"A milky opalescent luster", according to Webster’s. Sounds like a fitting title to me for the latest absinthe from Claude-Alain Bugnon.

There is an opal gemstone on the front label (see supplemental photo below), nice touch. The pour reveals a somewhat light, but purely green liquid. It has an opal-tastic opalescent louche that practically glows, retaining perfectly a creamy green hue.

The nose is peppered with mouthwatering mint and spice, coated with a glazed, fruity sweetness. There’s more going on here than meets the tongue, and it really does have a good deal of complexity! A WEALTH of curious subtleties makes it hard to label certain herbs as dominant, as they seem to share the taste bud workload fairly equally. Lots of fruitiness, notable angelica, wormwood, fennel, subtle eucalyptus, and various spice throughout. Actually rather similar to Matter’s outstanding Promethee absinthe; clearly Opaline is also a more “modern“ style. Rich and velvety mouth feel, very little numbing with a long finish of vibrant wormwood and spice. Like the popular US Marteau, Opaline is very concentrated, and can be served well past 4:1 without tasting watery. Forward and accessible, Opaline’s fruity, easy drinking character should appeal to a wide spectrum of absinthe drinkers.

Nuanced yet harmonious, everything comes together like a (functional) family on Thanksgiving. Grab a companion and louche a few!

Other Notes: I also tasted another sample aged 9 months, and the wormwood develops nicely, becoming a bit more pronounced mid-palate. I enjoyed this absinthe best around 4 parts water without sugar.