COLOR BEFORE WATER 6/10
It looks natural but strongly colored, maybe a bit too much. It is green with a hint of yellow. Color may improve with aging as it is a very young absinthe. It is not perfectly clear even after standing straight for a few days in the dark so I will have to deduce some more points.

LOUCHE ACTION 7/10
I'm adding about 4 part water to one part absinthe. It does louche evenly and pretty fast. Nothing special there.

COLOR AFTER WATER 6/10
I've seen worse but it is still somewhat swampy. Coloration is too strong.

AROMA 24/30
Neat :With such a strong coloration I would expect a nice pontica aroma but all I smell is the dominant alcohol base. This unbalance the drink but I would expect the aroma to mellow and blend after a year or so of aging so I’ll just try to forget this bottle for a while. The alcohol base is exuberant but it still feels good. Actually it leaves me perplex and I'm not sure if I like it or not. Interesting I would say. My intuition is this alcool base is missing another pass through the still.

After louche, no sugar: Adding water will release a sweet and herbal perfume but I would not go as far as calling this "room filling". I can now smell some citrusy notes on top of the fruity alcohol base, probably coming from Melissa.
Putting my nose back to the now empty measuring glass offers a very enjoyable experience. The residue of neat absinthe of the sides of the measuring glass lingers. I can now detect wormwood floating on top of the fruity sweet base. I’ve seen this combination of smells in the past develop into a powdery marvel after aging. This is where Taboo gold wins back a few aroma points.

MOUTH-FEEL 5/10
A bit thin and metallic with water and no sugar. Actually it was much better without water. With sugar it gets much better but it also increases the fruity notes. If you like it, it’s fine. I’m forced to penalise it for my initial impression.

TASTE 15/20
neat : I took a tiny sip neat and let it roll on my tongue. This surprisingly taste good even if a little weird. It is fruity, spicy and herbal. The alcohol base dominate the whole profile but it is not unpleasant.

4:1 water : citrusy. Adding some sugar improves the overall impression. It really tastes fruity in a distracting kind of way. I still gives it a relatively good score because it is really nice when tasted neat, which is extremely rare.

OVERALL IMPRESSION 8/10
I may end up enjoying this absinthe neat in a tiny cordial glass, something I usually never do. I give it a good score here because I always really like to smell my empty measuring glass after finishing a glass of absinthe. The smell it leaves is rich and very pleasing. I think this is an original absinthe that will improve with age. I’m glad I got a bottle to satisfy my curiosity but I would not buy a case.

Wolfgang scores Taboo Gold 71 out of 100

Reviewed by absinthist 4/6/2009

COLOR BEFORE WATER 7/10
pleasant, greenish yellow

LOUCHE ACTION 10/10
delicate, gradual, no opacity

COLOR AFTER WATER 6/10
whitish, too white for my taste

AROMA 25/30
Unknown, unique, musky, something not common, very inviting

MOUTH-FEEL 7/10
Grassy, melissa together with some uncommon herbs, not spices, no anethole buddies. Light and crisp. Very nice if 100% unusual for an absinthe

TASTE 19/20
Very bitter, strong pontica comes thru, pontica bomb that eats your tongue, lots of complexity. What the fuck is that?

OVERALL IMPRESSION 7/10
As absinthe it is very idiosyncratic and unsual. Nothing traditional about it. On the other hand, it has great uncommon, rare personality

absinthist scores Taboo Gold 81 out of 100

Reviewed by Wolfgang 2/23/2010

COLOR BEFORE WATER 7/10
I don't think it was too strongly collored anymore. If the %abv was higher, it would help to keep the color. As it is, it is already turning yellowish.

LOUCHE ACTION 8/10
I'm adding about 4 part water to one part absinthe. It does louche nicely.

COLOR AFTER WATER 6/10
A bit too yellow for my own preference. Could be greener.

AROMA 27/30
The aroma did actually mellow and blend after an extra year and a half of aging. The alcohol base is still exuberant but it is not bad, just very upfront.

Putting my nose back to the now empty measuring glass offers a very enjoyable experience. In my first review of this same bottle I wrote: "I've seen this combination of smells in the past develop into a powdery marvel after aging" and this is exactly what's happening. If only the alcool base was not so prominent, it would be an exceptional absinthe.

MOUTH-FEEL 7/10
It could be creamier but it is still acceptable. The more balanced aromas also probably influence it.

TASTE 16/20
4:1 water + sugar : It really still tastes fruity in a distracting kind of way but the wormwood managed to grow through the fruit and is now clearly one of the major player of this absinthe. I first tasted it without sugar but the wormwood (and pontica) are strong enough to justify a sugar cube.The melissa slipped somewhat behind, which is a good thing and make the drink a little bit less citrussy.

OVERALL IMPRESSION 8/10
Re-tasted after over a year of aging.My overall impression remains the same but not for the same reason. I now offer an 8 less for originality and more for actual product quality that only age can truely let shine.

Wolfgang scores Taboo Gold 79 out of 100

COLOR BEFORE WATER 7/10
A nice yellow-green. Maybe ½ a degree too neon bright, but it might be natural (I am pretending that I haven’t read the label and don’t know it is really artificially colored). Basically correct and even attractive.

LOUCHE ACTION 8/10
Decent trails, entertaining, decently paced cloud layer formation.

COLOR AFTER WATER 7/10
Natural looking light greenish-yellow. Has opalescence and depth but could be better.

AROMA 7/30
Before water: Unpleasantly harsh alcohol aroma with a black jelly bean underpinning.

After water: Simple star anise or green anise oil, whatever it is, it’s pretty flat. Along with this is a very unappetizing scent that smells to me almost like rubbing alcohol. I ended up sinking the first glass because of this. I had another glass from my large sample bottle a few months later, and this was more subdued- but still slightly off-putting.

MOUTH-FEEL 4/10
Not harsh in any way, moderate tongue numbing, not much body or creaminess. Neither compliments, nor detracts.

TASTE 7/20
A bit o’ the ol’ black jelly bean taste here. Very simple star anise type (possibly green anise also, but it doesn't seem to make a difference). I think I might taste a little fennel and some basic wormwood in the finish. Overall, it’s much flatter and more one dimensional as I’d like it to be, as well as the significant minus of being presweetened (as we know authentic absinthe is not). The funny thing is, the flavor and aroma are actually a bit better after 6 months of aging, which is likely due in part to the producer not having aged it all.

OVERALL IMPRESSION 3/10
It’s true that there’s worse tasting and less authentic out there (though that's not saying much). But I think the fact that this product is retailed at around the same price point as real absinthe superieurs, and that their big money marketing machine touts it as a high quality offering is really irritating. If they got rid of the added sugar and set the price at around $10 a bottle, I might be persuaded to get a bottle in hard times (to be consumed mostly in cocktails and only after aging). But as it is, no way I could recommend wasting the money they’re asking for on this.

PERSONAL NOTES
Louched 3:1 with medium fountain drip, no sugar.

Green Baron scores Grande Absente 44 out of 100

COLOR BEFORE WATER 9/10
Vibrant light peridot. Super green, but I know this absinthe is a little young, so I know it will go through some changes before it settles down. Good clarity, but like it's sibling has just a minor amount of haze. Damn nice overall.

LOUCHE ACTION 9/10
Thick, layering trails that seem to move on their own accord when the pour is paused. A nice swirling yet very well defined fog bank forms at a good pace and slowly infiltrates the clear top layer, bouncing with every drop of water.

COLOR AFTER WATER 8/10
Pleasing lime green, the final louche is a little on thick side, but with good depth and highlights.

AROMA 28/30
-Before water- A bit of alcohol sharpness, sweet floral perfume, lightly herbaceous

-After water- As water is added, the perfume issues forth. Not the most “room filling”, but definitely enticing from a couple feet away. The perfume from before develops into refreshing floral notes in the high range and bottom of balanced, herbaceous petite wormwood (pontica).

MOUTH-FEEL 8/10
Not as thick and creamy as found in the Pontarlier and other absinthe styles, but falls more into a nice, smooth satin (similar to the mouthfeel Pacifique) with mild tongue numbing.

TASTE 19/20
Floral sweetness, soft anise, refined spice, and hints of citrus, with the pontica again contributing really a great herbal flavor. Refined but deliciously bitter grand wormwood completes the excellent balance, and continues with us through the finish.

OVERALL IMPRESSION 9/10
This is a wonderful, flowery (this is the 4th time I’ve mentioned a floral characteristic for good reason), feminine absinthe. This gal is soft, clean and wonderfully balanced, but she has plenty of flavor power. I think this absinthe can be equally appreciated by newcomers (possibly even the anise adverse) and experienced absintheurs.

PERSONAL NOTES
Tasted at aprox 3.5:1 and 4:1 with fountain drip and pitcher pour respectively, no sugar. Batch# 09-2, Bottle 10.

Update: Like it's sibling, Walton Waters, the color has taken on a deep olive hue and the flavors have opened up. Unexpectedly, the wormwood has become really powerful in this one as well (duh, she said so in the description, but the Aa was pretty tame at first). Absinthium and violets= yum!

Green Baron scores Delaware Pheonix Meadow of Love 90 out of 100

COLOR BEFORE WATER 9/10
Vibrant, nearly forest- green, nearly clear, but with a bit of haze. I believe the deep green is due to the young age of this absinthe, and in 3 weeks I have already seen it move just so slightly towards peridot.

LOUCHE ACTION 9/10
Thick, impressive trails that seem to bounce into fluffy knots and then form little jelly layers. Cloud grows at about the perfect rate, is well defined and reaches into the clear top section when disturbed by water drops.

COLOR AFTER WATER 8/10
Very nice medium lime; natural and attractive. Thicker than some, but has good depth.

AROMA 27/30
-Before water- Clean alcohol heat, prominent citrus, and a deep herbal tone that’s due especially to the wormwood and fennel.
-After water- Sweet floral and citrus up front. Backing herbaceous notes that are cohesive, but I think I can pick out the grand and petite wormwoods and maybe a little powdery hyssop.

MOUTH-FEEL 9/10
Very nice- smooth and full, with a mild, yet spicy tingle.

TASTE 17/20
Sweet anise and fennel are first up, then act as a foundation to let smooth citrus, minty bitter wormwood, finely balanced herb mélange and light spice come through. I agree with the assessment that one should roll it around a bit more than usual before swallowing to get the most out of the tasty wormwood and other herbs. It wouldn’t surprising if the flavor opens up more as the absinthe matures.

The finish is has good staying power, with the grand wormwood coming out a little more for a savory bitter send off.

OVERALL IMPRESSION 9/10
This is a great absinthe that I do not hesitate to recommend. Slightly bolder (I get more grand wormwood, and less petite, comparatively) and creamier than its sibling, Meadow of Love. The soft lemon-citrus notes and almost juicy mouthfeel distinguish it, yet pays tribute to the classic Pontarlier style. Another for my top 10.

PERSONAL NOTES
Louched 3:1, no sugar. Batch 09-3 Bottle 29.

Update: After a several months of aging, the flavors have indeed opened up quite nicely, and the color has turned into a nice deep olive. Of particular note, the wormwood profile has grown quite tall now in a very good way!

Green Baron scores Delaware Pheonix Walton Waters 88 out of 100

COLOR BEFORE WATER 8/10
A good shade of light lime yellow-green. I also think of it as “lime peridot”. A little more towards the straw/amber range than the photos I’ve seen online though (*shrug* aint got nothin' against natural aging).

LOUCHE ACTION 7/10
Good trails, but a little quick to form a cloud up to the clear top layer (more showy roiling would have been nice). The line does have good staying power and puts on a little show before it goes away.

COLOR AFTER WATER 8/10
Good glowy pale lime.

AROMA 25/30
Before water- Grape and mint with earthy, herby undertones.

After water- The grape and mint overtones stay at the forefront, then lead right into sweet herbal pontica, citrus and a subdued earthiness. Not totally room filling, but does have some range, and I find it quite pleasant.

MOUTH-FEEL 8/10
On the thinner side of creamy, but it’s a nice, smooth satin. Brisk mint and wormwood in the finish keep the sweet flavors from the grape and anise away from cloying territory.

TASTE 15/20
A very tasty- if pronounced- grape in front, leading right into strong mint, with anise, vanilla, lemon citrus, and slight grassy notes developing mid palate. At one point when some of these meet, the product website’s description of “candied plum” notes is quite accurate. Though flavorful, this is definitely a lighter absinthe than most vertes, and I find myself downing a little quicker than the average verte.

OVERALL IMPRESSION 8/10
This absinthe definitely has its own personality. It took several days after opening for the mint-dry-grassiness to stop dominating and let other flavors to come forth and find a balance (sugar helped a bit during this phase). I’m a sucker for a nice grape base, and I think they did very well there. I agree with folks that refer to this as a light desert or summer absinthe. Some may never like the idiosyncrasies even after breathing, but I’m quite fond of this Spanish treat.

PERSONAL NOTES
Louched 3:1, fountain drip. Sugar was used in the first week after opening, afterwards I went with no sugar as usual.

Green Baron scores Obsello Absinthe Verte 79 out of 100

COLOR BEFORE WATER 8/10
Limey green, nice having taken into account its current strength. Must have been really beautiful just after colouration before being cut down with water. It is sad that state-allowed strength is 62% only.

LOUCHE ACTION 10/10
It is very slowly clouding. Really spectacular louche.

COLOR AFTER WATER 10/10
Appropriate for the style, slightly yellowish green. No chalkiness.

AROMA 27/30
Very crisp, sweet, inviting, angelica and some fennel.

MOUTH-FEEL 8/10
Bold, decisive, pronounced. Angelica gets more prominent for a while. Gives an impression as if it was at 72%, so still very concentrated and not muted.

TASTE 18/20
Robust, dryness, spiciness, bitterness, coriander bite, little hyssop touch. The herbs present their power in a staccato sequence, but leave a long, pleasant balance. The anethole buddies do not spoil the effect, just add a little shining between the lines of herbal nuances.

OVERALL IMPRESSION 10/10
The fight for the rule of vertes' realm in the US is between three players (for me): Leopold, Walton Waters and Pacifique. The last one is a tough player, so be warned. Congrats, Marc!

absinthist scores Pacifique 91 out of 100

Reviewed by Absomphe 3/14/09

COLOR BEFORE WATER 9/10
Beautiful pale to medium peridot. I agree with Absinthist that it could be deepr, but it's very refractive and appealing.

LOUCHE ACTION 10/10
Wonderfully gradual development with lots of delicate snow globe action, and ending up just the right thickness, with lovely opalescence.

COLOR AFTER WATER 10/10
Much of the original green is retained, and there are white highlights, which create a Creme de Menthe-like color, only much prettier, with background illumination.

AROMA 29/30
Neat, it is a concentrated alpine meadow perfume, and once louched, this opens up incredibly (not quite room filling, but close). It is a very balanced scent with notes of anise, fennel, a hint of angelica, and minty wormwood. Incredibly clean, and "alive".

MOUTH-FEEL 8/10
Not the creamiest I've ever experienced, but full, soft, and velvety.

TASTE 19/20
Pretty much mirrors the aroma. Impeccably balanced, with the hyssop a particular standout, imparting a delicious talc-like flavor. The angelica has been with consumate skill, and lends just the right level of spiciness. The Andulusian anise contributes a very pleasant candied/fruity aspect, and the finish evinces a nice touch of minty wormwood. The coriander plays (thankfully, after the Matter products) a more subtle role.

OVERALL IMPRESSION 10/10
Pacique is an absolutely delightful rendition of the Montpelier style, and is one of the finest absinthes I've ever had the pleasure to sip, commercial, or otherwise. Thanks, Marc, for bringing this beauty to fruition!

Absomphe scores Pacifique a 95 out of 100

COLOR BEFORE WATER 0/10
Clear again

LOUCHE ACTION 0/10
Slow but gets opaque

COLOR AFTER WATER 6/10
Whitish than blueish

AROMA 22/30
Anise with citrusy notes. Kinda faint

MOUTH-FEEL 8/10
Rounded but light

TASTE 19/20
More herbs than anisated cunts, spiciness in the aftertaste lingering long. Wormwood upfront

OVERALL IMPRESSION 9/10
Seems to be better than regular 54%, still needs work

absinthist scores La Valote-Martin Etre sur Soleur 55% 64 out of 100

COLOR BEFORE WATER 10/10
Crystal lake

LOUCHE ACTION 8/10
Lighter and slower than in regular Bovet

COLOR AFTER WATER 8/10
More blueish than expected.

AROMA 14/30
Herbal with some anethole buddies nuance

MOUTH-FEEL 6/10
Harsh, something adds the acid like feeling

TASTE 12/20
Wormwood and some other nice happenings, it is tasty, more absinthe than anisette unlike some of les bleues, still the harshness is something I am not so fond of and it is the factor for low score.

OVERALL IMPRESSION 6/10
The regular Bovet is better and smoother. Dear Willy, eliminate the harshness and it will be a nice and worth sipping absinthe.

absinthist scores La Valote-Bovet Tradition 64 out of 100

COLOR BEFORE WATER 2/10
The lightest coloured absinthe I have ever seen. The herbs had contact with the distillate for a split of seconds.

LOUCHE ACTION 4/10
Same louche action as with previous verte from Wanner.

COLOR AFTER WATER 3/10
This is white, mesdames et messieurs, le plus blanc d'argent!

AROMA 25/30
Here again, a surpise, very inviting and nice, no trace of funkiness or something skrewed.

MOUTH-FEEL 5/10
Delicate. Not too cloying.

TASTE 16/20
Better than in La Fée Verte. Bolder, wormwood is there, pontica, I am detecting Roman chamomile in the finish. The finish is pleasant.

OVERALL IMPRESSION 6/10
Both products from Wanner are a new dimension of Swiss extraits, La Fée de la Rade needs some improvements and it is about to be very original absinthe.

absinthist scores La Fée de la Rade from René Wanner (verte) 61 out of 100

COLOR BEFORE WATER 2/10
Hey, the Swiss have stolen the colour of piolunówka! Too light for an extrait. When exposed to light it is crystal clear.

LOUCHE ACTION 4/10
1:1 it is as opaque as a fuck.

COLOR AFTER WATER 3/10
And white as lead white. Not a good sign for a verte.

AROMA 27/30
Really nice. Herbacous with some tiny spicy nuances, very complex.

MOUTH-FEEL 3/10
Balanced but without personality.

TASTE 15/20
Short-lived, better, crispier and spicier when served 1:2 or even 1:1. The spiciness lasts long.

OVERALL IMPRESSION 5/10
Weird absinthe. Rather a decent la bleue. Leaves a good impression when served rightly.

absinthist scores Absintissimo La Fée Verte 59 out of 100