Absinthe Eichelberger 60 Verte 60% - 50cl

Though I can't yet really put my finger on it, I feel that the use of non dried herbs makes it different from the other absinthes I routinely drink. It's mild and mellow. It's sweet by itself, making me use no sugar, and it is not too strongly anise flavoured. Bio certification is definitely a plus for me. It's definitely going to be a regular host in my home bar.

The Eichelberger 60 Verte is a less alcoholic cousin of the 68 limitée (I awarded 4.5/5). It's major selling point is that it is all organic and uses only fresh herbs, and by that it means locally sourced, non dried herbs.

Appearance:
Colour, a light green with hues of amber. Very clear.

Louche:
Progressive. Thick. Anise tails shoot down into the bottom of the glass, where they remain. It reminds me of looking over a hilly landscape, the morning mist still clinging to the grass. A deep green layer floats above the chaos of the louche below. A very subtle fragrant bouquet of wormwood notes seep into the room.

Aroma:
Long lasting, but mild. Nosing the glass, one doesn't get the usual explosion of smells. The wormwood notes carry very well, but everything else gets lost.

Flavour & Mouthfeel
Thin mouthfeel, no real creaminess to speak of. Wormwood dominated. Soft mint and fennel notes. Disappointingly in the process of sourcing local herbs, I feel that they have sacrificed too much here. Not to say it isn't pleasant in the slightest, but having already tried the 68 limitée, I was expecting to be taken on a much more complex journey of the taste buds. The flavours are simply not powerful enough (at least in the ratio of 1:4 to one cube that I tend to go for). The bitterness nice against the sugar, and the liquorish/fennel notes are present... But I want more of them.

Finish:
Ahhh there is the anise, comes across vaguely in the distance. Otherwise, short. A pleasant burn remains. Quite a lot of dryness in the finish too.

The usual 1:4 and one cube ratio reviewed here. Would perhaps suggest holding back on the water making it more 1:3 and adding water from there to taste. The one sugar cube works well in 1:4

A slight disappointment for me here, but perhaps I was expecting it to be something it simply wasn't. It does describe itself as a mild absinthe on the back of the bottle, so to that end, it does well. A nice summer garden sipping absinthe, would be my final verdict, but perhaps not the drink for an absinther that prefers a challenging tasting experience. Would I keep one in my hypothetical celler? Yes, but its not coming out after a tough day.

3.5/5

First time trying absinthe. Tried it neat, anise taste was strong. Next tried it with 1-1 1/2 ratio water and 1/2-1 cube sugar, the taste was subtler, better. It does have a noticeable anise taste which to me places it more in a sipping after dinner drink or a night cap versus drinking with food. Liked the tingling, numbing sensation in my lips afterward.

A very pleasant absinthe with a musky fruit flavour that is almost sherbert-like. It makes for easy drinking and is highly refreshing. Good value too.

Smooth and wonderful. Scent had depths that continue to develop as the various flavours take their turns inside your mouth.