est. 2007

La Valote Martin Absinthe Review:

-54% abv, 1.0 litre

-Country of Origin: Switzerland

-One brand in the four absinthe La Valote line

Here's the thing about la bleu or blanche spirits, if you will; there is such an abundance of great brands, there is simply no reason to drink mediocre ones.  As a whole, la bleus are just generally tasty.  However, the la bleu characteristics also make them more similar.  While someone may enjoy a mediocre verte as a niche favourite for their unique qualities, it is much less likely a person will enjoy an average la bleu for being "unique".  That said, this is an average la bleu.  Is it still relatively tasty?  Of course.  But to reiterate my original point: why drink it when there is a vast array of similar, but much better brands at exactly the same price?

There is a little heat in the nose from an otherwise flowery la bleu, with an aroma of anise and some faint hyssop…but yeah, most just anise. It reminds me of the US Kubler 53, just lacking a bit of that sharp, zesty punch.  The louche is quicker than an adolescent boy in the girl's locker room, or in other words, about on par with Versinthe la Blanche.

I took a sip at 1;1 and 2:1 respectively...way too much anise, almost instant numbing...not good.  It takes until the 3:1 mark to level off somewhat and finally make room for the other herbs.  3:1 may seem a little diluted for some, but the complexity becomes more apparent at this dilution. And it actually does have some moderate complexity under the looming shadow of anise, so it's a shame these other herbs don't get much attention in the deep recess of your glass!  The result is a drink that is still anise-dominant with lightly complimenting hyssop and fennel, but scarcely a trace of wormwood for a more feminine drink.  Light, mellowed mouth feel makes for a warm, smooth ride down.  The numbing is subtle, but creeps up on you if you don't take your time.   A little too sweet, though.  Martin is probably the most complex of the Valote line of absinthes, but it's clear that it lacks the clarity of the Bovet.  The anise lingers on the tongue, but so does the numbing, producing a long,-but really quite numb-, dull finish.  Has a decent background of melissa and holds a full flavour, yet even so seems to lack the qualities of a crisp, refreshing la bleu.  A good la bleu need not have the citrus-y crispness in particular, but it must bring something light and refreshing to the table, and thus far the table is looking rather barren...

Not the best la bleu you'll find, but if nothing else it will look nice in your liquor cabinet, and the price isn’t too bad.  It might be worth a try if you're looking to get away from the fennel-dominant varieties, but most absintheurs will just pick up a litre of the US Kubler and call it a day if you're looking for an anise-dominant brand that genuinely satisfies.

Other Notes:  I enjoyed this absinthe best at a 3:1 dilution, without sugar.  Oh, and the picture above...that clear stuff inside the bottle is actually just water.  I confess!  I finished this one before snapping a photo...

Presentation: 7.5

Louche: 5.0

Taste: 6.0

Value: 7.0

Overall: 6.0

Published 4/07/2008