Absinthe Test: What makes good Absinthe?

Absinthe Test: The most important things summarized

• A good absinthe is a traditionally produced absinthe.
• A good absinthe should be distilled and naturally colored green with herbs (not with artificial coloring!)
• When it comes to buying absinthe, quality is very important. That's why we'll give you a deeper insight into how to test absinthe and how to recognize good absinthe.
• If you see "best absinthe" advertised somewhere, you should always check if these evaluation criteria are reflected in the judgment.

Absinthe Test: How to judge the quality of an Absinthe

A good absinthe is a traditional absinthe. First and foremost, this means that the absinthe is distilled (i.e. not a cheap oil mix or a simple macerate). Furthermore, it should be naturally colored green with herbs (no artificial coloring). These are the objective quality criteria. One can also say that they are the prerequisite for a genuine, original absinthe. This quality also has its price. If you see an absinthe for a very cheap price (for example, ALDI currently has an absinthe in a skull bottle for €9.69, LIDL has Absinthe 77 by Mystical Spirit for €14.99), then you can be sure that it does not meet the quality criteria mentioned above. The ALDI and LIDL absinthes, for example, are an artificially colored oil mix, meaning no herbs are used in their production. Only neutral alcohol is mixed with essential oils and colored green with dye. This has nothing to do with real absinthe.

Aside from that, as you can surely imagine, there is no single right method. Experienced absintheurs have developed recognized quality assessments to judge the quality of absinthes, such as those at absinthe fairs and competitions.

1. Appearance (approx. 15%)

2. Louche upon adding water (approx. 15%)

3. Aroma (approx. 20%)

4. Mouthfeel (20%)

5. Finish (10%)*

6. Overall Impression (20%)

*Adds up to "Taste" (50%)

Finding the Best Absinthe: The quality criteria

The "appearance" means how the undiluted absinthe looks in the glass. Does it have a beautiful green color? Before you make your assessment, you should check whether the absinthe is naturally colored. Because if artificial dyes are used, one might find the appearance attractive, but it's somewhat faked. Naturally colored absinthe, to be honest, is only light green when it has just been colored. The green color will (unfortunately) fade over time. Especially if the absinthe is exposed to the sun. But this is not a sign of inferior quality; it just means that you have bought the traditional, natural Green Fairy. The assessment of appearance is therefore obviously quite difficult if you like light green absinthes.

The "louche upon adding water" occurs when the Green Fairy comes into contact with cold water. Many absintheurs appreciate a dense, milky louche in their absinthe glass, as it indicates that many herbs were used for distillation.

The taste largely determines the (subjective) quality of an absinthe. Although tastes vary, an absinthe should not taste too alcoholic, but rather the "aroma" of the herbs should entice. The aromas should develop on the tongue without making it numb. This is what we call "mouthfeel". Once drunk, the "finish" is also crucial. How long do the herbal aromas linger? Are they pleasant on the tongue? Do you feel the desire for "more"? Taste makes up 50% of the final rating in our evaluation scheme, as it includes the criteria "aroma", "mouthfeel", and "finish".

The "overall impression" includes factors such as the composition of the absinthe recipe, its history, labeling, bottle, etc. It is a holistic measure of quality and one that is more emotionally charged.

Absinthe brands tested

There's one thing to keep in mind when trying to buy the best absinthe: even with established quality criteria, finding the best absinthe is always a subjective matter. Taste, which is a crucial measure of quality, is so subjective that a drink cannot be subjected to a 100% objective evaluation.

At ALANDIA, we look back on over 20 years of absinthe history. We founded the company in 2001 and have since tried hundreds of different absinthes. If we base our selection on our personal favorites and compare them with the ratings in our shop, we can deduce a list of our top 3 absinthes. Here is the list of our top 3.

#1 Absinthe Strong68

Why is this absinthe in the first place? Because it has been our best-selling absinthe for years. Our customers like the straightforward taste, as the recipe is not too complex but focuses on the essentials: wormwood, the legendary ingredient of absinthe. Otherwise, this absinthe has everything many absintheurs are looking for: it is distilled (not macerated), naturally colored (no artificial dye), has a high alcohol content (68%), is made from local French wormwood and clouds into a dense white when cold water is added (the louche). There are more complex absinthes on the market, but a #1 must appeal to everyone. That's why Strong68 is at the top of our list. It is also the medalist winner of various International Spirits Awards.

#2 Absinthe Jade PF 1901

Jade Absinthes are among the most renowned absinthes on the market. This is not just our opinion; it is the opinion of the worldwide absinthe community. The American Ted Breaux is the distiller of Jade Absinthes. All Jade Absinthes distilled by him are authentic reproductions of historical absinthe brands. Jade PF 1901 is produced in the style of the famous Pernod Fils Absinthe. Its taste is classically fresh, and the aroma structure is very complex. You can't go wrong with this absinthe, especially if you value the authenticity of an absinthe.

#3 Absinthe ALANDIA Verte

We are very proud of the development of this absinthe. It has everything we associate with an "original" absinthe. ALANDIA Verte is produced in France in a family-run, historic distillery dating back to 1859, locally grown wormwood is used for distillation, and a carefully selected blend of traditional herbs is added to achieve a classic but very balanced taste. The final absinthe is naturally colored green with herbs, the overall taste is not too licoricey/aniseed, but emphasizes the wormwood. ALANDIA Verte delights connoisseurs and newcomers alike. This is the absinthe we serve when friends come over! Incidentally, it was awarded the gold medal as best absinthe at the International Spirits Award ISW 2023.

Summary:

Finding the best absinthe in the world is not simple, as taste is subjective. But you can use the quality factors for good absinthe mentioned above as a guide, and then it's up to you to find the best absinthe for YOU.

We hope you enjoyed this article, "Absinthe Test: What makes good Absinthe". If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards from the world of absinthe,

Mike from the ALANDIA team