I added this bottle onto an order from a vendor because it was the highest rated bottle in the price bracket too get me free shipping. This bottle turned out to be the real surprise gem in the set. The aroma and flavor are a delightful mix of spice and perfume that work together to make an Absinthe that is different and experimental but still recognizably Absinthe.

While I am not a huge fan of "spicy" absinthes - this one is very well done and knows where to restrain itself. Appearance is clear and vibrant - louching quite well into a balanced and proper thickness. Aromas and flavors are traditional - with an additional complexity that I cannot even begin to lay out in a review like this. Others have done so much better than I could. The finish is quite nice with the additional flavors lingering some time after... very nice.

Appearance: A topaz-esque green and a little bit faded, but still in the right color family and tone.

Louche: Very lovely green and orange. Just the right thickness, and louched perfectly without much coaxing at all.

Aroma: There's a LOT going on here. Just from mulling over the odors I've noted hints of lemongrass, confection, thyme, something like menthol, coriander, pine resin, and something that reminds me of Christmas spices that makes my nose tingle.

Flavor/Mouthfeel: A lot going on here as well...wormwood, a peppery anise, fresh mown grass, rosemary, clean soil, cardamom, allspice, and a bit of a green tea astringency, all of this definitely leads to a lot of salivation and makes you want to keep drinking.

Finish: At the ratio I mixed the glass at, there's no alcohol heat but my tongue feels a bit like I've been eating peppers, probably from the anise bite, but there's also a sweet and minty length that's numbing the mouth.

Overall: This absinthe is bold and not particularly lady-like (and if I didn't know any better, there's some star anise in here too), and very un-traditional, but it's truly wonderful.

Appearance: A smooth and clear olive green. Slightly darker than most peridot colored absinthes.

Louche: The louche is actually a bit thick and only slightly transparent (4:1). The frog retains a fair amount of color from the original appearance.

Aroma: Citrusy juicy funk time! You know you love it. The initial smell is heavily aromatic and very pleasant. There are some slightly floral notes as well. Overall the aroma is complex and very mysterious.

Flavor: Just like the smell, the flavor is wonderfully complex. There is a dominant peppery and citrus combo along with the unique herbal profile that reminds me of rosemary. Very complex and full on the palate. The anise is tricky though and I may stir some controversy by suggesting the use of both sweet and star anise here? Not a bad thing but tricky.

Finish: Ramp up the floral and citrus notes with that rush of oxygen. The finish sweetens up on me and expands on the palate, almost candy-like.

Overall: This is absolutely stellar with the only problem being the overly thick louche. I enjoy the herbal notes and other unique flavors quite a bit.

This would be a really good absinthe, but the spiciness makes it one of the great absinthes. You gotta be carefull when adding water, not to confuse heat from spice with heat from alcohol. But to drink, and just look at, it is truly a hedonistic pleasure. This is the first absinthe my wife has sampled, where she asked me to purchase a bottle.