OVERALL: I feel fortunate that either this bottle is very old, or EP has fixed their problems with this absinthe. This is a very delicious absinthe and although it is not as complex and nuanced as some of the very best, it is still a very fine absinthe and one of my favorites.
APPEARANCE: Very pretty, a nice, slightly-lemony peridot, very vibrant and clear, no haze or debris whatsoever. Rotating the glass and exposing it to light reveals turquoise, lime and other colors to the eye. Certainly not too light, nor too dark, this is a very bright and attractive absinthe whose color is thoroughly natural in appearance.
LOUCHE: Not too thin but perhaps a bit too thick, some light does pass through the bottom of the glass but refractory elements are limited. There is a nice, red-orange line where light passes through at the very bottom of the glass, very reminiscent of fire opal. The final, louched glass is milky green that retains a good deal of depth and color. Aside from the reds and oranges noted earlier, however, there are no other refractory elements present.
AROMA: The aroma from the bottle is caramel, sugar, anise and some alcohol. Pre-louche, in the the glass, it's almost all alcohol. During the louche, the aroma blossoms nicely from the glass, and post-louche there is a nice mix of herbal scents. Anise and pine hit first, with subtle notes of lemon and mint, and a general floral quality weaving its way through and around the rest. No funk, alcohol or vegetable notes - very clean. It's not perfect, and could perhaps stand to have a bit more "oomph" to it, but it's a very refreshing and enticing aroma.
FLAVOR/MOUTHFEEL: Anise, piquant spice and a mild bitterness introduce themselves in that order. The taste is clean and light without being lightweight, and is refreshing. There are no tingles or prickles as of star anise and the flavors, while not particularly complex, are perfectly in tune with one another. No "off" tastes are present, nor candy-like flavors. Very enjoyable.
FINISH: Smooth at first, then some mild heat and mild bitterness, followed by a lingering sweetness and spice. Very mild numbing on the tongue, only noticeable if focused upon, and the pleasant aftertaste lingers for awhile and primes the palate in desiring another sip.
OVERALL: I feel fortunate that either this bottle is very old, or EP has fixed their problems with this absinthe. This is a very delicious absinthe and although it is not as complex and nuanced as some of the very best, it is still a very fine absinthe and one of my favorites.
B
Regaining Its Balance
Overall rating
4.0
Appearance
4.5
Louche
3.5
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
4.0
Overall
4.0
This is the second absinthe I ever tried, and with the bottle's contents now dwindling, it's time to do a review. Reviewing this absinthe's history, there was a lot of praise early on, and then some seeming production problems with funky/veggie odors and tastes of the tails end of the distillate. I haven't noticed this issue with my bottle, so perhaps EP has rectified the issue with this absinthe.
APPEARANCE: Very pretty, a nice, slightly-lemony peridot, very vibrant and clear, no haze or debris whatsoever. Rotating the glass and exposing it to light reveals turquoise, lime and other colors to the eye. Certainly not too light, nor too dark, this is a very bright and attractive absinthe whose color is thoroughly natural in appearance.
LOUCHE: Not too thin but perhaps a bit too thick, some light does pass through the bottom of the glass but refractory elements are limited. There is a nice, red-orange line where light passes through at the very bottom of the glass, very reminiscent of fire opal. The final, louched glass is milky green that retains a good deal of depth and color. Aside from the reds and oranges noted earlier, however, there are no other refractory elements present.
AROMA: The aroma from the bottle is caramel, sugar, anise and some alcohol. Pre-louche, in the the glass, it's almost all alcohol. During the louche, the aroma blossoms nicely from the glass, and post-louche there is a nice mix of herbal scents. Anise and pine hit first, with subtle notes of lemon and mint, and a general floral quality weaving its way through and around the rest. No funk, alcohol or vegetable notes - very clean. It's not perfect, and could perhaps stand to have a bit more "oomph" to it, but it's a very refreshing and enticing aroma.
FLAVOR/MOUTHFEEL: Anise, piquant spice and a mild bitterness introduce themselves in that order. The taste is clean and light without being lightweight, and is refreshing. There are no tingles or prickles as of star anise and the flavors, while not particularly complex, are perfectly in tune with one another. No "off" tastes are present, nor candy-like flavors. Very enjoyable.
FINISH: Smooth at first, then some mild heat and mild bitterness, followed by a lingering sweetness and spice. Very mild numbing on the tongue, only noticeable if focused upon, and the pleasant aftertaste lingers for awhile and primes the palate in desiring another sip.
OVERALL: I feel fortunate that either this bottle is very old, or EP has fixed their problems with this absinthe. This is a very delicious absinthe and although it is not as complex and nuanced as some of the very best, it is still a very fine absinthe and one of my favorites.
APPEARANCE: Very pretty, a nice, slightly-lemony peridot, very vibrant and clear, no haze or debris whatsoever. Rotating the glass and exposing it to light reveals turquoise, lime and other colors to the eye. Certainly not too light, nor too dark, this is a very bright and attractive absinthe whose color is thoroughly natural in appearance.
LOUCHE: Not too thin but perhaps a bit too thick, some light does pass through the bottom of the glass but refractory elements are limited. There is a nice, red-orange line where light passes through at the very bottom of the glass, very reminiscent of fire opal. The final, louched glass is milky green that retains a good deal of depth and color. Aside from the reds and oranges noted earlier, however, there are no other refractory elements present.
AROMA: The aroma from the bottle is caramel, sugar, anise and some alcohol. Pre-louche, in the the glass, it's almost all alcohol. During the louche, the aroma blossoms nicely from the glass, and post-louche there is a nice mix of herbal scents. Anise and pine hit first, with subtle notes of lemon and mint, and a general floral quality weaving its way through and around the rest. No funk, alcohol or vegetable notes - very clean. It's not perfect, and could perhaps stand to have a bit more "oomph" to it, but it's a very refreshing and enticing aroma.
FLAVOR/MOUTHFEEL: Anise, piquant spice and a mild bitterness introduce themselves in that order. The taste is clean and light without being lightweight, and is refreshing. There are no tingles or prickles as of star anise and the flavors, while not particularly complex, are perfectly in tune with one another. No "off" tastes are present, nor candy-like flavors. Very enjoyable.
FINISH: Smooth at first, then some mild heat and mild bitterness, followed by a lingering sweetness and spice. Very mild numbing on the tongue, only noticeable if focused upon, and the pleasant aftertaste lingers for awhile and primes the palate in desiring another sip.
OVERALL: I feel fortunate that either this bottle is very old, or EP has fixed their problems with this absinthe. This is a very delicious absinthe and although it is not as complex and nuanced as some of the very best, it is still a very fine absinthe and one of my favorites.
B
Missed opportunity
Overall rating
3.2
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
3.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
3.0
Finish
3.0
Overall
2.5
Vieux Pontarlier seems like it could have been great absinthe that hits all the right notes and has a pleasant flavor. But there is a hint of an odor and flavor that I can only describe as a vegetal flavor mixed with “burnt rubber”. This being one of my First bottles I had to power through it and drank the whole thing, but I’ve later found out that this flavor is that of the “tails”.
For newcomers this is the bit of fluid at the end of the distillation, the “tail”. It shouldn’t be collected with the body of the distillation that is to be bottled, as it gives the Absinthe these strong vegetal flavors. Artichokes are the common descriptor used when trying to explain what the tails taste like.
For newcomers this is the bit of fluid at the end of the distillation, the “tail”. It shouldn’t be collected with the body of the distillation that is to be bottled, as it gives the Absinthe these strong vegetal flavors. Artichokes are the common descriptor used when trying to explain what the tails taste like.
D
My favorite
Overall rating
4.5
Appearance
3.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
5.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
5.0
Finish
5.0
Overall
5.0
This is definitely my favorite absinthe to date out of the 8 absinthes I have tried. It has everything I expect out of an absinthe without being overwhelming, and the effect from drinking it is the most "absinthe" type of experience I have had. It definitely gives a different feel from any other type of alcohol. As cliche as it may sound, it always gives me extremely vivid dreams as well.
Appearance:
Light green, but nothing special. Bottle looks a more vintage, but nothing special.
Louche:
Good louche, turns a pale whitish green. Stays thin looking, but you can definitely see the effect as you dilute.
Aroma:
Very good minty smell. Not too much anise, or any other smell, but a nice blend. Some may not appreciate the mellowness of it, but the characteristic notes are there.
Flavor:
This absinthe does a great job of blending the flavors without any being too pronounced. If you are used to a strong anise taste, you wont find it here. Minty flavor, but not overwhelming. Perfect for my taste.
Finish:
Leaves a nice feeling, thin, refreshing, and ready for another sip. No strong alcohol or anise aftertaste.
Overall:
I love this product. The only thing that really stands out to me is the different feeling from drinking it. This may sound like a negative, but it really does not suffer in any category. Everything is a perfect blend for a traditional absinthe. Smooth all the way through with an intriguing feeling afterwards.
Appearance:
Light green, but nothing special. Bottle looks a more vintage, but nothing special.
Louche:
Good louche, turns a pale whitish green. Stays thin looking, but you can definitely see the effect as you dilute.
Aroma:
Very good minty smell. Not too much anise, or any other smell, but a nice blend. Some may not appreciate the mellowness of it, but the characteristic notes are there.
Flavor:
This absinthe does a great job of blending the flavors without any being too pronounced. If you are used to a strong anise taste, you wont find it here. Minty flavor, but not overwhelming. Perfect for my taste.
Finish:
Leaves a nice feeling, thin, refreshing, and ready for another sip. No strong alcohol or anise aftertaste.
Overall:
I love this product. The only thing that really stands out to me is the different feeling from drinking it. This may sound like a negative, but it really does not suffer in any category. Everything is a perfect blend for a traditional absinthe. Smooth all the way through with an intriguing feeling afterwards.
D