Lucid Review

[King Junior]

For the record this is a review from a person who doesn't have a sophisticated palate, and is completely new to drinking absinthe.

 

Last Saturday, 8/18/07, I drank some Lucid Absinthe that I purchased 8/9/07 from a liquor store down the street from my job (Park Ave. Liquors). I figured I'd be drinking about 3-4 drinks for the night, and wanted to try it different ways.

 

First way was the old sugar cube-slotted spoon-"fountain" drip method. What I used for a fountain was this (http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/41KZ1ZQGFFL._AA280_.jpg), a Christmas gift that I thought I'd never use, and had to search into the back of my closet to find for this occasion. The Lucid was a pale/light green in color when poured into the glass. As I dripped the water over the sugar cube (slowly, ending in a 2-1 water/lucid ratio), it did louche and became a great milky green color. Awesome looking color. As I have no frame of reference to other absinthes, it did give me the "absinthe" green I was looking for. Now for taste. For my uneducated-palate-having-opinion, it smelled like green Nyquil and tasted like Good and Plenty. Admitedly I'm not a huge fan of liquorice, so I didn't find the taste all that pleasing, but it wasn't offensive either. It tasted like Good and Plenty or watered down green Nyquil.

 

Second way I had it was as a "Death in the Afternoon" cocktail. One shot of Lucid Absinthe in a champagne flute, and filled the rest with Korbel "champagne". This drink I liked better. The flavor of the Korbel mellowed the "liquorice" flavor and allowed for me to enjoy the drink more. So much more that I had another one immediately afterwards.

 

While I know there has been a lot of hype with Absinthe, I have to say that I really didn't feel drunk/buzzed at all, was quite "lucid" (pun intended) in my thoughts and conversations. I'll definately try it again next weekend, with more being consumed to see if it is truly a "lucid" high/drunk or not.

Edited August 21, 2007 by King Junior

[Brian Robinson]

Welcome!

 

Why don't you pop on over to the Newcomer Intro thread and tell us about yourself.

 

Also, head on over to the main site, and post a formal review of Lucid. We'd love to have it!

[Ari (Eric Litton)]

You might also consider watering it down more. Sometimes a bit more water can bring a tipping point where the other herbs are more balances with the anise.

 

I generally drink a 4:1 and rarely go bellow 3:1 as it seems I miss the more intricate flavors.

[AlyssaDyane]

Ari, normally I agree with you - except with the Lucid. Watering at my normal ratio, it tastes way watered down to me. This is the only absinthe I drink about 2:1.

[TrainerAZ]

While I know there has been a lot of hype with Absinthe, I have to say that I really didn't feel drunk/buzzed at all, was quite "lucid" (pun intended) in my thoughts and conversations. I'll definately try it again next weekend, with more being consumed to see if it is truly a "lucid" high/drunk or not.

Congratulations, you've now experienced absinthe's much-hyped "secondary effects"!

 

You had the equivalent of six to seven shots of standard 80-proof (that is, 40%) vodka in a short period, and didn't feel drunk/buzzed.

 

Huh? Yes. Three shots of Lucid at 62% alcohol = 4.5 shots of vodka, roughly, plus two doses of Korbel (alcohol content of one glass wine = one oz. vodka) = 6.5 shots vodka equivalent.

 

It's not a hallucinogen. The effect is just a more alert intoxication.

 

Enjoy!

[King Junior]

While I know there has been a lot of hype with Absinthe, I have to say that I really didn't feel drunk/buzzed at all, was quite "lucid" (pun intended) in my thoughts and conversations. I'll definately try it again next weekend, with more being consumed to see if it is truly a "lucid" high/drunk or not.

Congratulations, you've now experienced absinthe's much-hyped "secondary effects"!

 

You had the equivalent of six to seven shots of standard 80-proof (that is, 40%) vodka in a short period, and didn't feel drunk/buzzed.

 

Huh? Yes. Three shots of Lucid at 62% alcohol = 4.5 shots of vodka, roughly, plus two doses of Korbel (alcohol content of one glass wine = one oz. vodka) = 6.5 shots vodka equivalent.

 

It's not a hallucinogen. The effect is just a more alert intoxication.

 

Enjoy!

 

So the question is, what causes the "secondary effects"?

[Brian Robinson]

Ah, the age old question.

 

I think you'll see that most people 'round heeya agree that it is due to a combination of all of the herbs involved, including anise and fennel. Both of which contain anethole (or Trans-anethole), which is a stimulant, amongst other things.

 

*edited to provide clarity and remove a confusing remark.

[Brooks]

Ari, normally I agree with you - except with the Lucid. Watering at my normal ratio, it tastes way watered down to me.

I'm with Alyssa. 1:2 or 1:3 at the most.

 

King, Lucid is pretty sweet, so you might want to try it without sugar next time. You might find it less syrupy, if no less licorce-y.

 

Hang on that bottle, in any case. You can always make Sazeracs!

 

Shabba!?! What's with this "mildly addictive" business? (*This question was in response to Shabba's claim — now deleted — that absinthe is "mildly addictive" to adults, and "lethally addictive" to children and pets.) I must say, that's a first to these ears. Unless you mean "addictive" in the sense that coffee or carbs can be addictive.

[Marrow]

...or alcohol.

[peridot]

King, you must be really sensitive to anise/ licorice. I can taste a little in Lucid, but can barely smell it at all.

[Brian Robinson]

Brooks: 'tis exactly right. Edited to clarify.

[Brooks]

...or alcohol.

 

Brooks: 'tis exactly right. Edited to clarify.

Good deal. And to help people make sense of your edit, I've annotated my previous post.

[Marrow]

What was that look for?

[Brooks]

Look...

What look?

Oh, the look! Yes, ha-ha.

Erm....

[King Junior]

King, you must be really sensitive to anise/ licorice. I can taste a little in Lucid, but can barely smell it at all.

 

You're probably right. As a kid I HATED green Nyqil, only could drink the red "cherry" version. And I was never a fan of black jelly beans, black liquorice (licorice?), and still hate Jaegermeister.

Edited August 22, 2007 by King Junior

[LouchingBuckeye]

You should find the anise (licorice) flavor in absinthe to be very palatable once you're accustom to it. I've never been a fan of black licorice or jager myself, but after the first two or three times i had absinthe i loved the stuff.

[Brian Robinson]

(*This question was in response to Shabba's claim — now deleted — that absinthe is "mildly addictive" to adults, and "lethally addictive" to children and pets.)

[Joe Legate]

As a kid I HATED green Nyqil, only could drink the red "cherry" version. And I was never a fan of black jelly beans, black liquorice (licorice?), and still hate Jaegermeister.

Why were you drinking Nyqil as a kid? Didn't your dad have an extra beer you could've pinched?

[OMG_Bill]

He chose poorly.

[Poor]

You only need to drink Nyqil eight or ten times to acquire a taste for it. After that I never had any problems finishing a whole bottle.

 

Did I say Nyqil? Embarrassing!

 

 

 

 

 

I meant Robitussin.

[Joe Legate]

King, Lucid is pretty sweet, so you might want to try it without sugar next time. You might find it less syrupy, if no less licorce-y.

No question, at least for me. I tried a glass of Lucid last night with sugar. Too, too sweet!

 

I'm not so certain I agree with the over-watering discussion. 2-to-1 is pretty strong and 3-to-1 doesn't allow for the other herbs to open up. I'm wondering if the "Less Water" contingent is looking to make up for the reduced anise? At 4-to-1, I was particularly aware of a fairly good Wormwood punch last night.

[Marrow]

So is lucid recommended, or are there better absinthes soon to be available in the US?

[dakini_painter]

The latter.

 

Of course, depending on how you define the word "soon".

[AlyssaDyane]

I personally would not reccomend Lucid, but palates run differently. I think it tastes alright at first, but finishes reallly nasty. Like mold. A dry mold - if that makes any sense. It is a weird taste I can't even seem to scrape off my tongue for hours.

[Marrow]

Why didn't they just put the Jades forward? I would have thought you'd want to get the best in first so people tasting it for the first time would not think "this tastes like mould, I don't like absinthe". Or maybe Lucid was made for the 'American palate', and since we've all be drinking absinthe where the anise isn't shy we'd think it tastes weird.

 

King - Did you use ice-water? The first time I had absinthe I used water from the fridge and the taste was pretty flat.

 

Dakini - My 'soon' is a month or two.

[Joe Legate]

I would strongly recommend Lucid...until a better absinthe is available in the US. No, it's not as good as many European choices but it is equal to and better than many others. $60 including shipping is one hell of an argument for it. I think it currently wins hands down in the "Bang for your Buck" category, is a fine "first" sold in America absinthe and generally a very good if not totally exceptional absinthe. It's not as good as the Jades but I think it's better than most Un Emiles.

[Oscar]

In my opinion I would buy a bottle of Arak before spending my money on a bottle of Lucid. Lucid is worth a taste but not a bottles worth.

[OMG_Bill]

I use Lucid as an introductory absinthe. If people like it, they can try other things.

 

If the people are inexperienced and don't care for it, I'm not out much $$$.

 

It's genuine if nothing else.

[Joe Legate]

In my opinion I would buy a bottle of Arak before spending my money on a bottle of Lucid.

That's a good opinion, too.

I like Arak but it's not absinthe.

[Oscar]

Ok, In my opinion Lucid is not good absinthe