During the heyday of absinthe, Germany wasn't exactly known to be pioneering in absinthe manufacturing. However, since the EU opened the path for absinthe to once again enter the scene, Germany was there to take it on.
There are a lot of German absinthe brands available today. Most of them by poor quality, and leaning more towards the Czech style Absinth. There are some that are quite palatable, but they are few. Most German absinthes
are oil and essence mixes and either heavy on the anise, or no anise at all. It is also common that the German, as the Czech brands, try boosting their sales by stating high thujone levels as the main ingredient.
On the other hand there are a lot of on-line shops based in Germany, that sell absinthe at reasonable prices and with excellent service.
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Created: 8/10/2002 Edited: 12/12/2005
Tabu Absinth
Germany, 55% alc. vol. (110 proof), 0.7 liter
Apart from a Czech absinth that a friend offered me in late 1996, this was the first absinthe I ever tasted. And ever since, I'm hooked on the green verdant fluid. Back when I first tasted the Tabu 55 I thought it was decent. Hey, there wasn't that much around and most certainly there weren't any good distilled absinthes to get hence you had to put up with what was available.
Today I compare the Tabu more to Pastis. It's overly sweetened and nothing a good absinthe should be. It does have a very vibrant green color which is rather nice and it louches heavily, probably from the essences of star anise or such. There are better oil mix and macerate products than this one around but then again, why settle for anything inferior at all when there's plenty of very good distilled absinthes to be found.
The taste of the Tabu is mainly sweet and anise, not much of anything else really. What is sad is that they along with so many others try to spin on the myths of how mad you will get. Just look at the label. So, if you're looking for a very sweet anise bomb you may like it. If you're looking for a very good absinthe - stay away.
Tabu AbsinthGermany, 55% alc. vol. (110 proof), 0.7 liter
Apart from a Czech absinth that a friend offered me in late 1996, this was the first absinthe I ever tasted. And ever since, I'm hooked on the green verdant fluid. Back when I first tasted the Tabu 55 I thought it was decent. Hey, there wasn't that much around and most certainly there weren't any good distilled absinthes to get hence you had to put up with what was available.
Today I compare the Tabu more to Pastis. It's overly sweetened and nothing a good absinthe should be. It does have a very vibrant green color which is rather nice and it louches heavily, probably from the essences of star anise or such. There are better oil mix and macerate products than this one around but then again, why settle for anything inferior at all when there's plenty of very good distilled absinthes to be found.
The taste of the Tabu is mainly sweet and anise, not much of anything else really. What is sad is that they along with so many others try to spin on the myths of how mad you will get. Just look at the label. So, if you're looking for a very sweet anise bomb you may like it. If you're looking for a very good absinthe - stay away.
Created: 5/29/2003
Absinth Emanuelle - Vom Fass (Paul Deviolle, France)
Germany, 55% alc. vol. (110 proof), 0.7 liter
And another one purchased in London. Actually, this one I stumbled across in the store where I got the La Fée. It was in the wine and spirits department at Selfridges & Co at Oxford Street. Apparently they have a section there where they make their own spirits from essences from Vom Fass, which you can sample in the store and then buy! An excellent marketing idea, and it worked. I tasted the Absinth Emanuelle, and I enjoyed it. It's made from essences, but it was quite nice, tasting it neat. Very well comparable to any oil mix available. I got to pick which shape and size bottle I wanted, and the nice lady filled it up, sealed it and wrapped it. It wasn't cheap, but it was a nice addition to my collection. If not taste wise, so at least for the bottle.
So, how did it taste? It was actually not that bad. It was way better than some other more known brands. I do get the feeling that it is pretty close to a pastis, and that they might very well just have renamed their pastis essence or something along that line. It wouldn't need sugar, since it's obviously sweetened before. On adding water it presents a thick instant louche. The fact that this one is actually drinkable proves that many "low budget" oil mixes still are closer to absinthe than any Czech crap available.
Absinth Emanuelle - Vom Fass (Paul Deviolle, France)Germany, 55% alc. vol. (110 proof), 0.7 liter
And another one purchased in London. Actually, this one I stumbled across in the store where I got the La Fée. It was in the wine and spirits department at Selfridges & Co at Oxford Street. Apparently they have a section there where they make their own spirits from essences from Vom Fass, which you can sample in the store and then buy! An excellent marketing idea, and it worked. I tasted the Absinth Emanuelle, and I enjoyed it. It's made from essences, but it was quite nice, tasting it neat. Very well comparable to any oil mix available. I got to pick which shape and size bottle I wanted, and the nice lady filled it up, sealed it and wrapped it. It wasn't cheap, but it was a nice addition to my collection. If not taste wise, so at least for the bottle.
So, how did it taste? It was actually not that bad. It was way better than some other more known brands. I do get the feeling that it is pretty close to a pastis, and that they might very well just have renamed their pastis essence or something along that line. It wouldn't need sugar, since it's obviously sweetened before. On adding water it presents a thick instant louche. The fact that this one is actually drinkable proves that many "low budget" oil mixes still are closer to absinthe than any Czech crap available.
Created: 8/21/2004
Abtshof Absinth 66
Germany, 66% alc. vol. (132 proof), 0.5 liter
I found this bottle down in Germany, figuring the 20 Euros it cost wasn't all that much, I bought it. This absinth is rather dark green in color, comes in a apothecary type bottle with a metal plate looking like the Route 66 sign. Don't know why anyone would do that, but it looks nice. Not the traditional absinthe type bottle though. Then again, the content isn't very much like traditional absinthe either.
Smelling it reveals a very heavy artificial scent of what resembles anise. Then there's alcohol and sweetness. Tasting it neat is not much of a surprise. A very artificial taste, as the color - but not quite as much as the Tabu. It louches quite quickly and turns into a thick light greenish louche. The taste after adding water is not much of an improvement. It's drinkable, but it's far from any really good absinthe I've had. It is better than all the Czech brands I've had, but falls below the Oxygénée for comparison. I guess it is on par with Tunel and Mari Mayans and the likes. It is, obviously, way behind the finer distilled ones.
The conclusion is finally, do not buy it. At this price you can get a bottle of Emile Coulin, which is much better.
Abtshof Absinth 66Germany, 66% alc. vol. (132 proof), 0.5 liter
I found this bottle down in Germany, figuring the 20 Euros it cost wasn't all that much, I bought it. This absinth is rather dark green in color, comes in a apothecary type bottle with a metal plate looking like the Route 66 sign. Don't know why anyone would do that, but it looks nice. Not the traditional absinthe type bottle though. Then again, the content isn't very much like traditional absinthe either.
Smelling it reveals a very heavy artificial scent of what resembles anise. Then there's alcohol and sweetness. Tasting it neat is not much of a surprise. A very artificial taste, as the color - but not quite as much as the Tabu. It louches quite quickly and turns into a thick light greenish louche. The taste after adding water is not much of an improvement. It's drinkable, but it's far from any really good absinthe I've had. It is better than all the Czech brands I've had, but falls below the Oxygénée for comparison. I guess it is on par with Tunel and Mari Mayans and the likes. It is, obviously, way behind the finer distilled ones.
The conclusion is finally, do not buy it. At this price you can get a bottle of Emile Coulin, which is much better.
Created: 1/23/2006 Edited: 4/12/2006
Eichelberger Limited Edition 2005 (Deep Forest)
Germany, 68% alc. vol. (136 proof), 0.1 liter
This is also known as the "Absinth-Guide.de Sonderausgabe 2005" - the winner of the 2005 HG competition at Absinth-Guide.de. Made by Deep Forest, a member of that German forum (and also of other international forums...) and then realized in slightly larger scale at the Eichelberger distillery. The winner of the competition got to distill 30 liters and with the chance to make it a commercial offering. Given the quality of this one, I am very much looking forward to seeing this in large scale production.
Now, the tasting... Upon opening the bottle there is immediately a nice floral scent lingering it's way out. One can clearly notice the very nice scent of wormwood and a fine citrusy note to accompany it. The anise and fennel is there but not as dominant as in many others. Slowly adding iced water to it it produces a very nice slow rising louche to finally end up completely cloudy with a fine light green color. The water helps the aroma even further and the citrus notes are even more noticeable now. Heavy, but in no way obtrusive or disturbing. Instead it literally does make my mouth water.
The taste is really smooth and well balanced and even though the aroma would suggest a heavy citrus taste, that is not the case. On the contrary it tastes more traditional than I would expect but very well carried out and with just that little extra something to make it more interesting.
The only thing I would want to be a bit different in it is the color. I like it a lot and there is no big problem at all with it but it would be really nice to see it just a bit greener - a little tiny step away from that olive-tinted-green that so many absinthes have. But, as I said - that isn't really a problem and just my personal opinion. I understand why this one won, definitely. It's very very nice!
Once this is made commercially available on full scale (which I know is happening), it will be the first modern distilled German absinthe!
Congratulations Deep Forest - this is a winner.
View additional photos: 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 |
Eichelberger Limited Edition 2005 (Deep Forest)Germany, 68% alc. vol. (136 proof), 0.1 liter
This is also known as the "Absinth-Guide.de Sonderausgabe 2005" - the winner of the 2005 HG competition at Absinth-Guide.de. Made by Deep Forest, a member of that German forum (and also of other international forums...) and then realized in slightly larger scale at the Eichelberger distillery. The winner of the competition got to distill 30 liters and with the chance to make it a commercial offering. Given the quality of this one, I am very much looking forward to seeing this in large scale production.
Now, the tasting... Upon opening the bottle there is immediately a nice floral scent lingering it's way out. One can clearly notice the very nice scent of wormwood and a fine citrusy note to accompany it. The anise and fennel is there but not as dominant as in many others. Slowly adding iced water to it it produces a very nice slow rising louche to finally end up completely cloudy with a fine light green color. The water helps the aroma even further and the citrus notes are even more noticeable now. Heavy, but in no way obtrusive or disturbing. Instead it literally does make my mouth water.
The taste is really smooth and well balanced and even though the aroma would suggest a heavy citrus taste, that is not the case. On the contrary it tastes more traditional than I would expect but very well carried out and with just that little extra something to make it more interesting.
The only thing I would want to be a bit different in it is the color. I like it a lot and there is no big problem at all with it but it would be really nice to see it just a bit greener - a little tiny step away from that olive-tinted-green that so many absinthes have. But, as I said - that isn't really a problem and just my personal opinion. I understand why this one won, definitely. It's very very nice!
Once this is made commercially available on full scale (which I know is happening), it will be the first modern distilled German absinthe!
Congratulations Deep Forest - this is a winner.
View additional photos: 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 |