Description: According to http://www.alandia.de: "Absente is a French absinthe with a sweet wood flavor. The thujon level is low and the flavor resembles a Pastis. Something for gourmets."
Description: Pastis available over the counter. There is an E.U. version that is reputably absinthe.
Description: According to http://www.laboheme.uk.com/ Without doubt, this is simply the finest Absinthe available. In its elegant new bottle, it looks good, it tastes good, it is good. La Boheme Absinthe is distilled in the Czech Republic to our exclusive 200 year old Swiss recipe. And because of our intimate knowledge of the distilleries and herb growers we are able to ensure that only the very best ingredients are selected for use in its manufacture.This full - bodied hand made liqueur contains 10 mg of thujone at the time of bottling. Drink it with a little sugar and water or as a base for your favourite cocktail. Either way, La Boheme Absinthe is one of life's great pleasures.
Description: INFO: (from distributor, and run thru babelfish) A new, interesting Absinth from Germany at the particularly attractive price fox liquor brings an interesting Absinth with Absinthus on the German market. Particularly the price is a Knaller. The pronounced anise taste is rounded off by a very beautiful, easily bitter aftertaste. For price-conscious a risers exactly the correct!
Description: From the manufacturer: ALANDIAs Gold68 uses maximum wormwood for the strongest thujon concentration, but skips anise to avoid a dominating licorice taste. Moreover stimulating citrus notes are present, which give this Absinthe besides its natural bitterness a pleasant body, though very effective for a real experience. If you are looking for the perfect, non licorice Absinthe effect, this is your choice. No artificial additives are used and the alcohol level is set at classic 68%.
Description: According to http://www.bairnsfather.net/: "Bairnsfather Absinth and Bitter are essentially the same product, a 100% natural herbal composition with 55% alcohol by volume, natural green colour and a lovely “louche” when ice water is added. The main difference is in the chop.gif content. Our Absinth as a maximum of 10 mg/ltr chop.gif, which the actual level between 9 and 10 mg/ltr . Our Bitter, in accordance with Czech and EU law, has a maximum of 35 mg/ltr of chop.gif with the actual level between 33 and 35 mg/ltr."
Description: According to http://www.1a-absinth.com: "This brand is made in a small czech destillery, according to an old family recipe from 1866. It is hard to find and has a good balanced, fruity taste that reminds a little of Segarra absinth."
Description: Candela is the same absinthe as Absenta N.S but renamed and relabelled mainly for the German market.
INFO: (from distributor, and run thru babelfish)
Tradition obligates - Candela, a leading product from the tradition house Monforte del Cid (1895) Candela is a new absinthe from Spain. The manufacturer Monforte del Cid produced already since 1895 liquor and ranks thereby among the oldest manufacturers from Spain. The wormwood is cultivated and distilled several times, so that this absinthe receives a beautiful dark-green color. Welcome The Green Fairy! The taste is of pronounced herb notes in the foreground with an unobstrusive anise concentration.
Description: Photo courtesy of ArthurFrayn.
Description: Wine and Spirit International, London
For Wholesale Distribution Only
Description: A well known Spanish absenta that has been around for ages.
Description: The clasic Deva absenta in a different package, with a different label and most notably a different proof. 70% alchohol, 100% Deva.
Description: According to http://www.doubsabsinthe.com: "According to an age-old French recipe, Doubs Premium Absinthe is produced using the finest alcohol, distilled wormwood and eleven mountain herbs (including anise, fennel, hyssop and lemon balm)."
Description: [From the Distributer] Elixier is a strong brand which is stored in old oak barrels to receive a special taste. Aphrotisying herbs are added to give him a "special" value added. Minty taste, anisefree, no louche. 0,5 liter, 70% alc.
Description: [From Spirits Corner] Tasting Notes: Ferri is a traditional distiller from Valencia, who had discontinued distilling absinthe, and now has relaunched its classical absinthe. Very "Spanish" absinthe, with a tipycal balance between wormwood and anis.
Description: Available as a "bulk" absinthe from stores selling Flaschengeist essence products.
Description: From http://www.fruko.cz: Absinth is produced according to the traditional French distillation techniques that decend from the time of Napoleon. Absinth is a herbbased spirit with a slightly bitter taste. [...cut out well known history blurb...] In the Czech Republic, we have improved the old production technology and while still upholding the strict EU regulations concerning the components of Absinth and the control of (an extract of wormwood), FRUKO-SCHULZ 's ABSINTH complies fully with current legislation whilst allowing the drinker to taste the full Absinth effect.
Description: [From the Distributer] This absinthe has no anise and no louche. Try it with Coke and you will experience the best mixdrink you have ever tasted...0,7 liter, 50% alc.
Description: According to http://www.laboheme.uk.com/: "Hills absinthe is made with herbal extracts, the main herb being wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). An emerald green absinthe drink with a distinctive bitter taste. Manufactured in the Czech Republic by Hills since 1920. Czech absinthe with the original Czech label.
Description: From the vendor: 85% alcohol combined with wormwood and a merciless black color will start your psychadelic dreams. The Absinthe itself comes in a heavy glass bottle with a wooden cork.
Description: According to http://www.laboheme.uk.com/ : "Developed from an original Swiss absinthe recipe this Czech absinthe is free of colorings and preservatives. All the essential ingredients and herbs are carefully selected and processed to ensure the unique taste of Absinthe. The delicate process of maceration continues with the presence of herbs (the main one being wormwood) in the bottle."
NOTE:
The following text was submitted to an online poll at the Fee Verte Forum, and then later at the Wormwood Society Forum as well. As of November 15, 2006, 84 members participated in the poll, of whom 93% agreed wholeheartedly, or with only minor reservations, that the text accurately reflected their view of KOS/KOSG. The actual numbers were: agreed wholeheartedly - 72 members or 85%, agreed with minor reservations 9 members or 8%. So it's fair to say this text represents the collective view of our online absinthe community.
King of Spirits (KOS) and King of Spirits Gold (KOSG)
These “absinthes” deserve a special entry, because they’re very aggressively marketed online as “the ultimate”, "the original as drunk by Toulouse Lautrec and Hemingway”, the “only authentic absinthes”. They’re none of these things – on the contrary, they are, in the near unanimous opinion of the hundreds of regular posters both here and in the other independent online absinthe forums, precisely two of the most notorious ersatz products in the entire industry.
To put this in plain language: these absinthes, amongst the most expensive on the market, and certainly the most heavily promoted online, are in reality almost undrinkable, and bear little if any relation to the taste of real absinthe.
KOS and KOSG give the appearance of being widely recommended - dozens of websites and countless blogs mention them, and even supply links to purchase them, giving the impression of a broad consensus as to their quality. It’s not usually clear to the casual viewer that these references are almost always linked to the affiliate programs run by the vendors of KOS and KOSG.
Neither at this, nor at any other well-known, independent absinthe discussion-and-review website are you likely to find even one positive review for these products (this includes sites in France, Sweden and Germany). There are arguments for and against many different brands, and people who strongly favor brands that are otherwise unpopular. But there are no positive reviews for KOS or KOSG on any of these sites. There are no stubborn fans who defend them there, yet many tasters of all stripes who revile them. Why is the consensus here at Fee Verte, and at the other leading absinthe forums that KOS and especially KOSG are to be avoided?
1. The contain little or no anise, which is the primary flavour in absinthe. Absinthe without anise isn’t absinthe, or at least not absinthe as it was ever understood in France or Switzerland.
2. KOS and KOSG are arguably even less authentic than most other Czech absinthes, almost all of which are totally inauthentic. At no time during the Belle Epoque did any absinthe, whether distilled or mixed from essences, naturally or artificially colored, cheap or expensive, contain wormwood leaves or other herbal matter floating in the bottle, as do KOS and KOSG. The best distillers of the time knew better than to refine a bitter plant into a soft, palatable drink, only to ruin the drink by dumping the unrefined plant back into the finished bottle. The less-reputable producers also knew better – gimmicks to sell a product were often seen, but vegetable debris in the bottle would have been so obvious a hallmark of low quality that not even the most disreputable dared attempt such a thing.
3. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. KOS and KOSG are not merely bland, or dull, or a little too bitter – they are frightfully bitter, weird-tasting stuff, to the point of being undrinkable. They’re much easier to spit out than to swallow.
4. King of Spirits Gold appears to be the same foul tasting stuff as KOS, but with the thujone boosted to levels that make it illegal to sell in the EU. It’s sold at nearly twice the price of the finest genuine absinthes. There is no historical precedent for the addition of extra thujone to absinthe, and the most scrupulous recent scientific research has confirmed that vintage absinthe had very little thujone, typically less than 10mg/l. thujone won’t, even in high doses, make you trip, hallucinate, or have any significant drug-like experience. In short, to buy an absinthe with expectation of getting high is to be sure of wasting your money. As the most aggressive online promoter of the bogus thujone myth, KOSG deserves special censure. Read our FAQ for lots more on thujone. See also “What’s wrong with Czech Absinthe” (http://www.wormwoodsociety.org/czech.html) by our friends at the Wormwood Society.
We’d have no problem with KOS and KOSG if they were truthfully marketed for what they are: rather eccentric Eastern European bitters. But to claim, as they do, that they are authentic absinthes, and indeed the ne plus ultra of their type, is a travesty. Avoid them.
Description: From the manufacturer: We are the only firm producing absinth with the contents of this neurotoxic drug 100 mg/l. However, such an absinth cannot be bought in every country, the reason consists above all in the legal limit of 10 mg of thujone per liter. It can be bought almost exclusively only with the helo of Internet.
NOTE:
The following text was submitted to an online poll at the Fee Verte Forum, and then later at the Wormwood Society Forum as well. As of November 15, 2006, 84 members participated in the poll, of whom 93% agreed wholeheartedly, or with only minor reservations, that the text accurately reflected their view of KOS/KOSG. The actual numbers were: agreed wholeheartedly - 72 members or 85%, agreed with minor reservations 9 members or 8%. So it's fair to say this text represents the collective view of our online absinthe community.
King of Spirits (KOS) and King of Spirits Gold (KOSG)
These “absinthes” deserve a special entry, because they’re very aggressively marketed online as “the ultimate”, "the original as drunk by Toulouse Lautrec and Hemingway”, the “only authentic absinthes”. They’re none of these things – on the contrary, they are, in the near unanimous opinion of the hundreds of regular posters both here and in the other independent online absinthe forums, precisely two of the most notorious ersatz products in the entire industry.
To put this in plain language: these absinthes, amongst the most expensive on the market, and certainly the most heavily promoted online, are in reality almost undrinkable, and bear little if any relation to the taste of real absinthe.
KOS and KOSG give the appearance of being widely recommended - dozens of websites and countless blogs mention them, and even supply links to purchase them, giving the impression of a broad consensus as to their quality. It’s not usually clear to the casual viewer that these references are almost always linked to the affiliate programs run by the vendors of KOS and KOSG.
Neither at this, nor at any other well-known, independent absinthe discussion-and-review website are you likely to find even one positive review for these products (this includes sites in France, Sweden and Germany). There are arguments for and against many different brands, and people who strongly favor brands that are otherwise unpopular. But there are no positive reviews for KOS or KOSG on any of these sites. There are no stubborn fans who defend them there, yet many tasters of all stripes who revile them. Why is the consensus here at Fee Verte, and at the other leading absinthe forums that KOS and especially KOSG are to be avoided?
1. The contain little or no anise, which is the primary flavour in absinthe. Absinthe without anise isn’t absinthe, or at least not absinthe as it was ever understood in France or Switzerland.
2. KOS and KOSG are arguably even less authentic than most other Czech absinthes, almost all of which are totally inauthentic. At no time during the Belle Epoque did any absinthe, whether distilled or mixed from essences, naturally or artificially colored, cheap or expensive, contain wormwood leaves or other herbal matter floating in the bottle, as do KOS and KOSG. The best distillers of the time knew better than to refine a bitter plant into a soft, palatable drink, only to ruin the drink by dumping the unrefined plant back into the finished bottle. The less-reputable producers also knew better – gimmicks to sell a product were often seen, but vegetable debris in the bottle would have been so obvious a hallmark of low quality that not even the most disreputable dared attempt such a thing.
3. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. KOS and KOSG are not merely bland, or dull, or a little too bitter – they are frightfully bitter, weird-tasting stuff, to the point of being undrinkable. They’re much easier to spit out than to swallow.
4. King of Spirits Gold appears to be the same foul tasting stuff as KOS, but with the thujone boosted to levels that make it illegal to sell in the EU. It’s sold at nearly twice the price of the finest genuine absinthes. There is no historical precedent for the addition of extra thujone to absinthe, and the most scrupulous recent scientific research has confirmed that vintage absinthe had very little thujone, typically less than 10mg/l. thujone won’t, even in high doses, make you trip, hallucinate, or have any significant drug-like experience. In short, to buy an absinthe with expectation of getting high is to be sure of wasting your money. As the most aggressive online promoter of the bogus thujone myth, KOSG deserves special censure. Read our FAQ for lots more on thujone. See also “What’s wrong with Czech Absinthe” (http://www.wormwoodsociety.org/czech.html) by our friends at the Wormwood Society.
We’d have no problem with KOS and KOSG if they were truthfully marketed for what they are: rather eccentric Eastern European bitters. But to claim, as they do, that they are authentic absinthes, and indeed the ne plus ultra of their type, is a travesty. Avoid them.
Description:
Website: www.kruts.dk (danish only)
Description: The L'Amesinthe was a medal winner at the Absinthiades in 2004 and 2005. Considering it took part in the "Macerated" category and consindering the competition, this isn't necessarily a merit though. It is very similar to Versinthe and pre-sweetened. According to Alko's (liquor stores) laboratory in Finland, the L'Amesinthe contains 130g/l sugar.
Description: PIC: la Fee Spoon
According to http://www.lafeeabsinthe.com
"La Fée was created from an authentic 19th century recipe and was developed in a French distillery under the supervision of Madame Delahaye. It contains a dozen or more plants, including 'Grande' and 'Petite' Absinthe (artemisia absinthium and artemisia pontica). La Fée is a distilled absinthe — the botanicals are macerated in alcohol and then distilled in accordance with the most traditional methods."
Description: According to Alandia.de: With its devilish color Diablo Rouge creates an Absinthe atmosphere with a cutting edge look. Its recipe has a slight anise touch and uses Ginseng also, a plant from China which is recognized for its revitalizing and tonic action.
Description: According to Spirits Corner: Aromatic, with a strong presence in the mouth. Relatively low anis content, which makes it suitable for those who do not like the classic anise tasting absinthes.
Description: [FROM THE DISTRUBUTOR] This absinthe which comes from an old family recipe shows that some absinthes were made in the past without anis, but with licorice and wormwood only. It therefore does not louche, but still has a very pleasant flavour and a high content of thujone . We recommend it for those who do not like the anis flavour.
Description: According to http://www.alandia.de : "Libertine is made in Fougerolles in France. With a stronger wormwood content the legal maximum of 30-35mg thujon is reached. The composition of herbs is balanced, with a slight bitter touch, which indicates its strength."
Description: The Montana distilleries in Spain have been producing absinthe for a very long time. Vintage Montana absentas are very good and represent some of the finer vintage Spanish absinthes. Modern Montana Absentas does not hold the same high quality but are among the better "standard" spanish absinthes anyway.
