After reading some of the other reviews on the site, I was expecting this to be a lot worse, so I suppose I was pleasantly surprised. It did rank low across most categories, but I find it one of the better low end brands. The aroma is simple, but I found the taste/flavor to be pleasant (I really wanted to give flavor a 3.5). Whereas most brands have complex bouquets of flavor, Grande Absente is very two-dimensional with a mix of sweet and bitter. Having read about, but never tried, absinthe for nearly 10 years, this product looked, smelled and tasted exactly like I expected absinthe to taste. So, while the taste is not as interesting as a good absinthe, I did not find it as appalling as several of the other reviewers.



If you have more of a sweet tooth, this product might be acceptable to you. I intend to keep it stocked, in favor of Lucid, for the entry-level comparison brand.