Jade 1901 Absinthe Supérieure

Appearance: (neat) Gold with a green tint. (louched) Deep, opaque green that resembles a milkshake. The emulsion is delayed but beautiful to observe. Thick streaks form with each water addition, twisting and merging. As the cloudiness develops, it sharpens from various points, eventually forming a dense haze topped with golden-green surface oils. The oils are fully incorporated around a 1:3 dilution. Emerging scents of anise and wormwood are prominent during this time. Aroma: A robust, captivating fragrance of blossoms and herbs. It possesses a strong wildflower character with a pronounced fennel and anise presence. Intense notes reminiscent of spicy curries and tagines are also detected - curry leaf, cardamom, cumin, liquorice, fenugreek, tamarind, and anise. These are complemented by brighter notes of peppermint, spearmint, oil of wintergreen, and lemon sorbet. The complexity is exceptional. It has the expected woody, herbal quality of fine absinthe, but presented with remarkable subtlety and lightness. A woody sensation applied to a citrus/spice profile. Flavour: The initial taste is sweet, bitter, spiced, slightly dry, and numbing. The flavor profile balances fennel, green anise, and wormwood with undertones of pine forests and damp earth. A hint of saltiness and a bright, resinous note akin to juniper are present. The texture is smooth and oily, with an exceptionally enduring finish focused on anise and wormwood, offering a flavor like black jellybeans or liquorice. Even half an hour after tasting, the intricate array of flavors remains on the palate. Exceptional. Initially, I tasted this at approximately 1:3 dilution, just as the surface oils integrated. At this point, it was intensely flavorful, overwhelming the palate, and became almost too much with subsequent sips. Experienced absinthe drinkers might appreciate it then, but I added more ice water, reaching about 1:5 dilution. This made it much more approachable while still showcasing a powerful character. This unmatched creation was the second spirit developed by Ted Breaux, based on his analysis of 19th-century absinthe samples. In this instance, the samples were from Pernod bottles, and Breaux's final product closely resembles fin de siècle Pernod Fils absinthe. Those fortunate enough to have tasted genuine pre-ban Pernod absinthe concur that this expression is very similar to the original, and I am overjoyed to experience even a representation of the original. Jade 1901 is crafted entirely by hand in small batches at Distillerie Combier in Saumur. The distillery utilizes the original 19th-century Pernod Fils stills from Pontarlier, acquired by Combier in 1920 following the absinthe ban. Ted Breaux used to oversee every batch personally, but production is now managed by the distillery. The base spirit is derived from grape marc, and the absinthe is matured for three years in oak barrels before bottling. It is a naturally colored verte absinthe, though the exact stage of adding the color (from nettle infusion) is unclear. This is not a spirit for daily consumption, much like certain whiskies. It's an intense experience to be savored deliberately when the time and mood are right. It stands as another remarkable absinthe from the Jade collection, highly recommended. For anyone serious about exploring the world of absinthe, tasting this is essential. “Outstanding”: 96/100 (5 stars)

A complex herbal aperitif/cordial from France, created by the Jade company based on a 1901 recipe from the renowned Pernod Fils distillery in Saumur, France. Its earthy beginning features notes of fresh flowers, hints of wormwood, star anise, and a touch of peppermint. A thick, creamy middle adds wormwood, fennel, hints of anise, and allspice, leading to a long, spicy conclusion with a touch of mint. March 2017