Jewel Like Louche, not quite like it's verte brethren, but very correct.

Amazing neat aroma(I could wear this), somewhat subdued after louching.

Surprisingly complex flavor, very refreshing. I do need sugar.

finish is a 4.4

This absinthe has opened my eyes about blanches. It has nothing to apologize to the vertes. I plan to make it a staple.

Edit, after having enjoyed this product for a while, I've learned to enjoy it sans sucre, and to be extra mindful to not over water. When louched just right the flavor and finish become solid 5s in my palate.

Color: Extremely clear, it is hard to tell where it is if you use an ornate glass with any horizontal lines. In the sunlight there is a blue tint towards the top.

Louche: Amazing oil trails, easily becoming my favorite louche so far. Blue-purple hues erupt mid-louche. Clouds up well and without hesitation. Strong and thick when done and displays rainbow hues slightly in the sunlight.

Aroma: Very floral smell. Peppery up front and complex but a bit on the light side.

Flavor: Surprise! Smooth and very complex. Floral flavors in front with traditional absinthe flavors right up behind them. Some spicy tones hit the back of the mouth well. Very complex, bold and balanced. A blanche with some flavor and complexity, well done!

Finish: Spices up a bit at first and lasts a long time. Numbs quite well and lasts a long time. Slightly sweeter at the end than the beginning. Relaxing.

Overall: Favorite Blanche hands down. Very complex and bold. Not simple as most blanches tend to be. This is a very well crafted drink and holds an amazing flavor profile.

Color: I always feel a little weird about giving a 5 to a blanche, but when it was poured in my Pontarlier glass to the top of the reservoir, it looked like there wasn't anything in it...it's as clear as the glass we put it in.

Louche: Explosive and layered. A nice, thick louche (but maybe not as thick as the verte) with hints of blue, rose, and gold.

Aroma: It's certainly peppery, but I was honestly unable to pick out anything specific from the smell, which was a bit puzzling to me. It smells good...I just can't determine the parts that are making it good.

Flavor: My notes here start with "SO GOOD!" The flavors are all round and balanced and wonderful, filling my entire mouth with warmth and tastiness. There's an excellent mixture of everything together, not so much separate flavors.

Finish: The finish is tart and tasty, making it very hard to wait to take the next drink.

Overall: Extremely balanced, which I find tends to be lacking in most blanches, with more emphasis being put on anise than anything else. I don't care much for blanches, but this one is not only the best I've ever tasted, it also holds its own when compared to vertes, even the Ridge Verte...no small feat.

Fresh out of the bottle, Ridge Blanche is clear as water, and very aromatic. I slowly dripped water from a partially frozen water bottle and the kitchen was graced with a subtle scent of anise and wormwood. When I finished watering at about 4.5:1.

The louche forms very nicely, and finishes just early enough to make me nervous. Upon tasting a later batch, the louche is quite nice, and thicker than what I remember. (Edit:I recently did a side by side comparison and the flavor is similar, but the louche is vastly improved.I don't know what Team Ridge changed, but it's a hell of an improvement. Thanks!).

The flavor is excellently balanced, very professional. The combination of the herbs blend harmoniously with one another in a bouquet of herbal and alpine wonder. The flavor of the wormwood is very nice, not too minty, not too bitter-but it's there. It doesn't try to dominate the palate, but it is noticeable and blends nicely with notes of anise/fennel and a number of other herbs I can't quite identify. It has elements of branch, leaf, flower and just a tiny little bit of root, so it really does taste like a French or Swiss meadow to me.

To me the finish has less of the wormwood and other alpine flavors, mostly leaving flavors of anise, fennel and melissa.


Overall- I'd recommend this absinthe to anyone interested in absinthe. I think it'd be an excellent starter for anyone who hasn't had it before and I think it would be great for experienced absinthe drinkers. I find it highly refreshing and not lacking at all. It's clear to me by the flavor alone that a lot of time and effort has gone into getting this blanche to where it is today and I really dig that.