Color: The 7 months in the barrel hasn't taken away from the beauty of the coloration. Still bright and attractive.

Louche: The same as the original. Just as well formed and inviting.

Aroma: The anise is a bit more muted that the original, as is the wormwood. The aging has rounded it out quite nicely. There's just a touch of wood, but it's not at all intrusive.

Flavor: Rounded out, like the aroma. Not quite as 'hot' as the original. The anise has been toned down, maybe a bit too much. The wormwood isn't quite as spicy anymore either. If the wormwood levels stayed the same, but the anise was bumped up just a tad, it would be better balanced.

Finish: Sweet and (again) more balanced than the original. Quite nice. The wood doesn't appear on the finish as much as in the entry. The aging has definitely added some nice depth and smoothed it out.

Overall: Comparing the two versions is an intriguing experiment. Something I'd suggest for any absintheur. The aging process has certainly proven beneficial.