Adnams Copper House Absinthe

Appearance: Clear, but more on the olive oil green side, compared to the typical fresh, peridot color. Still attractive, and indicative of a naturally colored absinthe on its way to 'fuille morte'.

Louche: Builds nicely and finishes as a nice opalescent green with hints of yellow and white. Very attractive.

Aroma: Green anise, hyssop and melissa are quite evident on the nose. You can also pick up a bit of star anise, but it isn't obtrusive. Clean and fresh.

Flavor: Quite a bit of coriander, which lends a nice, spicy kick. There are the normal players: anise, a bit of wormwood, but they are nicely balanced with the other herbs. Relatively sweet, even without sugar. I'd like to pick up more wormwood, but it's there. Mouthfeel is creamy and unctuous in a good way.

Finish: A bit of oily coating on the mouth, but not unpleasant. You can definitely pick up the lemon balm and star anise in the finish. Wormwood is more apparent as well.

Overall: A very pleasant absinthe from a producer who clearly wanted to produce an authentic, artisinal brand that would be attractive to bartenders in the UK. I hope more brands like this work to push out the typical artificially colored and distasteful brands that grace the back bars of many UK establishments.