La Fée Absinthe Parisienne

Visuals (neat): Pale green with hints of peridot and emerald. The color is natural. The dilution process begins with a leisurely, oily swirl, gradually forming into fine creamy wisps. The full emulsion starts around the 1:2 mark. Depending on sugar addition and dilution speed, you might observe a sugar layer at the bottom and oils at the top, with a pale yellow cloud in between. This is noticeable here. The finished drink resembles milky white jade with yellow undertones. Smell: A sophisticated blend of anise, coriander, hyssop, and wormwood, complemented by floral, mint, and citrus notes. The scents are reserved when neat but open up with the first drops of water, creating a clear, fresh herbal mix at about 1:3-1:4 dilution. Taste: A delightful, sweet start at any dilution from 1:3 to 1:6. I suggest 1:4-1:5 for the optimal finish. At lower dilutions, a slight bitterness lingers, but this vanishes below 20% ABV, revealing many sweet notes in the finish. It possesses an herbal depth and a subtle, 'twiggy' woody quality often found in quality absinthe. While purists might prefer no sugar, I enjoy the richness of one cube. The overall taste is smooth, intricate, and gratifying, with a texture that coats the mouth and a pleasing duration. This is a rather luxurious absinthe and a new personal favorite. It surpasses Pernod as a starting absinthe, though its higher price point makes 'entry-level' debatable. It has a creamier texture than Pernod, a gentle citrus note, and lacks the unpleasant bitter aftertaste found in Pernod. Crucial point: Disregard any reviews criticizing this absinthe for artificial coloring or dismissing it as a simple mix of oils in neutral spirits. Those comments pertain to an outdated version of the product and are no longer relevant. La Fée (The Fairy) was the inaugural absinthe produced in France post-prohibition. However, its initial 2000 launch was flawed and rightly criticized. It was an early attempt to revive the spirit, artificially colored and not genuinely distilled from botanicals. Its profile was coarse and harsh, with an overpowering and unbalanced anise flavor. It seems the first batches were rushed, and unfortunately, this early version persisted, accumulating negative feedback. I recall tasting it in 2004 and noted in my journal: "inferior - avoid in the future." However, in 2013, the producers wisely revamped the spirit, developing a new formula closer to pre-ban absinthe recipes. They shifted to a production method using 100% fresh botanicals and a traditional chlorophyll coloring technique. This transformation resulted in a significantly improved product, deserving of commendation. La Fée is now marketed as “La Fée Parisienne Absinthe Supérieure” with a slightly different label than pictured. It's unlikely any pre-2013 stock remains, but the new version is identifiable by its green plasticized bottle coating, designed to protect the natural color from light. This is a highly enjoyable and quite addictive absinthe with a tendency towards sweetness. The official notes are accurate and perceptive. “Very Good”: 87/100 (4.25 stars)

A complex, semi-sweet, herbal aperitif/cordial from France, made with 100% natural ingredients, including 60% grand wormwood, since July 2013. It begins with herbal notes, developing a complex profile with hints of anise, fennel, and apple, leading to a long finish. Tasted March 2017, January [year not specified], and April 2019.

I'll bring it to you, it's safe, and I'll see you tomorrow. Love you too, you're too hot.

See Cascode for extensive notes, I can't say it any better.

Tastes like black licorice