Delaware Phoenix "Blues Cat" - 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
Editor reviews
2 reviews
View most helpful
Just Wait Till This Cat Lands On Its Feet
Overall rating
4.4
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
5.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
5.0
Finish
4.0
Overall
4.0
Appearance
Unlouched, a light-light-medium peridot with an overall slight yellow wash. Just a little pallid. Perfectly clear, bright, and contaminant free. Louched, significant retention of what is a somewhat lighter coloration. Beautiful. Light medium yellowish green with bluish hints at the edges and meniscus.
Louche
A very pretty louche on the opaque end of the translucent spectrum. No real opalescence as a result. A beautiful sheen however. Very pearl-like and very “glassy” looking.
Aroma
Prelouche, fennel, anise and other herbs, with a slight earthiness, in that order. Louched, a very balanced presentation of the wormwoods and other finishing herbs supported by the fennel/anise duo. Slightly minty with hints of oregano, conifer, flowers and something just a little earthy/rooty. Wonderfully complex and immediate. Nothing really dominates and so impressions seem to change with each schnoz-full.
Flavor And Mouthfeel
Smooth, silky mid-weight on entry with very good balance (there's that word again). Spice and pepper then ramp up as the wormwood begins working over the entire palate. Just like the nose, the fennel and anise are in good support but don't dominate. Lots of little nuances and details continually trading places. The overall tone is very assertive. My only real nit to pick is that it displays an overabundance of fine grained powderiness, bordering on graininess, on the entire palate with time in the mouth.
Finish
Wow! An even greater bloom of spice and pepper than on the palate. The anethole sources (fennel and anise) kick in to create a nice little tingle. A little mintiness provides a cooling waft and the wormwoods demonstrating why this is absinthe. The finish goes on seemingly forever with the only deficit being the aforementioned “powderiness” that has built on the palate with each sip and is now a little overbearing and unclean feeling. It's a shame because all the aroma and flavor impressions are so nice. If not for this, the finish would score an easy 5.
Overall Impression
A very nice offering. Very balanced, ultra high-quality herbs, everything right where it belongs. My favorite dilution is right around 5:1 where I think the combination of anethole and pepper, while still amply present, settle down to let me see the other herbs and flowers. The only thing holding this back from getting a really top tier Total Score is the graininess that builds and coats the entire palate. It unfortunately is the final impression, and right now it just prevents the perception of real elegance and refreshment.
Something tells me, however, that this characteristic is likely to fall out and this absinthe will further refine with some more age. How much age? Well that's hard to say. But knowing the brain trust behind this I'd be surprised if it didn't happen. Several have observed the distinct changes this very interesting absinthe has made in the first few days of being opened, so there is no reason to believe that more won't occur. My senses say this is just it's second life. That makes seven to go. I'll keep you posted.
Done with a 1 ounce dose, diluted 4.5:1, 5:1, and 5.5:1 and no sugar.
Blues Cat Absinthe Superieure, 5/12/12, 5/13/12, 5/14/12, 5/19/12, 5/20/12, 5/26/12
All evaluations had consistent notes.
Unlouched, a light-light-medium peridot with an overall slight yellow wash. Just a little pallid. Perfectly clear, bright, and contaminant free. Louched, significant retention of what is a somewhat lighter coloration. Beautiful. Light medium yellowish green with bluish hints at the edges and meniscus.
Louche
A very pretty louche on the opaque end of the translucent spectrum. No real opalescence as a result. A beautiful sheen however. Very pearl-like and very “glassy” looking.
Aroma
Prelouche, fennel, anise and other herbs, with a slight earthiness, in that order. Louched, a very balanced presentation of the wormwoods and other finishing herbs supported by the fennel/anise duo. Slightly minty with hints of oregano, conifer, flowers and something just a little earthy/rooty. Wonderfully complex and immediate. Nothing really dominates and so impressions seem to change with each schnoz-full.
Flavor And Mouthfeel
Smooth, silky mid-weight on entry with very good balance (there's that word again). Spice and pepper then ramp up as the wormwood begins working over the entire palate. Just like the nose, the fennel and anise are in good support but don't dominate. Lots of little nuances and details continually trading places. The overall tone is very assertive. My only real nit to pick is that it displays an overabundance of fine grained powderiness, bordering on graininess, on the entire palate with time in the mouth.
Finish
Wow! An even greater bloom of spice and pepper than on the palate. The anethole sources (fennel and anise) kick in to create a nice little tingle. A little mintiness provides a cooling waft and the wormwoods demonstrating why this is absinthe. The finish goes on seemingly forever with the only deficit being the aforementioned “powderiness” that has built on the palate with each sip and is now a little overbearing and unclean feeling. It's a shame because all the aroma and flavor impressions are so nice. If not for this, the finish would score an easy 5.
Overall Impression
A very nice offering. Very balanced, ultra high-quality herbs, everything right where it belongs. My favorite dilution is right around 5:1 where I think the combination of anethole and pepper, while still amply present, settle down to let me see the other herbs and flowers. The only thing holding this back from getting a really top tier Total Score is the graininess that builds and coats the entire palate. It unfortunately is the final impression, and right now it just prevents the perception of real elegance and refreshment.
Something tells me, however, that this characteristic is likely to fall out and this absinthe will further refine with some more age. How much age? Well that's hard to say. But knowing the brain trust behind this I'd be surprised if it didn't happen. Several have observed the distinct changes this very interesting absinthe has made in the first few days of being opened, so there is no reason to believe that more won't occur. My senses say this is just it's second life. That makes seven to go. I'll keep you posted.
Done with a 1 ounce dose, diluted 4.5:1, 5:1, and 5.5:1 and no sugar.
Blues Cat Absinthe Superieure, 5/12/12, 5/13/12, 5/14/12, 5/19/12, 5/20/12, 5/26/12
All evaluations had consistent notes.
M
User reviews
7 reviews
Overall rating
4.2
Appearance
4.0(7)
Louche
3.9(7)
Aroma
4.4(7)
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.3(7)
Finish
4.2(7)
Overall
4.2(7)
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Sweet Kitty
Overall rating
3.6
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.5
Aroma
3.5
Flavor / Mouthfeel
3.0
Finish
3.5
Overall
3.5
Having enjoyed both Walton Waters and Meadow of Love many times over, this new bottling of Blues Cat provides both familiarity while standing out on its own.
The color is a light hay - more yellow than green and quite light. It definitely smells what you'd expect from Delaware Phoenix, neat. As water is applied - the louche is pronounced, swirling, and fast. Like all the DP absinthes - the louche is nice and thick (and nearly white) when fully prepared. The taste of this absinthe is incredibly sweet. Really almost too sweet (please do not even consider sugaring this). The finish is uncompliced with a good length and it provides some tingling as well.
Overall a nice absinthe - but probably not something I would purchase a full bottle of simply due to the sweetness. I find all of the DP absinthes to be on the sweet side - but this one goes overboard for me. I want to stress that this is a personal preference and if you enjoy sweet absinthes - you will probably LOVE this. Nicely made - just not my cup of "tea" :)
The color is a light hay - more yellow than green and quite light. It definitely smells what you'd expect from Delaware Phoenix, neat. As water is applied - the louche is pronounced, swirling, and fast. Like all the DP absinthes - the louche is nice and thick (and nearly white) when fully prepared. The taste of this absinthe is incredibly sweet. Really almost too sweet (please do not even consider sugaring this). The finish is uncompliced with a good length and it provides some tingling as well.
Overall a nice absinthe - but probably not something I would purchase a full bottle of simply due to the sweetness. I find all of the DP absinthes to be on the sweet side - but this one goes overboard for me. I want to stress that this is a personal preference and if you enjoy sweet absinthes - you will probably LOVE this. Nicely made - just not my cup of "tea" :)
J
The Cat Who Walks Through Walls
(Updated: September 02, 2014)
Overall rating
4.3
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.5
Finish
5.0
Overall
4.5
This one is very interesting, and quite distinct from the other offerings from Delaware Phoenix. Blues Cat pours an attractive gold-peridot, and pouches nicely to an attractive yellowish jade. The aroma is fresh, herbal and bracing, with interesting spicy notes that become more pronounced as water is added. However, the flavor and finish are what make the Cat unique: this absinthe is strongly spicy, with intense white pepper notes. The anise is comparatively low in the mix, but the soft bitterness of wormwood is present and substantial, which keeps this absinthe balanced. The finish lingers, with the spicy notes predominant.
Overall, I like this absinthe very much; of all of the spicy/peppery absinthes I've had, this is the best. I still tend to prefer Walton Waters for its classic flavor profile, but Blues Cat makes for an excellent deviation from the norm.
Overall, I like this absinthe very much; of all of the spicy/peppery absinthes I've had, this is the best. I still tend to prefer Walton Waters for its classic flavor profile, but Blues Cat makes for an excellent deviation from the norm.
M
I wish this Cat would stick around
(Updated: July 25, 2012)
Overall rating
4.0
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
4.0
Overall
4.0
Appearance: Very bright and clean light golden green hues.
Louche: Starting immediately as a low lying fog bank working upwards to fully louched at 1/1. Continuing on all the way to 5/1 to a thickly opaque milky green.
Aroma: Fennel, fennel, and lots of fennel. Crisp and clean anise and a hint of violets maybe? Definitely a Delaware Phoenix product.
Flavor: Sharp at 3/1. More balanced at 4/1. Perfect at 5/1. Like I said, fennel, fennel; and lots of it. Not off putting at all. Very nice Artemesia and a lightly sweet anise. high quality.
A very delicious dryness adds to the flavor.
Mouthfeel: Very smooth clean and light at 5/1. Easy on the tongue. Very refreshing. A slight dryness. Nice balance
Finish: Gets your mind to thinking about the wind in your face on a warm summer day. Nice and tangy. Makes me click my tongue. Sticks to the roof of your mouth like peanut butter for a minute and then fades away making me reach for my glass again.
Overall: A really tasty absinthe from Delaware Phoenix that I wish was a full time offering. A good cross, in my mind, of Meadow of Love and Walton Waters with a little extra "umph".
Louche: Starting immediately as a low lying fog bank working upwards to fully louched at 1/1. Continuing on all the way to 5/1 to a thickly opaque milky green.
Aroma: Fennel, fennel, and lots of fennel. Crisp and clean anise and a hint of violets maybe? Definitely a Delaware Phoenix product.
Flavor: Sharp at 3/1. More balanced at 4/1. Perfect at 5/1. Like I said, fennel, fennel; and lots of it. Not off putting at all. Very nice Artemesia and a lightly sweet anise. high quality.
A very delicious dryness adds to the flavor.
Mouthfeel: Very smooth clean and light at 5/1. Easy on the tongue. Very refreshing. A slight dryness. Nice balance
Finish: Gets your mind to thinking about the wind in your face on a warm summer day. Nice and tangy. Makes me click my tongue. Sticks to the roof of your mouth like peanut butter for a minute and then fades away making me reach for my glass again.
Overall: A really tasty absinthe from Delaware Phoenix that I wish was a full time offering. A good cross, in my mind, of Meadow of Love and Walton Waters with a little extra "umph".
S
Finally, fennel!
Overall rating
4.1
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
4.5
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
4.0
Overall
4.0
Appearance: A very nice light citrine color with hints of a apple-y green when viewed in sunlight, but can appear near-peridot in certain light.
Louche: Extremely thick and opaque, and becomes nearly white, while maintaining a greenish glow with some lurking rusty highlights.
Aroma: After adding water the scent expands a good deal, with deep peppery notes and a enticingly big fennel scent.
Flavor: There's definitely a bit more focus on the fennel in this particular absinthe, which is certainly welcome. It doesn't come across as particularly wormwoody or camphorous, and instead has a velvety candied violet and lemon curd-esque citrus that really explodes when swished around.
Finish: The finish is mouth-watering, but clean, with a bit more anise present along with a cucumber-like juicy flavor.
Overall: It's nice to see a different balance of herbs in an absinthe and have fennel get the spotlight for a while. I was also impressed at how Blues Cat is extremely versatile at a number of dilutions, both extremely low and high amounts of water have been interesting, and not at all undrinkable.
Louche: Extremely thick and opaque, and becomes nearly white, while maintaining a greenish glow with some lurking rusty highlights.
Aroma: After adding water the scent expands a good deal, with deep peppery notes and a enticingly big fennel scent.
Flavor: There's definitely a bit more focus on the fennel in this particular absinthe, which is certainly welcome. It doesn't come across as particularly wormwoody or camphorous, and instead has a velvety candied violet and lemon curd-esque citrus that really explodes when swished around.
Finish: The finish is mouth-watering, but clean, with a bit more anise present along with a cucumber-like juicy flavor.
Overall: It's nice to see a different balance of herbs in an absinthe and have fennel get the spotlight for a while. I was also impressed at how Blues Cat is extremely versatile at a number of dilutions, both extremely low and high amounts of water have been interesting, and not at all undrinkable.
A
Not to be left in the bag.
(Updated: June 07, 2012)
Overall rating
4.3
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
5.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.5
Finish
4.0
Overall
4.0
Appearance
Pre-louche, my particular bottle is a lighter and more yellow shade of peridot. Goes without saying but I see very little importance on this factor and know it's discoloration could be do to a number of different factors. Post-louche, not much color carries over and it becomes very neutral for a verte.
Louche
Moderately paced louche that is complete at about a 1.3:1 ratio. I stopped the dilution at about a 4:1 ratio and it's still on the heavy end. I would agree with the other reviewers, it is pearlescent at the drinks extremities but doesn't quite make it to opalescent.
Aroma
Most fragrant when dilution is paused at the 2:1 and 2.5:1 mark. Fennel that's sweetened with anise and supported by a woodsy element, a dark mint. Overall a very mouth watering aroma.
Flavor And Mouthfeel
Sweet, woodsy and creamy...wonderful. Fennel-forward accompanied by anise and mint but after rolling over the tongue a spicy wormwood drops in. All flavors build together in a very luscious but harmonious way. Each element of the trinity ride their way on silky carriage. While I enjoy the thicker louche those who are not so fond of this mouthfeel may find their palate over-matched.
Finish
Lingers with a playful peppery bite, some tongue numbing as you get down the glass but pleasant. All flavors are present but wormwood is now more dominant. Still has great depth and is long lasting. As stated by others the aftertaste seems to build up almost to cause a slick teeth feel but I don't find it to be a turn off.
Overall Impression
My first impression was that BC compared more with a blanche than a verte. Still highly complex with quality herbs but less grassy and floral. BC is mellow and harmonious but still savory and rich. I look forward to enjoying the two bottles I've purchased and seeing how allowing them to breath enriches any characteristics.
Hopefully no one views this caricature as too strange but I liken BC to a double stuffed Oreo. It's a weird thought and I can't get it out of my head. Perhaps its just the interplay of the oreo's creamy center and minty cookie that remind me of Blue's Cat. To me both are delightful. If only it wasn't necessary to moderate my consumption of both.
*Review was made on the third sitting with a final dilution ratio of 4:1.
**This is also my first review, on this site, and any comments or questions would be appreciated.
Pre-louche, my particular bottle is a lighter and more yellow shade of peridot. Goes without saying but I see very little importance on this factor and know it's discoloration could be do to a number of different factors. Post-louche, not much color carries over and it becomes very neutral for a verte.
Louche
Moderately paced louche that is complete at about a 1.3:1 ratio. I stopped the dilution at about a 4:1 ratio and it's still on the heavy end. I would agree with the other reviewers, it is pearlescent at the drinks extremities but doesn't quite make it to opalescent.
Aroma
Most fragrant when dilution is paused at the 2:1 and 2.5:1 mark. Fennel that's sweetened with anise and supported by a woodsy element, a dark mint. Overall a very mouth watering aroma.
Flavor And Mouthfeel
Sweet, woodsy and creamy...wonderful. Fennel-forward accompanied by anise and mint but after rolling over the tongue a spicy wormwood drops in. All flavors build together in a very luscious but harmonious way. Each element of the trinity ride their way on silky carriage. While I enjoy the thicker louche those who are not so fond of this mouthfeel may find their palate over-matched.
Finish
Lingers with a playful peppery bite, some tongue numbing as you get down the glass but pleasant. All flavors are present but wormwood is now more dominant. Still has great depth and is long lasting. As stated by others the aftertaste seems to build up almost to cause a slick teeth feel but I don't find it to be a turn off.
Overall Impression
My first impression was that BC compared more with a blanche than a verte. Still highly complex with quality herbs but less grassy and floral. BC is mellow and harmonious but still savory and rich. I look forward to enjoying the two bottles I've purchased and seeing how allowing them to breath enriches any characteristics.
Hopefully no one views this caricature as too strange but I liken BC to a double stuffed Oreo. It's a weird thought and I can't get it out of my head. Perhaps its just the interplay of the oreo's creamy center and minty cookie that remind me of Blue's Cat. To me both are delightful. If only it wasn't necessary to moderate my consumption of both.
*Review was made on the third sitting with a final dilution ratio of 4:1.
**This is also my first review, on this site, and any comments or questions would be appreciated.
E