absente review

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Picture courtesy of Crillon Importers.

Average Ratings

Taste	6.8/10
Smell	8/10
Value for Money	6.4/10
Reviewer Rating	6.8/10
Overall Rating	7.3/10

60% Recommended3 out of 5 Reviews

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By haladir on 14th Sep 2005

haladir's Ratings

I would drink this	Regularly
Taste	8/10
Smell	10/10
Value for money	8/10
Overall value	8/10
haladir's recommendation

Good Points

Powerful, complex flavor. Best pastis I have tried so far.

Bad Points

Not a true absinthe.

General Comments

Absente, "Absinthe refined" as the label calls it, is a very good pastis (absinthe substitute). It is an appealing pale yellow-green in color, about the same as Chartreuse. Absente is a bitter herbal liqueur, tasting strongly of anise, although other herbs are noticable. It is similar to Pernod (another pastis), Absente being less sweet, less syrupy, and with a stronger herbal character. Absente claims to be a re-visioning of the 19th-century absinthe of the same name, minus the infusion of European wormwood, with its controversial chemical thujone. Some claim thujone to be a mild hallucinogen, and true absinthe is banned for sale within the United States. (N.B. I have tried true absinthe in Europe, and report no sensations that are not attributable to ethanol.) You can use Absente as absinthe in any absinthe recipie you come across. The traditional "absinthe cocktail" is my favorite: Pour two ounces of chilled Absente into a glass, add 1 tsp sugar, and two ounces of cold water. Stir. The clear liquid will turn a milky green (due to a chemical reaction with the water). Sip slowly, close your eyes, and imagine yourself sitting at an outdoor cafe in fin-de-siecle Paris. C'est magnifique!

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