Color: Rather darker than most of the other absinthes I have stocked. Verynice, though - one of the better aspects.

Louche: The louche is nice and thick - which is my preference. This probably has to do with the overwhelming amount of star anise present. Also worth noting that this is a much greener absinthe, post-louche, than I have seen.

Aroma: The star anise is definitely overpowering in aroma, sadly. Not as much as taste but is definitely too forward for my senses.

Flavor: Again... (you know where I'm going, right?) way, way too much star anise. It cheapens the product and sadly - I would most likely find this quite more enjoyble if the star anise was excluded from the entire process. Just keep it out of my absinthe.

Mouthfeel: Not overly creamy - or overly numbing... nothing much to say here.

Finish: Again... star anise.

Overall: Don't get me wrong - I do like this absinthe. I just probably would not purchase a second bottle with such a variety of other absinthes available. The star anise is far too strong. This could definitely be due to my taste so please judge for yourself. I will say that the decanter bottle is a bonus - quite handsome!

I was quite eager to try the Vieux Carre, in part because I am a big fan of the Bluecoat gin from the same distiller. Unfortunately, this absinthe falls short of the standard set by the best American brands.

The color before water is a dark olive. It looks very natural, but is otherwise unremarkable. Fresh from the bottle, the aroma is mostly alcohol, with some herbal scents discernible as well. With the addition of water, a gradual louche forms, resulting in a translucent yellow jade. While nothing extraordinary, the results are generally pleasing.

The aroma after water is rather peppery, and while fresh and mild seems somewhat out of balance. This is even more true of the flavor, which is unbalanced to the point of being unacceptable. The predominant note is white pepper, and if it could be dialed down a bit, this absinthe would probably improve a great deal, because the anise and wormwood are present.

The finish is also mainly peppery, with the other herbal flavors being lost in the clamor.

Overall, I think this absinthe shows promise, but it remains a work in progress.

Color- Nice amber with golden highlights. No sediment

Louche- Oil trails were good. Very good coloring that includes a rainbow of light green, golds & blues. I have to deduct a point since it was much too thin.

Aroma- A melding of mint & genepy takes centerstage. It’s hard to pick out anything else but it’s very pleasant.

Flavor- The tea-like genepy, anise & fennel are prominent. The taste is crisp and refreshing with the wormwood & mint.

Finish- Genepy & anise die down to a crisp wormwood/mint finish after an initial sweetness. Very nice.

Overall- I don’t think the genepy taste is really my thing, but this is still a nicely formulated absinthe nonetheless.

I agree with Brian that the packaging is pretty nice. This review was conducted with 1 sugar cube, a 4-to-1 ratio, and per the Absinthe Evaluation Instructions.

Color: Although the color wasn't bright, it had a green to golden brown color that gave it an aged feel.

Louche: The louche was a bit thin, didn't start until around the half-way mark, and seemed milky.

Aroma: Was on the weak side. However, what I did notice was nice and pleasant.

Flavor: Bitterness is a little overpowering at first, but the flavors are definitely more noticeable when it starts to subside. Reminds me of Obsello.

Finish: A nice near-clean mouth feel with a slight tingle.

Overall: Definitely acceptable. I think there needs to be some balance so the flavors come out more quickly. I don't think 1 sugar cube is enough, but 2 might be too much. I'd say either 1 and a half cubes or 2 of the smaller sized variety like Domino Dots.