-Color-
Before Water:
Very attractive and natural medium gem green.

After Water:
Louched glass presents a nice light green-olive color.

-Louche-
Good action, maybe on the quick side initially but the clear line stayed awhile. Final louche is on the thicker side.

-Aroma-
Before Water:
Pleasantly strong herbaceous and flowery citrus aroma. The punch of herbal notes reminds me a little of Helfrich Verte.

After Water:
More of the same with a little cinnamon and perhaps menthol.

-Flavor and Mouthfeel-
Very enjoyable and well balanced flavor, again with herbaceous and citric notes being in the forefront with a serving of sweetness. There is a bit of cinnamon spice and perhaps a little star anise- but not enough to annoy me as it usually does. Mouthfeel is neither thick nor thin, I’d it’s about right until the finish.

-Finish-
The citrus and wormwood bitterness are the primaries in the finish with the pinch of cinnamon becoming a bit spicier. The tongue numbing is a bit excessive and just slightly annoying, but thankfully the star anise seems to have been used sparingly.

-Overall-
Having heard that the Montmartre had declined in quality in recent years, I was very pleasantly surprised by this sample (ABSINTHEXPLORE sample from Absinthes.com). The only detractor was the star anise, but unless you can’t stand badiane in any amount, I don’t think it’ll spoil the drink for too many folks. If what I tasted is what’s in the full bottles currently available for purchase, I’d say it’s worth having in your absinthe stash.

Notes: 3.5:1, iced brouille.

(This review is of the second formulation, which did not contain the cinnamon overtones which many describe in this absinthe.)



A nice light olive green absinthe, with a mild sweet nose upon opening. Louches well, to a semi-opaque opalescent finish reminiscent of the lighter forms of Chinese Jade. The flavour is much more complex than other absinthes I have tasted, definitely one of my favorites so far. The fennel is slightly less prominent than the anise, with the wormwood being a full flavour without the bitterness. There is a slight citrussy flavour to it, orange or perhaps grapefruit in origion. Very light in it's alcoholic bite, I was able to have a water:absinthe dilution ratio of just about 1:1 without sacrificing enjoyment, this could possibly even be drunk neat if so desired.

When I decided a year or so ago to experience absinthe, my choices here in Greece were quite limited. Czech Absinths on the one hand, which I found quite horrible. My first experience with "true" absinthe was Absente, which was many links above the Czech swill in the food chain, but still quite unsatisfying: the anise was overwhelming, it tasted very much like ouzo - pretty anticlimactic. I was about to give up on absinthe altogether, until one happy day I ran across Montmartre. Compared to Absente, it was like leaving a black and white medicine cabinet and entering an enchanted technicolor forest of herbs and spices. Complete with green fairies.



I have since tried other, and oftentimes better, absinthes, but Montmartre has a special place in my heart as it is the first good Absinthe I have tried. Its color and louche are absolutely first class. The aroma is a bit overwhelming, and could be too floral for many, but it does have a richness that is hard to beat. And several hidden surprising undertones to boot. What I enjoyed (and still enjoy) is Montmartre's finish, which is a pleasant reminder of having enjoyed a superior drink :)

This absinthe kinda grew on me in reverse...at one time, I was really keen on its hyper-citric, and cinnamon-laced uniqueness, but eventually, these wore out their welcome, and it became less, and less often my absinthe of choice.



The louche is fine, and I can't quibble with the color, but the aroma and flavor are just too heavily reliant on that Austrian cinnamon quality, and it's just not as absinthe-like as I'd prefer...it's a great remedy for gum infections, though!