Appearance: This absinthe shows a very nice example of a clean peridot color. It is also somewhat on the lighter and yellow side.

Louche: The louche ends up uneventfully thin. It is almost a light swamp or seaweed color with blue edges.

Aroma: Very sweet and anise forward. Wormwood and mint contribute a camphorus tone. Otherwise this absinthe displays a very traditional profile.

Flavor: The alcohol base is very noticeable as a grainy and sugary texture. Anise and coriander use highlight the spikey and rough edges of the base spirit as well. The mouthfeel is astringent and the wormwood is in the background.

Finish: The finish stays the same as the flavor with the exception of the wormwood and mint showing up a bit more. The finish lasts quite a while and the chalky tone that is expected from Matter absinthes shows up just a bit.

Overall: If not for the overpowering base spirit this absinthe would be very decent, although basic.

For me, it was just right at 3:1. I tried 4:1 , and liked it both ways. You may not need sugar with this one, I found it just right with none.

Color is a lovely and natural crystal clear peridot. Gem-like and magical looking.
After louche, it is a beautiful shade of light green.

Louche: Wonderful. Dramatic curling trails give way to smoke and clouds with a clear fat layer on top right to the very end. A nice translucent louche at 4:1.

Aroma: Clean crisp balanced and inviting. As I added water, it filled the room.

Flavor: Quality wormwood and anise in a wonderful balance. The herbal and spice character is very tasty and refreshing. Nothing overwhelms. Very sweet and dessert-like, with no heavy or earthy edges. A gentle crisp delicious taste.

Finish: A very nice finish with a light pull and build. it ends with a sweet and spicy tingle in the back of the mouth and tip of the tongue.

Overall: I wish it were available in the USA! A very solid enjoyable absinthe that I'd buy regularly if it were available here.

Color: I really liked the color although i would have enjoyed a darker shade of green.
Louche: Was quickforming and a little on the light side
Aroma: Pleasant anise and citrus scent with little alcohol aroma
Flavor: I like this one much better than the stronger verte and as its name implies seems a great balance of wormwood and other herbs with the alcohol
Finish: Sweet anise and wormwood finish. Very nice.

I like this one best of the 3 duplais I have tried. Verte had a strong alcoholic kick but this seems just right.

* Recommended!!

Color: nice clear emerald green, slightly on the pale side. I'm getting so used to seeing olive-hued green absinthes that this one was a bit of a surprise when I poured it. But this is a very nice shade of green, and I think it would be beautiful with just a bit more intensity to give it more of a jewel-like appearance.



Aroma (neat): anise, herbal, and minty. I got a bit of a Wrigley's spearmint gum smell, not unpleasant but seemed a bit out of place. Nice and clean, the herbs stand out and the alcohol stays out of the way.



Louche: a slow, very cold drip resulted in nice trails with cloudiness developing fairly early. Early on the color went to a sort of swampy/froggy green, almost like a glow-in-the-dark slime, but got more pale and more attractive with more water. Stopped at about 3.5 or 4:1, finished color is very attractive, but a bit more thin/translucent than I'd expect at this dilution.



Aroma (after louche): Aroma settles down a bit with the water to anise and herbal/spicy. Looking at other reviews after the fact I wasn't noticing anything that I thought was coriander, I'll be looking for that next time. Overall a very balanced, pleasant aroma.



Flavor: The flavor was quite a surprise, very full and strong, probably could have held up to a bit more water. As expected it is very nicely balanced. Mouthfeel is medium, I got some tongue tingling but not a full mouth coating. Certainly not thin.



Finish: Long, and again balanced with mostly anise and wormwood, lexx complex than expected after the initial aroma and flavor.



Overall, very good. I'm a relative newbie compared to the reviews before mine, so I didn't pick up on some of the specifics that the other reviewers noted, particularly the coriander. Generally, I feel about the Balance the same way I remember the Eichelberger 68 -- clean, very well made, traditional, tasty (I'm tempted to try the Balance and Eich side-by-side in the near future). I'd almost say "easy drinking" if it didn't sound like a negative. For those occasions when you're looking for something assertive or full of character, the Balance probably isn't what you want. But its beauty is in its balance, strength, and roundness, and on most occasions, Duplais Balance will not disappoint.

Balance pours a nice green color. The louche is fast, and not opaque.

I detect a strong fruity, citrus, aroma. The flavor gives way to a coriander, followed by a nice fennel and minty wormwood (very balanced). It is not as creamy as I would like and a little thin, however, very pleasant.

I like this absinthe and would put it up with one of my favorites.