est. 2007

Jade Verte Suisse 65 Absinthe Review:

-65% abv, .7 litre (.5 litre shown)                       

-Country of Origin: France        

-Gold Medal Winner and Best in Class at the 2007 London International Wine and Spirits Competition

Jade Verte Suisse, old girl, how have you been?  It was the first absinthe in the Jade line of historical reproductions as well as the first Jade I tried, and it was done damn well.  The fact that a bottle of Jade VS can be seen on the main page was probably a dead giveaway that it is a good absinthe, but I’ll be a gentleman and deliver the full report…

Apparently our little Jade, is a bit shy; just not the flashy type, you know?  No toxic green colour, no “high thujone” indication printed in caps, and a petite (but alluring) little label.  ‘Tis a shame your cork is so brittle, miss, as it really could have been the crowning jewel instead of the lone blemish in an otherwise pristine presentation.

A marvelously deep aroma of hyssop and anise coated with a layer of sweetness emerges upon removing the now-destroyed cork.  It almost has a caramel-like quality to it, with alcohol nowhere to be found; distinctly feminine indeed, Miss Jade.  The shade of green was rather lacklustre, being closer to a hay colour than anything else, but with the addition of water this is long-forgotten as it blooms into a meadow.

The louche began to form a little quicker than I thought, bringing forth oil swirls galore, but manages to hold on until about 2:1 when it becomes fully louched into an off-white with scarcely a hint of green.  Very good, but it still can't touch Angelique's highly-concentrated louching goodness.  It does maintain a very thick opacity, and a spoon inside the glass will be rendered nearly invisible until it is close to touching the side of the glass.

Taking a sip I find that it is pleasantly creamy with very little numbing, and a mild sweetness. The highly aromatic aroma in the air, it is balanced pretty well even if I thought the hyssop came on a just a touch strong and overall the flavours didn't quite come together as seamlessly as I remember. Still unquestionably good, but with the addition of sugar is where it really shines.  One may actually get an initial impression of simplicity, but it should not take long to realize the universal, harmonious revelation that is taking place.  Seemingly straightforward upfront, but clearly multifaceted to the seasoned toungue, making it a character that absinthuers new and old can enjoy.  The year of aging has allowed it to mellow a little and there is only a slight prickle from the alcohol at a 2.5:1 dilution.  The Verte Suisse managed to maintain an excellently thick, structured consistency with or without sugar, coating the tongue suitably.  The wormwood finish becomes more pronounced, and delivers a mutli-layered richness that few brands can touch, wrapping up a tasty gift for your taste buds.  Scrumptious little finish, but it didn't last as I would've expected it to.

Of course, every gift has its price, and some absintheurs have questioned whether this one should still be at full price.  Angelique Verte Suisse, an absinthe I consider one of it's closest competitors in quality, is about $50 cheaper and while quite different, is almost every bit as good.  The Duplais Verte, which has a relatively similar character as the VS, may be lacking in the louche and mouth feel slightly, but for about half the price of this Jade, delivers one hell of a bang for your buck.  What I'm trying to explain is that this isn't the same market it was a few years ago.  There are absinthes that are meeting,-or even exceeding-the quality of certain Jades for a fraction of the price recently.   Just wait until the second batch of Belle Amie is released and see what brands it gives a run for their money.  When the pickings were a little slimmer I wouldn't have questioned their pricing, but in this new age of absinthe, you may not wish to rush into spending this kind of money without at least considering all your options first.  Is it outstanding?  Yes, but it's no longer the lone diamond in the rough, so some may find their prized gem elsewhere...

Other notes: Aged 14 months.  I enjoyed this absinthe best at a 2.5/3:1 dilution with a moderate addition of sugar.

Presentation: 8.75

Louche: 8.25

Taste: 8.5

Value: 6.0

Overall: 8.25

Posted 3/12/2008