Mephisto Absinthe Classique

Rating: 13/23 Wow, this is intensely green! Not a subtle hint of blue-green or an organic, natural shade like Chartreuse, but a vibrant, almost neon, artificial-looking green. The label says "colored with Wormwood P?ntie?", which looks like "Pontiea" but likely means "Pontica", referring to Roman Wormwood. I'm already drawn to it for that name, though I doubt the color genuinely comes from Artemisia Pontica. Even well-regarded liqueurs like Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao use coloring, so I'll reserve judgment. Nose: It presents an intriguing contrast between sweet, prominent floral notes and fruitiness, alongside bitter, medicinal, herbal aromas. It's relatively delicate but offers a compelling complexity and pleasant balance. Importantly, the wormwood's bitterness doesn't dominate immediately, showing real potential. Palate: The initial taste is light and sweet, with abundant floral character that transitions into a sweeter fruitiness, difficult to pinpoint but leaning towards apple and light tropical fruit. Something feels slightly off at this stage. The fruitiness seems to pass the baton, but no new profile emerges, leaving it stuck on a single, remarkably persistent, and increasingly artificial note. This is a strange observation, I realize. There are pleasant citrus notes and hints of rose and tea, reminiscent of Roku gin, although the consistent sweetness is more akin to Nolet's. I definitely detect licorice (not a mild anise) and wormwood, but they are well-balanced. Despite the sweetness, the profile is light for an absinthe, yet I find it enjoyable. Combined with the sweetness, there's a subtle, light, spicy floral aroma on the palate that surprisingly and pleasingly brings Chartreuse Green to mind. Finish:...Apparently, I neglected to record this, but I recall it being essentially the palate with added numbness. As a standalone drink, this is significantly better than Oregon Spirit and likely one of the most approachable absinthes. Its performance in cocktails is less certain, but I suspect it's at least adequate. My comparisons with Roku, Chartreuse Green, and Oregon Spirit's bitterness lead me to believe a reasonably high rating is warranted. It also holds up well against Corsair Red. Corsair possesses a richer, more refined character, while this offering is fun and flavorful. Corsair Red seems more likely to elevate a drink's sophistication, though I question if that always enhances the experience. Conversely, this is more gin-like with sharper flavors that would perform better in mixed drinks. It won't provide a deep, slightly savory base, but it will effectively convey floral, fruity, licorice, minty, and bitter notes. I'm genuinely undecided on which is superior as a mixer and could easily debate which is better for sipping. At this moment, I'm leaning towards Mephisto, but that could shift. This might be the most sippable absinthe I've encountered to date. It's a solid product that I'd be happy to keep on hand for mixing or occasional, small-quantity sipping. I'm considering a range of 12 to 15, perhaps a 16 if I'm feeling particularly generous. I've perhaps built it up, describing its impressive transformation from green alien sludge to a balanced, complex, sippable spirit. Now, let me bring it back to reality, like a clumsy alien spacecraft. It's a truly poor choice for general cocktail use. It significantly dilutes darker, richer spirits and tends to impart an unappealing, sickly green tint. While it may possess some subtle complexities, the overall flavor and mouthfeel become muted in bourbon and rye, with mineral and other disappointing elements failing to compensate for what is lost. A genuine letdown in that respect. Should I adjust the rating because of this? Its quality as a sipper remains the same, but perhaps I was subconsciously inflating its score, hoping it would also function well as a versatile mixer. It does show some redemption in gin cocktails. When paired with a clean, dry gin, it rivals Oregon Spirit. My ratings are based on the best possible presentation of what I'm tasting (meaning, how I can best utilize it, not necessarily my personal preference unless I struggle to adjust), so whether it excels neat or in cocktails is acceptable – just purchase it with the intention of consuming it one way or the other. Using a superior gin (Beefeater instead of Dover Strait), it enters an interesting tie with the others (Corsair and Oregon Spirit). The curious result is that all three create exaggerated versions of iconic gins: Ford's (Corsair), Beefeater (Oregon Spirit), and Roku (Mephisto). Honestly, serving as a Roku alternative when mixed with Beefeater is a bit much, bordering on the exaggerated intensity of Nolet's, but it's still quite good. I consider this particular contest a three-way draw. The green hue is unavoidable. Its inclusion in a gin-based drink undeniably affects the flavor, and not positively. While the green color can be fun, it complicates its use, even in very small amounts. Alright, in a mix with Dover Straight (ugh, this again) and Noily Pratt Dry Vermouth, it performs quite well. The fruity and floral notes are pleasant. The only issue is that they seem somewhat disconnected. It's still an improvement over Oregon Spirit in this context, but Corsair ultimately takes the top spot here. It's not a bad option, but one must be seeking a drier, more floral, and fruity profile. And that peculiar green-blue color persists. This is an unfortunate conclusion, but I must base the rating on its neat quality. It's frankly unsuitable for most cocktails. If I were rating it for mixed drinks, I'd give it an 8 to 11. Yes, it's tragic. For sipping, I was leaning towards a 14 for the flavor, but then shifted closer to a 13 upon noticing its underlying watery character (the root of its cocktail issues). I don't particularly dislike it as a sipper apart from its intense numbing effect, but it doesn't excite me. That numbing quality is a significant drawback for sipping; after only a couple of sips, all complexity fades. I think a 12 or 13 is appropriate, though I can still vaguely envision a 14. I certainly wouldn't purchase a bottle, as I'd only use it in cocktails, and it's not great for them.

The aroma is heavily dominated by ethanol with hints of anise and spice. The heat is immediately apparent on the palate, accompanied by a subtle wormwood flavor and mild sweetness. The mouthfeel is exceptionally dry, stripping all moisture from your mouth when drunk straight. Adding water reveals the wormwood more prominently, creating a more bitter, anise-forward drink with herbal undertones. The spirit has a slight earthy color and appears free of green dye, though earlier versions might have contained it. Diluting it produces a faint louche effect, making the liquid resemble lemon juice. The louche effect is not pronounced. Good value for the cost. The spirit's presence is noticeable even in small amounts in cocktails.

This beverage presents a pale green hue and smells strongly of black licorice and harsh alcohol. Intense black licorice dominates the taste. The alcohol impact is very sharp. It has a somewhat bready character and lacks sufficient balance for the potent alcohol.

A complex Austrian absinthe that began herbal and had a thick body, leading to a light fennel finish. March 2017

Warmth and licorice notes.