The Absinthe Debate- What is Real Absinthe?

Currently in the US there is no legal definition of ‘Absinthe’. This means that pretty much any distillery can release a bottle of liquorish smelling liquor and call it ‘Absinthe’. What do you think defines Absinthe? I’m trying to find out what the community as a whole thinks of this. If you have read two of my posts, you surely know my stance, so I won’t wax poetic about the ‘Trinity’. Just tell me what make Absinthe for you! Is it the ‘Trinity’? Is is grain alcohol with macerated wormwood? Is it anise flavored vodka? 

This could be a meaningful turning point in the fringe market of Absinthe drinkers. Make it count!

New Absinthe Released in US- Trillium

Seems like the floodgates have opened. Trilliam is a vert absinthe put out by Integrity Spirits in Portland, OR.

Being placed squarely in Chicago, I have not had the chance to taste this one yet, but I have heard it described as hot, and minty, amongst other things. Not minty like schnapps, but the standard absinthe anise taste with mint undertones. It is going for 59.99, available in the Portland area for now.

Wow, another Absinthe available in the US- Grande Absente

A challenger has appeared!

Not much to report here. This is put out by the blokes that have been pushing the Phoney Baloney ‘Absente’ brand in the states for years now. Same story but they make it with grande wormwood instead of southern wormwood. This makes it real absinthe, but a terrible absinthe. It tastes like nothing but candy liquorish and alcohol, there is no complexity at all. It is artificially colored and, as far as I am concerned, the product of nothing but marketing. This is the Bud Lite of absinthes, except it is much, much more expensive. Save your money.

At least we still have Sirene, Kubler and Lucid to choose from.

One More Absinthe Sold In The US- Leopold Brothers Absinthe

This one caught me off guard. It is made by the Leopold Brothers Distillery in Anne Arbor, Mi.

From what I have heard it is a classically styled absinthe with a weak anise profile, but the strongest wormwood taste of any of the currently available in the US absinthes.

I am not sure where one can find this, I will update when I find out.

Louche on!

Another Absinthe Release in the US- La Fee Parisian

Up next is La Fee Parisian. What I know about it is all hearsay, as I have not and probably will not try it myself. It has been available in the EU for a number of years and has gained an infamous reputation among connoisseurs. It is artificially colored and, as far as I know, an oil mixture, not a properly distilled absinthe. That being said, it is still technically absinthe, just a very poor example of one. Most reviews I have seen place it below any other offerings (with the possible exception of Le Tourment Vert) currently available in the US. Combine this with the 69.99 msrp, I say walk on by.

Sirene Absinthe Review

I got a bottle on release day from Sams Wine.

I wish I had tasted more absinthes before this one, so I could know just how close to perfection it may be. I hesitate to give it a five because this would be presumptuous having only tasted Lucid and Kubler. The smell neat is an amazing perfume, very nicely balanced. Although I cannot place all of the aromas, none of them overpower each other (i.e. it does not smell like anise with some other things hiding under it.)I louched it sans sucre at a 1:4 ratio. Beautiful trails and a milky verdant opal cloud smoldered out of the very natural and attractive olive green liquor. The scent intensifies and fills the room, I can almost taste it before it touches my lips. Flavors of the holy trinity unite in my mouth, my tongue tells me there are other flavors, delicious flavors, singing with this choir, but it cannot tell me their names. Surely one with a more trained and less Burnt pallet will be able to identify these tastes, all I can say is “Mmmmmm.”

The mouthfeel is the creamiest I have ever experienced and leaves me with a mouth that is comfortably numb.

Some day when I have expanded my pallet I will revisit this review and undoubtedly add a five or two.

I would take this over Lucid or Kubler any day, even if it were priced high above its modest $60.

Places in Chicago that serve Absinthe- Morseland

Heres a little mini-update I will try and do whenever I find a location in Chicago that serves absinthe.

This time it is Morseland in Rogers Park.

It is a nice cafe that features live music on most nights. They charge $7 for a glass of Kubler, according to the website. This place is mere blocks from mine, and today being Absinthe Monday I think I should go have a look about. There will be some kind of music called “Jazz” playing tonight though… is that like Trip Hop or something?

Next US Absinthe- Sirene, soon in Chicago

Happy, Happy News. North Shore Distillery, based in Chicago, is making Absinthe now! Their new product “Sirene” is set to be released in the Chicago Land area within the week. This makes it the fifth absinthe available in the US after Lucid, Kubler, St. George and La Tourment Vert. You can count on this Chi-boy to be one of their first customers. I will let you know how it turns out. Joy!

Here is a link to their site.

Absinthe Party

Here is a time lapse video of an absinthe party I helped throw a couple weeks ago.

What a wonderful night.

It is a great way for everyone to try absinthe, and a cheap way. Splitting the 50-60 dollars for a bottle of Kubler between eight people is no problem at all, and there will be enough for everyone. Make sure you bring instruments, books, and lots of music. Champaign too. Death In The Afternoons are easy and delicious.

Make sure you bring plenty of sugar cubes, cold bottled water (a sports cap makes for an easy drip) and for chrissakes KNOW HOW TO PREPARE A PROPER GLASS OF ABSINTHE.

Kubler Absinthe Review!

It has finally happened! Kubler Absinthe has landed in Chicago! I haven’t found it at a Binny’s yet, but Sam’s Wine carries it. Sam’s is selling it for just over $50 for a one liter bottle. This is more economical than $65 for a 750ml bottle of Lucid, though Kubler is of a lower proof and some people would call this a trade off. I will do my usual weirdo literary review after the break, but those that just want the facts can get it right here.

Asides from the larger bottle and lower price, the most notable difference between Lucid and Kubler is the color. It is a Swiss “La Bleue” or “Blanche”, this means that it is clear instead of green like Lucid. There are subtle differences between these two styles I cannot expound upon as this is the second true Absinthe I have sampled. The folks over at the Wormwood Society are the go to guys for fine details.

The smell upon opening the bottle is not nearly as strong as one would expect from a 106 proof beverage. I caught anise, fennel and a very small alcohol scent. Quite pleasant.

I poured a pony of it into my glass and dripped spring water slowly into it. I drank my first glass ‘Sans Sucre’ (without sugar) as that is the way I tend to enjoy Lucid and araks araks and coffee and pretty much anything else that is often sugared. The louche (fogginess) came on rather quickly compared to Lucid. I was disappointed at the lack of eye candy during the louche, but this comes second to taste. I watered this glass with a 1:4 ratio of absinthe to water, though the bottle says 1:5. A 1:5 water ratio seems a bit dilute for a 53% alcohol absinthe. As always find your own ‘Golden Ratio’.

The bouquet expands nicely after the drip, though not quite as pungent as Lucid. The taste on first sip is glorious. My mouth is filled with anise (heehee) fennel and the earthy punch of wormwood. The finish is smooth and I can now taste a hint of mint on my tongue. There is no ‘Spiciness’ like I tasted in the Lucid.

This is a fine absinthe in my opinion. It is not as rich or layered as Lucid, but this is not always a bad thing. I could see a beginning absintheur having a much easier time enjoying Kubler then Lucid. For my money I will be buying Kubler simply because it is a good bit cheaper per bottle by volume then Lucid, but I enjoy them both equally, just in different ways.