Leopold Brothers Absinthe Verte - batches 1 - 14 - 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
Website
Wormwood Society Editor Comments
These are entries for the first 14 batches of Leopold Brothers. Major changes have been made to the product, so it was only logical to separate them into two categories.
Editor reviews
2 reviews
View most helpful
There's a LOT of potential here.
Overall rating
3.1
Appearance
2.0
Louche
3.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
3.0
Finish
4.0
Overall
3.0
I was lucky enough to get a couple of bottles of batch 4 this past week.
Presentation notes: I really like the label and the bottle. While the clear glass might lead to a quicker fuille morte, a comment made by the distiller suggests that they will be putting a small pamphlet on the neck of the bottle explaining the effects of sunlight on vertes. A nice history blurb on the back label as well.
Color: (2) The color is definitely too deep. They sat on the coloring herbs a bit too long. This is an acknowledged issue that should be corrected in future batches. While too dark, it is not unattractive.
Louche: (3) The louche builds up very nicely. It's a bit murky, due to the strong coloration, but it forms well. As the coloring step is corrected, the louche should be wonderful.
Aroma: (4) The aroma packs a nice punch of wormwood, veronica and melissa. I'd like to pick up some more anise, but that also is supposed to be adjusted in coming batches.
Flavor: (3) So far, this absinthe has the strongest wormwood profile of any of the US absinthes. I was very pleasantly suprised. It's an enjoyable flavor, but a bit off balance, as there is a lack of anise in this batch. Due to the coloration, you definitely pick up a lot of veronica as well.
Finish: (4) The finish is very fresh and clean with a pleasant minty wormwood bitterness.
Overall: (3) I see this absinthe as one with great promise. While this batch does have some faults to it, the distiller has already picked up on them and has adjusted the anise and coloration for future batches. It's a good start. I'm looking forward to seeing how the upcoming batches evolve. They should be quite good.
BATCH 4 FINAL SCORE: 3.1
Presentation notes: I really like the label and the bottle. While the clear glass might lead to a quicker fuille morte, a comment made by the distiller suggests that they will be putting a small pamphlet on the neck of the bottle explaining the effects of sunlight on vertes. A nice history blurb on the back label as well.
Color: (2) The color is definitely too deep. They sat on the coloring herbs a bit too long. This is an acknowledged issue that should be corrected in future batches. While too dark, it is not unattractive.
Louche: (3) The louche builds up very nicely. It's a bit murky, due to the strong coloration, but it forms well. As the coloring step is corrected, the louche should be wonderful.
Aroma: (4) The aroma packs a nice punch of wormwood, veronica and melissa. I'd like to pick up some more anise, but that also is supposed to be adjusted in coming batches.
Flavor: (3) So far, this absinthe has the strongest wormwood profile of any of the US absinthes. I was very pleasantly suprised. It's an enjoyable flavor, but a bit off balance, as there is a lack of anise in this batch. Due to the coloration, you definitely pick up a lot of veronica as well.
Finish: (4) The finish is very fresh and clean with a pleasant minty wormwood bitterness.
Overall: (3) I see this absinthe as one with great promise. While this batch does have some faults to it, the distiller has already picked up on them and has adjusted the anise and coloration for future batches. It's a good start. I'm looking forward to seeing how the upcoming batches evolve. They should be quite good.
BATCH 4 FINAL SCORE: 3.1
User reviews
3 reviews
Overall rating
3.6
Appearance
4.0(3)
Louche
4.0(3)
Aroma
3.7(3)
Flavor / Mouthfeel
3.0(3)
Finish
3.7(3)
Overall
3.3(3)
Already have an account? Log in now or Create an account
Batch 14: A Work In Progress
Overall rating
2.9
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
3.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
2.0
Finish
3.0
Overall
2.0
I have to say I was somewhat disappointed with Leopold's absinthe. I had read a lot of good reviews about batch-by-batch improvements to the product, but as of #14, there was still a long way to go.
The color and louche are fine. The drink begins an attractive olive green and with the addition of water becomes a pleasing yellowish jade. The louche process yields all the expected "oil trails" and visual theatrics.
The flavor and aroma, however, are way out of balance. There is something overwhelmingly leafy or grassy in the scent and taste of this absinthe, which largely obscures whatever might be going on with the anise, wormwood, and so forth. Perhaps with time this will "air out" a bit, and if it does, I will update my review accordingly, but for now, I'm afraid I have to give the Leopold low marks.
The finish is acceptable, but the grassy quality lingers. Overall, I think this absinthe shows promise, but it's very much a work in progress.
The color and louche are fine. The drink begins an attractive olive green and with the addition of water becomes a pleasing yellowish jade. The louche process yields all the expected "oil trails" and visual theatrics.
The flavor and aroma, however, are way out of balance. There is something overwhelmingly leafy or grassy in the scent and taste of this absinthe, which largely obscures whatever might be going on with the anise, wormwood, and so forth. Perhaps with time this will "air out" a bit, and if it does, I will update my review accordingly, but for now, I'm afraid I have to give the Leopold low marks.
The finish is acceptable, but the grassy quality lingers. Overall, I think this absinthe shows promise, but it's very much a work in progress.
M
Un Leopold, garcon!
Overall rating
3.8
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
3.0
Finish
4.0
Overall
4.0
Colour: Natural green with a yellow edge. Pleasant to look at, so no complaints. Upon addition of water it louches. Opalescence in its pure form. Neither too opaque nor too thin. Unlike the most of commercial brands, it has a beautiful green tinge, no chalkiness, no whitiness
Louche: Delicate, yet slightly hasty. At 1:1 leaves a nice unlouched layer on top, then gets muddy but in a positive sense.
aroma: Herbaceous with veronica and pontica notes, anise in the back. Something citrusy is apparent what I attribute to pisco. Still, inviting and not too overpowering.
Flavour: Robust, as a grain advocate, I must admit pisco lends the boldness that marries well with herbacousness/spiciness and mitigates the citrusy flavour-that is very prevalent when you take Leopold neat. Cannot decide on the perfect water ratio but it seems to be 1:2-1:3.5, otherwise the herbs got lost.
Finish: Wormwood is perceptible so is pontica, fennel gets very subdued, but anise is discrete enough. A glass offers a wide array of tastes, nuances.
Overall: Right direction. So far in the US Leopold rules the vertes' realm. However, some development is desired and welcomed.
Louche: Delicate, yet slightly hasty. At 1:1 leaves a nice unlouched layer on top, then gets muddy but in a positive sense.
aroma: Herbaceous with veronica and pontica notes, anise in the back. Something citrusy is apparent what I attribute to pisco. Still, inviting and not too overpowering.
Flavour: Robust, as a grain advocate, I must admit pisco lends the boldness that marries well with herbacousness/spiciness and mitigates the citrusy flavour-that is very prevalent when you take Leopold neat. Cannot decide on the perfect water ratio but it seems to be 1:2-1:3.5, otherwise the herbs got lost.
Finish: Wormwood is perceptible so is pontica, fennel gets very subdued, but anise is discrete enough. A glass offers a wide array of tastes, nuances.
Overall: Right direction. So far in the US Leopold rules the vertes' realm. However, some development is desired and welcomed.
A
Pass the Pisco, Please!
Overall rating
4.0
Appearance
4.0
Louche
4.0
Aroma
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
4.0
Finish
4.0
Overall
4.0
This absinthe has come a long way since batch #4, particularly regarding the color, which is now a nice shade of peridot, although it could be a bit more vibrant.
The nose is still a bit dominated by the Pisco base, and this carries through into the flavor, but I happen to really to enjoy the buttered rum ester that it imparts into the absinthe, and I find that it really works well with the herbs. Those herbs seem to be of very good quality, although the wormwood is not of the standout variety, like the Pontarlier, or the Piedemont used in L'Italienne.
The louche is very nice, thick,and gradual although there isn't the volcanic snow-globe action seen in the best of them. The mouthfeel is very creamy, and substantial, however, and the flavor, and finish are hearty, and put me in mind of rum toddies. This is my definitive winter absinthe, except perhaps for my favorite Berger clone.
Todd plans to do a little further rectification of the base once the present barrels are depleted, and I really look forward to tasting whether that allows the herbage to shine through a bit more in future batches.
Kudos to him for being so receptive to suggestions given to him on the forums, and I wish more distillers, who are relatively unfamiliar with the creation of absinthe, would follow his lead.
The nose is still a bit dominated by the Pisco base, and this carries through into the flavor, but I happen to really to enjoy the buttered rum ester that it imparts into the absinthe, and I find that it really works well with the herbs. Those herbs seem to be of very good quality, although the wormwood is not of the standout variety, like the Pontarlier, or the Piedemont used in L'Italienne.
The louche is very nice, thick,and gradual although there isn't the volcanic snow-globe action seen in the best of them. The mouthfeel is very creamy, and substantial, however, and the flavor, and finish are hearty, and put me in mind of rum toddies. This is my definitive winter absinthe, except perhaps for my favorite Berger clone.
Todd plans to do a little further rectification of the base once the present barrels are depleted, and I really look forward to tasting whether that allows the herbage to shine through a bit more in future batches.
Kudos to him for being so receptive to suggestions given to him on the forums, and I wish more distillers, who are relatively unfamiliar with the creation of absinthe, would follow his lead.
A