Week 12: Vieux Carré [52 Whispers From The Muse]
Vieux Carré
Overall Rating: 3.6
Style: Verte
Country: USA
Appearance: A dark, dead leaf brown. While not unpleasant, I had to knock it down for the color and there was some sediment in the bottle that I tried to not get into the glass.
Louche: Very thick and rapidly formed. It was a dynamic but quick show in the bubble glass ending with a light amber.
Aroma: Anise with a significant floral bouquet and a bit of mintiness. After louche the Anise tapers off to an herbal mix that still maintains a bit of that mint.
Flavor/Mouthfeel: Well balanced but very unique. The Anise is a bit forward and sweet, but not overwhelming. As far as I can tell the most forward Anise taste is a Star Anise but it blends well and works perfectly.
Finish: It sits pleasantly on the tongue with a slight numbing. There is a faint bitterness that lingers after the sweet but I wish it lingered a little longer.
Overall: Vieux Carré is a very easy Absinthe to drink. Very mellow, balanced and just enough different to set it apart from others as it’s own. While I love the bottle, I guess my only complaint is that since the bottle is clear the color of the spirit brows and darkens considerably over time. I’ve had this bottle for just under 2 years and it went from a slightly greenish amber to a rich brown. It still tastes just as good as it ever did so there is really not much to complain about.
I did pick this bottle up just before visiting the Distillery in Philadelphia a couple of years ago and from there brought home their Bluecoat Gin (which was my gateway Gin as it’s even more mellow than Hendrick’s), Penn 1681 Rye Vodka (which is the cleanest, most neutral Vodka I’ve had outside of Eastern Europe) and a lovely XXX Shine White Corn Whiskey (that I won answering a trivia question during the tour).
