La Troublante Absinthe Review:

by Myles A. (GUEST REVIEW)

Photo provided by absinth24.net

-53% alcohol

-1 liter bottle

-Country of Origin: Switzerland

Troublante.  When I was looking for new Suisse bottles to try out, I went straight to the web and searched for reviews on popular absinthes since Clandestine La Bleue sprung onto the scene.  So some people thought Absinthe Troublante was good.  To me, it was enough to buy a bottle and try it.

My test results are 3/1 with and without sugar.

Upon opening the bottle (which was a metal screw on cap, already not pleased with packaging), the aroma came out in a very subtle manner.  In fact, I expected it to have a heavy aroma, but it was not to be.  I can smell a hint of melissa, wormwood and a hint of vanilla bean. This bottle's strongest ingredient came out in the form of anise.  So far, it's not too bad.

 Without Sugar:

The louche was quite slow and didn't start until I was at 2/1.  It forms in clouds from the bottom up and ends up a watery, milk white.  Its final form was okay, but I have seen better from other La Bleues.  Upon sipping the absinthe the first flavor to the front was a thin flavoring of anise, following hints of melissa and wormwood.  When you swallow, the wormwood comes out last and finishes it off.  The vanilla was no where to be seen (or tasted? –Ben), so perhaps if it was used, it wasn't used in any large amount, but rather to bring some sweet flavoring to the drink. The drink was thin and lacked that cream-like texture I enjoy in a great absinthe. I can say that this wasn't too bad overall, but perhaps it will be tastier with sugar.

 
With Sugar:

 
Again, it louched quite slow and formed from the bottom up.  Upon the first sip the anise is now much more apparent, the wormwood and melissa aren't as strong and again no sign of vanilla. This finish was left with some creaminess, but this is probably becuase of the sugar.  Gained the texture with sugar, lost the flavors.
 

So the final say about this product.  It's an ok absinthe.  This is something I would drink on occasions, but nothing I see myself stocking up on again.  It lacked volume and texture with a milky-white louche and thin taste. The sugar only fixed one of those problems but at the same time tamed some of the flavors following the anise. A standard, middle-ranged Le Bleue.

My grading scale is done on a 100% factor in which Louche, Taste, and Value receive the majority of the percentages.

Presentation: 12/20

Yellow label, with a rainbow colored fairy on the bottle.  Kinda corny, but does attract attention to the buyer.

Louche: 15/25

Thin.

Taste: 15/25

Nothing distinct to this bottle. 

Value: 10/25

$60.00 + for a 1 liter bottle isn't bad, but isn't great.  I've paid less for better absinthes at this size bottle.

Effect: 2/5

Nothing to write home about.

OVERALL: 54/100

                Which makes this absinthe an average bottle.  Nothing bad, nothing great.  Just absinthe that's good enough to try at least once…but for all I know it can become a favorite in your cabinet.

Posted 9/28/2007