Our first tasting of the latest LdF shipment was a resounding success. Each of the three absinthes we tried exhibited remarkable character, as well as showing off what a wide range of taste sensations absinthe can bring you. From verte to blanche, these absinthes were winners!

First up was the Montmartre. Some of us had sampled this one before, while it was a first tasting for others. It is certainly a very spicy absinthe, with the most vigorous palate of all the absinthes we've tried here. The louche was very nice and finished up in a smooth, green color. Full of scents and tastes, including an almost cinnamon-like "sting" to the tongue, Montmartre should prove to be a long time favorite here at InAbsinthia. It's unique spicy character will be too much for some, though.

Next we went with the Eichelberger. Perhaps because it followed the Montmartre, the "Ike" seemed a little quiet, not really showing much to either the nose or the tongue. Louching was nice, although in keeping with its quiet nature, the color was a bit faded. Nice on the tongue, but a little weak tasting. Not a very special absinthe, but a very nice one nonetheless.

And we finished the evening with La Ptite, the first genuine Swiss La Bleu poured here. We have had the Blanchette, which is a Jade blanche. Both of these clear absinthes have a very strong anise (licorice) flavor to them, but the La Ptite tasted much more sophisticated than the Blanchette. A truly beautiful louche ended in a very pretty, opal, milky glassful. In the mouth, the "milky" comparison continued, with a creamy, almost oily (in a good way) feel. A very thick tasting absinthe, one with real body and character. A truly special absinthe, and one that will drive us to continue our Swiss La Bleu explorations!

All in all, a very successful tasting. Each of the three brought something special to the tongue, with the Montmartre standing out for its spiciness and the La Ptite bring us Swiss La Bleu excellence. The Eichelberger has its own niche, as a very good "value" absinthe with a pleasant taste.

Some pretty cool absinthe tchotchkes you can buy, courtesy of The Wormwood Society. From t-shirts to coffee mugs, from thongs to baby bibs, you can proclaim your love of all things absinthe, as well as publicize the wonderful folks of the Wormwood Society. We particularly like the "Friends don't let friends burn absinthe" designs.

The Wormwood Society : CafePress.com

Lion Absinthe Distribution announces Helfrich Verte, the first genuine absinthe to be manufactured in The Netherlands. Helfrich says:

The rich scent, full taste and spring green color can be carried back to the use of carefully selected herbs. These herbs have first been macerated in a high quality base alcohol such as has been applied in the Dutch liquor tradition for centuries. The macerate is being distilled, so that unpleasantly bitter and harsh compounds remain in the still while the desired aroma's find their way into the distillate of Helfrich absinthe.

Absinthvertrieb Lion - Helfrich Verte

Some news on the La Clandestine front. Claude-Alain Bugnon, Swiss absinthe maker, has his own website where you can buy his La Clandestine line and other fine Swiss La Bleu-style absinthes. Absinthe-Suisse.com has announce a sale, a competition and web site news:

• Anniversary Sale : you can get a great price on a three pack of La Clandestine Originale, at only US$225 including shipping. This is to celebrate the recipe's 75^th anniversary. And you can add a fourth bottle, including a version of La Clandestine Originale made with a wine base. We can also highly recommend the TA Breaux's La Blanchette.
• Birthday Photo Competition : To celebrate its second official birthday, La Clandestine is offering a nice set of gift certificates as prizes for a photo competition. Send in pictures of La Clandestine absinthes in action, and win absinthe - how can you go wrong with that?
• Reviews : You can now add customer reviews to each of the absinthe-suisse varieties, as you can see here. Log in and tell the world about these fine La Bleus.

28 Days Later... was a very good, end-of-the-word, apocalyptic, zombie flick. Megan Burns, who played Hannah, a teenage survivor, now calls herself Betty Curse and plays goth rock. She was interviewed over in the UK and was asked an absinthe question:

You're an absinthe fan. How much have you had in one go?

Half a bottle with Steven when we were writing the album. I appreciate it as a long drink when you make it properly with water and burn it with sugar in a spoon. It takes you to a different level of drunkenness when you're sensible about it. I like to drink it with cranberry juice. I invented the best cocktail in the world - absinthe, cranberry juice and Grolsch lager.

Kids these days! See what the fake Czech marketing has done to the history of absinthe? Someone needs to tell poor Betty/Megan that, in fact, burning sugar is not how to "properly" prepare absinthe. It might be the only thing to do with a bad Czech imitator, but we here at InAbsinthia would break down and cry if you tried this with a real absinthe. As for "a different level", we must admit to having the same discussion here. Some of us notice a different kind of "buzz" when drinking enough absinthe, while others don't. Whether it is physiological or psychological, you may have a similar feeling. But we're just plain happy with the taste and theater of absinthe, and do not need any promises of a legal "high" to enjoy our absinthe.

And that cocktail - Oy Vey! Again, nothing you would want to subject a real absinthe to, but it might be the only way to finish off your bottle of "Crapsinth". Tell us if you ever try it!

60 SECONDS: Betty Curse | Metro.co.uk

Charles Cros (October 1 1842 - August 9, 1888) was a French poet and inventor who came close to inventing the phonograph. But for us, he is more well known as an important part of the Paris Bohemian revolution. He was an absinthe drinker and friend of the famous imbiber Paul Verlaine (who almost killed him by pouring sulfuric acid in his drink!). Like many of his contemporaries, he lived fast, drank plenty and died young.

With Flowers, and with Women,

With Absinthe, and with this Fire,
We can divert ourselves a while,
Act out our part in some drama.
Absinthe, on a winter evening,
Lights up in green the sooty soul;

And Flowers, on the beloved,
Grow fragrant before the clear Fire.
Later, kisses lose their charm
Having lasted several seasons;
And after mutual betrayals
We part one day without a tear.

We burn letters and bouquets.
And fire takes our bower;
And if sad life is salvaged
Still there is Absinthe and its hiccups..
The portraits are eaten by flames..
Shrivelled fingers tremble..

We die from sleeping long
With Flowers, and with Women.

While on a business trip to France, a well meaning relative purchased a bottle of Absente for me as a Christmas present. We had a glass after our dinner and drinks (but before I had a chance to closely inspect the bottle). My recollection is that the taste was OK (it tasted like absinthe) but it was a little plain compared to the other absinthes I have tasted. It was only after the holiday hub-bub had died down that I became curious about name "Absente". A little research turned up the fact that Absente is made with Southern-Wormwood ("Petite Absinthe") instead of Wormwood. All the text on the bottle is in French. At the very top of the front label it reads: "Liqueur aux plantes d'absinthe". Also on the front label near the bottom, one of the ingredients is listed as "infusion et essences de plantes d'abinthe". Their web site states that Absente is legal in the U.S. because it does not contain Wormwood. I'm confused.... but I'm guessing that this stuff isn't absinthe.