Reviewed by disas 5/8/2008

COLOR BEFORE WATER 7/10
An attractive and fairly light amber brown with hits of orange and peach. There was some sediment.

LOUCHE ACTION 8/10
Slow swirls to start, becoming more lively somewhat earlier on than expected. A slightly faster and thinner louche than one might prefer but still beautiful.

COLOR AFTER WATER 8/10
A pleasing peachy hue overall with a some real depth. Holds the light rather well.

AROMA 27/30
Before water a very clean mix of Anise and Wormwood with only a touch of the base showing itself. As the louche begins to form it draws richer scents from the glass, more rounded with a faint floral character. The clearly high quality Wormwood is still predominant and beautiful on the nose.

MOUTH-FEEL 6/10
Thinner than some other pre ban samples I have been fortunate enough to taste. Not as mouth coating as one would like.

TASTE 18/20
A very clean and smooth absinthe with a classic Pontarlier profile. To my palette this, as pre ban goes is not a particularly complex verte, very well integrated but lacking the level of floral complexity and spice that is so clearly in evidence in the likes of Pernod fils or Edouard Pernod.
This instead is a delicate alpine wash with a touch of fennel sweetness and virtually no heat, clean and fresh with an exceptional wormwood profile, dancing in stages on the tongue.
The finish is long with that aforementioned A Absinthium continuing to take centre stage.

OVERALL IMPRESSION 9/10
This is a very fine Absinthe, clearly of very high quality in terms of the herbs used (one of the best examples of wormwood I have been granted the pleasure of enjoying) and what would appear to have been a very unobtrusive base (thought it has, of course mellowed over time).
It does not exhibit the sheer level of complexity of some others but marked on its own merits it is still a beautiful, delicate and smooth drink. A pleasure and a privilege.

disas scores Fritz Duval Extrait d'Absinthe 72% circa 1895. 83 out of 100

Reviewed by Ricki 6/17/2008

COLOR BEFORE WATER 8/10
A very nice amber. Very clear, no sediment.

LOUCHE ACTION 8/10
Very nice louche action. Slightly quicker and thicker than what I had expected though.

COLOR AFTER WATER 8/10
A beautiful milky amber.

AROMA 26/30
Before water is added there is a nice strong anise and wormwood profile. After the water is added it blossoms with nice floral character while still keeping the anise and wormwood in front. Well rounded.

MOUTH-FEEL 8/10
Excellent mouth feel with a slight numbing of the front of my tongue. Quite pleasing.

TASTE 18/20
One of the very best Absinthes I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. Very well balanced.

OVERALL IMPRESSION 9/10
This is my very first taste of Pre-Ban absinthe and I don't want to go back to drinking the normal stuff now. If only there was a way to travel back in time.

Ricki scores Fritz Duval Extrait d'Absinthe 72%, circa 1895 85 out of 100