La Clandestine Review

53% ABV
Lot Number: 0701

Color and Louche

Crystal Clear right from the bottle. Very strong solid white louche at 5:1. High quality herbs are clearly used to make this absinthe.

Aroma
Unique herbal scent escapes from the bottle once uncorked. Anise isn’t the first scent to come across. I get the fennel and wormwood and bouquet of un-discernable fresh herbs.

Once louched, I get wormwood, anise and faint scent of honey.

Flavor
Perfect herbal balance. Strongly covers the bases of the three “required” herbs; anise, fennel and wormwood. Other herbs mingle to create a delightfully unique flavor. Imagine licking the pollen off a bee buzzing around an absinthe herb garden. It leaves me wondering if there is a curveball herb thrown in or maybe just the masterful blend that gives this impression.

Finish

This absinthe coats your pallet with a slightly spicy effect. It comes across as bright, clean and balanced.

Overall
This is the measure that should be used to compare other Swiss Blues. I’ve tried 4-5 of the other artisanal absinthes from Val-De-Travers. All have been enjoyable but this is only one I will never leave un-stocked in my absinthe collection. This absinthe has been a part of my collection for 3 years. Prior to being available in the USA, I would drink it sparingly for special moments or events. Now that it readily available here, it will my first absinthe of choice.