Pernod Anise Liqueur

Appearance (neat): A clear, gleaming brilliant yellow quartz/zircon with a green hue. The louche starts almost immediately, maintaining the bright yellow but becoming cloudy, resembling yellow jade. As it's diluted further, the liquid lightens to a cloudy lemon color, similar to cloudy limoncello. Aroma: Herbal, minty, with citrus (lemon). Anise and fennel are noticeable but less dominant than in most pastis, with a subtle wormwood aroma. The louched aroma is like a cool, lightly scented morning breeze of anise and citrus. Flavor and Texture: At a 1:4 dilution, it's wonderfully refreshing, with mild notes of anise, fennel, and subtle wormwood (no strong wormwood). There are fruity, citrus flavors and a gentle herbal sweetness. The texture is full-bodied and satisfying. It's very clean and cooling, with a hint of liquorice in the aftertaste. Compared to its sibling aperitifs Ricard and Pastis 51, as well as many other pastis, Pernod has a lower star anise content, a prominent sweet citrus profile, and greater overall complexity, though it's not the most complex pastis available. The anise/liquorice flavor is just enough to be interesting without being overpowering or one-dimensional, and I much prefer it to Ricard. Whether Pernod is a "true" pastis is debatable. It shares many traits with such spirits but has distinguishing features, making it more accurately described as an "anise liqueur" (as labeled) positioned between absinthe and pastis. It tastes slightly more like an absinthe than a pastis, but its pre-added sugar and much lower alcohol content compared to any absinthe make it more accessible and simpler to prepare. I greatly enjoy it and believe it is rivaled only by the very best of the true pastis, such as Henri Bardouin and Lemercier 1811. "Very Good": 87/100 (4.25 stars)

A traditional French spirit, often substituted for absinthe in drinks. It's sweet and aromatic with botanicals (a pale green hue) and a subtle, clear anise note. The alcohol isn't harsh, nor is it bitter; it's smooth and botanical. It becomes cloudy when diluted with water or ice. Enjoy it in mixed drinks, over ice, or chilled straight.

It has a light green hue and a powerful black licorice aroma. It's an exceptionally smooth spirit to sip. There's a mild sweetness in the finish. The texture is lightly syrupy.

I'm not a fan of anise, but this is generally pleasant for an anise liqueur. I'll only use this in cocktails.

distinct anise flavor, with a bitter finish.