I enlisted the help of my girlfriend, Hillary, for the review of Absente Absinthe. The following is the transcript of our recorded tasting notes.
Aaron: So what does it smell like?
Hillary: Licorice.
A: That’s it. Just straight licorice. Aniseed, whatever it’s called. Star anise.
We both sip.
A: It also tastes like licorice.
H: Liquid. Licorice… That’s exactly what it tastes like, liquid black licorice.
A: And that’s what Absinthe tastes like.
H: Liquid black licorice. Yep. Tastes like I’m drinking those candies my grandma loves.
There you have it – by far the simplest tasting notes I’ve ever compiled. If you like black licorice, you’ll like Absente Absinthe (and nearly all absinthe, honestly). If you don’t, maybe not so much.
Keep in mind this was my first Absinthe since college, so I’m a little rusty. Once I have the opportunity to try other brands, I can revisit this post to see what nuanced differences I can find. Until then, I can only offer my novice opinion that this seems to be a quality Premium-Plus offering for anyone wanting to experience true absinthe.
Many people think that you cannot acquire ‘genuine’ absinthe in the United States. That is incorrect. Following a strange legal interpretation in 2007, officials determined products could contain a prescribed amount of thujone – the compound found in wormwood rumored to make people ‘trip’ – without actually changing the law.
Since 2009, Absente Absinthe has been imported from France using the same formula from which it was made in Europe – notably with the use of wormwood. It is bottled at 110 Proof and imported by the Crillon Importers, Ltd., of Paramus, N.J. Absente is probably the most notable import from Crillon, although they also import a range of Rhum Barbancourt offerings.
