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.
June 24, 2008 at 8:27 am
“It is artificially colored and, as far as I know, an oil mixture, not a properly distilled absinthe.”
While you’re right on the artificially colored, it is a genuine distilled absinthe.
June 25, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Thanks for letting me know! Fixed.
December 4, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Hi eyeliner
I like the lively chatter and discussions on here – thanks. I wanted to ask why there are comments on absinthe if you haven’t tried the product. I used to take notice of articles and blogs like yours, including food and movie reviews, until I realized a lot of what I was reading was regurgitated from other articles and I have to wonder if some of the comments, here aren’t the same. I become disillusioned when I think I have stumbled upon a great place for honest information then find people writing about products they haven’t tasted. I am assuming you have tasted more than the boring Lucid and Kubler by now. What are your favorite absinthes? Why do you like them? That is the information I want to hear, not something pulled from the authorities at the Wormwood Society. I am not doubting they know their stuff, but I personally don’t agree with some of their assessments of some of the products – not whether it has a good louche or not, but on the taste. I drink absinthe because of the taste more than for the “look” it might have for a short space of time – sure it is pretty, but what about the TASTE. I also like my food to look appetizing, but hey I am there for the taste. Respectfully – Tye.
December 5, 2008 at 1:31 am
I have tried a few others, I unfortunately have not had the time recently to update this blog, especially with how long winded my reviews can get. Hell, since I last updated there have been at least six or eight new brands introduced to the US market. I would love to try all of them, but I cannot afford to drop $50+ on a bottle of booze (no matter how tasty) at this point in my life. Perhaps if samples were to find their way to to my doorstep (or basement step as it were) I could find the time for more personal reviews and not depend on reviews by other people on the internet and possibly passing on bad press or false information.
My favorite absinthe to date that is available in the US market is undoubtedly Sirene. I will not say it is the best because there are still plenty of new brands I have not tried yet.
I understand how tastes can very wildly, and many new customers to absinthe really do not like the taste of what may be called ‘true’ absinthe. Certain new products allow these people to incorporate the edgy mystique of absinthe into their personal brand, without having to actually drink absinthe. Boy, I’ve never taken a marketing class in my life, I swear.
On the topic of marketing and slanted reviews, I am pretty sure that a lot of the positive comments on my site are just fluff posted by the liquor companies themselves.
Oi, one last thing, on artificiality. Just because an absinthe is artificial does not make it bad, it is just a possible warning sign of a poorly crafted product. The Spanish Absenta ‘Serpis’ probably has enough red dye in it to turn your tongue colors for a week, but it is still pretty damn tasty!
Thanks for the well written comment, I will try to do better in my future posts.
December 9, 2008 at 5:12 am
Hi Eyeliner – I really appreciate your response. It is nice to know you enjoy your absinthe for the flavor, rather than the technicalities behind the absinthe. I have found so many sites which either follow those before them and write what they think is popular as opposed to their true opinion. I have tasted Serpis – the color is pretty amazing, but an interesting taste. I found the same with le tourment vert – strange color compared to what I was used to but I liked the subtle herbal flavors – very different from any other absinthe I have tasted. I agree with you and prefer Sirene over Lucid and Kubler. I hope you continue to enjoy your sampling of different absinthes – good luck finding more enjoyable ones (and yes I hope some find their way to your basement doorstep).