Older News:

August 7th, 2008:

Wine, anyone?

Our latest review is the first grape-alcohol based absinthe we have reviewed.  How much of a difference will it make in TARN's review of Blanche de Fougerolles?  And while you're (hopefully) still in the absinthe mood, click on over to the gallery and check the latest Picture of the Month.

We also have a new absinthe artist affiliate, Nathalie Winans.  She contacted me recently regarding her newfound passion for absinthe and after seeing her stunning portfolio,  I knew she would make an excellent addition to our list of supported artists.  She has also mentioned that she plans a piece with some relation to absinthe in the future.  We'll be waiting eagerly.

July 16th, 2008:

Absinthe Arsenal: Reloaded

It's been a little slow the past month or so (hence the filler non-absinthe reviews), but breathe a sigh of relief, because TARN has just received over a dozen new brands.  Look for our first absinthe cocktail review in the near future along with reviews of more mainstream favourites than ever.

But for the time being you'll just have to be content with a review of Absente, seven new photos for the gallery, including the Photo of the Month for July, and an article detailing the massive popularity surge from absinthe in the US.

6/25:

What a grand day it is!  Our good friends at the Artemesia distillery detailed how the absinthe market will play out over the next year, and apparently it's coming at us quicker than anyone imagined with the release of over two dozen brands on the horizon.  Read about it here!  Not to be outdone, we have a double dose of absinthe reviews.  Montmartre is a very different absinthe...but is it too offbeat to satisfy the palate of absintheurs?  Also, we'd like to present our first ever non-absinthe review: Leone Absinthe Candies!

6/03:

Absinthe on the Net, an absinthe accessory outlet based in the US, contacted us recently about a discount they would like to offer to our readers. Shoppers can enjoy a 10% discount off their ENTIRE ORDER using the discount code "TARN"!

Also, a new review for an absinth coming out of Germany...and you know how much we uh,...just adore brands out of Germany.  Check the review of Ulex 55 to see how much we "love" it...

Lastly, check out the June Photo of the Month from www.stillbreathingphoto.com! 

4/30:

After yet another data loss scare, the Mansinthe review has finally arrived.  Are we mature enough to review such an absinthe without making fun of its questionable name?  Not a chance!  Enjoy!

4/16:

Anyone up for a chat over a glass of absinthe?  If so, head over to the Absinthe Review Network Forums.  Our site-embedded forums won't be landing until 2009, so in the meantime, join the conversation at our current home!  Also, by popular request we have finally started a TARN Facebook Page.  Admittedly we don't much like it, but it is becoming bearable.  If you're as much a Facebook whore as we are Myspace whores, do drop us a comment, preferably when sober...

4/07:

Keeping in step with our absinthe-in-the-US theme, we have new impressions of the first ever US-distilled absinthe, St. George Spirits Absinthe.  You'll also find a full review of La Valote- Martin from Switzerland, and a dozen new photos in the gallery, including a photo tour of the St. George Spirits Distillery!  The April Photo of the Month has just been selected, and is showing some Clandestine love!

I know, I know, you're probably saying "enough with the la bleu reviews already!"  I was a little overzealous on one of my orders , give me a break, will you?  I must be going la bleu crazy, because I've somehow fit another trio of la bleu reviews into this year's schedule...

On the verte side of things we have an eternally-anticipated review coming up next!  I realize we don't normally reveal the review forecast, but in this case we can make an exception, because our review of Mansinthe is coming.  Yes, Marilyn Manson's absinthe has finally been released after years of what people largely thought was a bluff.  So after this much hype, was it actually worth the wait?  Stick around for the next review to find out!

3/30:

While the next review is being finalized we have a special treat; the announcement of a new US-distilled absinthe!  The affiliates page has also been updated and revised.  Look for another update next week!

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3/12:

Well, we just have a kaboodle of fun for you this month, it seems!  Good news after coming off part 2 of the computer failure tragedy, where multiple reviews and gallery photos were lost (details at TARN Myspace).  Absinthe newbies or amateurs unsure of the next step to take: click over to the latest feature  "Training Your Absinthe Palate!".  New photos have been added to the gallery, with a generous contribution from the absinthe loving band Cockfight Club.  Be sure to take a look at the March Absinthe Gallery Pic of the Month, too!  And what would The Absinthe Review Network be without a new absinthe review?  The second Jade review is here, and this time it is the first release in the Jade line, Jade Verte Suisse 65!

Keep the photos coming!  Send us an entire photo album of pictures, naughty ones and all!

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2/18:

Oh yes I DID.  Hopefully the new layout will make things a little easier navigation-wise (or not, for those without the Papyrus font...).   The latest review is none other than Lemercier's Abisinthe 45 (yes, it is spelled "abisinthe" on the bottle).  Yes, before there was competition, there was Lemercier 45.   And the Absinthe Gallery is now up with quite a few pictures, so do take a look!   But there can  never be too many, so please keep sending us your absinthe photos!

As a final order of business, I realize there have been quite a few of you getting error pages lately.  PLEASE report these instances and provide as much detail as possible if you come across an error page.

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1/25:

NEW REVIEW: Fruko Schulz 60 Absinth

I'd like to extend my thanks to Chris Carlsson from Spirits Review.  He contacted us this week with kind words about TARN and is generous enough to include us in the February links.  I have personally been a fan of SR for some time, and highly recommend them as a reliable source with an extensive library of reviews.

On another note, our very own Brad Westmar and his crew celebrated their 100th episode of The Wild Wild Westmar Show last week!  Congratulations, Brad!

And please keep sending us your absinthe photos!  We'd love to have them featured in the absinthe gallery launching next month.

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12/26/07:

I had intended to do a merry little Christmas intro here, but with the delay, it's not exactly appropriate anymore, is it?  The winner of the TARN Christmas Contest, Taylor Libolt,  does so with holiday style, however.  Ah, hopefully that will make up for something...

But the real Christmas present is a triple feature!  Just posted for your reading pleasure are reviews of Un Emile Blanche and Angelique Verte Suisse.  Brad wraps things up with Part 2 of "From Amateur to Absintheur"!

2008 is going to be even better than this year, complete with some new features and improvements!  TARN version 1.1 is coming!  Thumbs of all current reviews will be added shortly on the reviews page for greater convenience, an absinthe photo gallery is to be added, and I'm happy to report that my web server will soon be supporting Microsoft Frontpage 2007, so one of these days in '08 there should be a substantial visual upgrade.  I will also be opening up some opportunities for limited advertising soon, but it will be minimal, so fear not ad-allergic readers.  And there's even a chance of TARN...merchandise.

Stay tuned.

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12/08/07:

It's getting merrier by the minute!  So merry in fact, I've felt generous enough to post an TARN Holiday Buyers Guide!  It should have something for every person on your list,...including the naughty ones.

Also up for your viewing pleasure is the review of the second US-Approved absinthe, Kubler 53.

And if you've yet to submit an entry to the Absinthe Christmas Contest, be sure to do so!

LOOK FOR A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE ON THE 25TH!

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11/19/07:

My apologies for the late posting, but my flu's second wind clearly had ulterior motives.  The Absinthe Christmas Contest is finally here!  This is an opportunity for any absintheur or even future absintheur  to show their passion for the fine drink, and receive a1 litre as a late Christmas gift reward!  Check the link above for details!

And hot on the heels of the Versinthe la Blanche preview is the review of the original Versinthe.  The sugar SWAT team held me hostage during this one!  My power went out for about 5 seconds just minutes after  writing this (take it from me: ALWAYS save every 5 minutes, people!), so this is actually the second edition of the review.  I apologize if it seems a bit devoid of my usual charm, but I had exactly one serving left to re-write the review and I was extremely angry at my misfortune when writing, so it may sound a bit forced...

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11/08/07:

Tis' the season for giving!  As Christmas draws near, generosity will abound, and TARN is no exception.  With the next review posting next week, we will finally provide more details concerning the contest for a bottle of absinthe!  Stay tuned!

Also, just posted is a preview of Versinthe la blanche, a classic favourite!

Absinthe Contest Results

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10/06/07:

Hello again, fellow absintheurs!  A few things have been updated since the launch, including minor  format tweaks and a broken link.  My good friend Jens at www.1a-absinth.com has generously offered me permission to use his professional photos, so you will see that most of the reviews now have a photo (Lucid photo soon).  Many thanks to him for helping me out!

Also, those who missed the posting on our Myspace page, the site launch was very well received, and we have since had over 6,000 pages viewed!

Also, just posted:

-FEATURE: "From Amateur to Absintheur" written by my good friend and fellow absinthe drinker Brad Westmar (of Wild Wild Westmar Show fame).  Being a very new absinthe drinker, I approached him about doing a series of features detailing his absinthe-fueled chronicles to show the gradual transformation from casual drinker to a seasoned absintheur.  You may not like what he's drinking in this entry, but that's the point-this first article was written at a time when he had quite literally just heard of absinthe.  That said, we hope you enjoy this and future installments of this series.  "From Amateur to Absintheur" Part 1

REVIEW: Tabu 55 tries to bribe drinkers with a generous donation of sugar.

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9/28/07: 

As of 4:36 PM  EST The Absinthe Review Network website is officially live!  I'd like to thank my fellow absintheurs for the feedback, encouragement, and willingness to spread the word over the last several months.   Many thanks also to the guest reviewer submissions, it has helped provide a consistent flow of content in the weeks leading to today.

Now, onto a few things regarding site information.  First off, if you are new to The Absinthe Review Network and are not yet familiar with how I review, please take a minute and look over the Review Process .  I've just posted a review of Lucid Absinthe Superieure, the first-ever US-legal absinthe in the Swiss section.  Next review will be posted within 2 weeks, but typically a new review is posted every 3 weeks.  I'd  love to post more often, but I am only one man, a man that has not deep pockets, unfortunately.  If anyone wishes to donate a sample, they will be noted and credited for this in the published review.  A "preview" is a brief tasting assessment, not a full review.  As preview would be posted, for instance, if I were to have only a brief taste, or if in an environment where I would not have the chance to take note of flavours and/or louche quality (at a loud, chaotic party, for instance).  Features will be editorial/opinionated pieces written by myself and others, posted periodically.  Lastly, any Myspace users, feel free to take a look at our Myspace page.   My apologies for the basic design, but I assure you, my skills are improving!  Expect visual tweaks over the next couple weeks in the transition to version 1.1!

Please note that my experience is NOT limited to the reviews posted!  I have been an absintheur  since early 2003 and have tried dozens of brands over the years.  It was not until several months ago that I decided to start reviewing absinthe, and while I could summarize most brands rather well off the top of my head, to actually publish a review based on previous memories would not be fully accurate.

So then, without any further ado, onto the reviews!