Reviews written by Matthew Harding

19 results - showing 1 - 19
Ordering
May 01, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.3
Appearance
 
4.5
Aroma
 
4.5
Louche
 
3.5
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.5
Finish
 
4.5
Overall
 
4.5
Traditional Absinthe
Magic

Overall: Superb! For such a simple recipe of just six ingredients (seven if you include the base spirit), there's so much complexity and nuance. Great quality botanicals. ...

MH
Matthew Harding
April 17, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.4
Appearance
 
4.5
Aroma
 
4.0
Louche
 
4.5
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.5
Finish
 
4.5
Overall
 
4.5
Traditional Absinthe
Glacier National Park in a glass

Overall: Glacier Distilling is very close to Glacier National Park in Montana, and though I haven't been to the park yet, this absinthe tastes like Glacier National Park...

MH
Matthew Harding
April 17, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.3
Appearance
 
4.0
Aroma
 
4.5
Louche
 
3.5
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.5
Finish
 
4.5
Overall
 
4.5
Traditional Absinthe
Red Dwarf

Overall: This absinthe is simple in composition, but complex and layered in flavor profile. They list the majority of herbs used on the label, and they're pretty standard...

MH
Matthew Harding
March 04, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.4
Appearance
 
4.5
Aroma
 
4.5
Louche
 
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.5
Finish
 
4.0
Overall
 
4.5
Traditional Absinthe
Absinthe Pie

Overall: Like drinking an apple pie that's been heavily seasoned with absinthe's holy trinity. I had to drive two hours to pick up a bottle of this and...

MH
Matthew Harding
February 25, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.5
Appearance
 
4.0
Aroma
 
4.5
Louche
 
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
5.0
Finish
 
4.5
Overall
 
4.5
Traditional Absinthe
Delightful!

Overall: This is the way dessert absinthe should be. This has wonderful, sweet, creamy dessert notes, but still maintains a lot of the floral, edgy, herbaceous characteristics of...

MH
Matthew Harding
February 25, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.5
Appearance
 
4.0
Aroma
 
4.5
Louche
 
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
5.0
Finish
 
4.5
Overall
 
4.5
Traditional Absinthe
Garden Fresh Absinthe

Overall: This is quintessential Aymonier flavors. Bold, fresh wormwood, soft fennel, fruity, fresh anise, and a classic recipe of supporting herbs. This absinthe is amazing garden fresh and...

MH
Matthew Harding
February 23, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.4
Appearance
 
4.0
Aroma
 
4.5
Louche
 
4.5
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.5
Finish
 
4.5
Overall
 
4.5
Traditional Absinthe
Forest of Owls

Aroma: Bright, minty, quality wormwood. Peppery, fruity. Lemongrass Appearance: Yellow peridot that has a lovely blue green gradient effect once louched. Blue white at...

MH
Matthew Harding
January 26, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.2
Appearance
 
4.5
Aroma
 
4.0
Louche
 
5.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.0
Finish
 
4.0
Overall
 
4.0
Traditional Absinthe
Bluest of La Bleue

Overall: I want to see what happens as this gets older. It's very grape spirit forward right now. It tastes good, but I want more botanicals up front....

MH
Matthew Harding
January 26, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.1
Appearance
 
4.0
Aroma
 
4.0
Louche
 
4.5
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.0
Finish
 
4.5
Overall
 
4.0
Traditional Absinthe
Tremblement de Terre

Overall: Another great American absinthe! The grape spirit base needs some time to mature. I think this absinthe gets better the longer it sits. The grape base is...

MH
Matthew Harding
January 19, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.6
Appearance
 
4.5
Aroma
 
4.5
Louche
 
5.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.5
Finish
 
4.5
Overall
 
4.5
Retired Brands
Evolution

Overall: I had this years ago when it first came out (2022) and I remember the new-make whisky smell being more powerful then. I'm having this again now...

MH
Matthew Harding
January 12, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.0
Appearance
 
3.5
Aroma
 
4.0
Louche
 
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.5
Finish
 
4.0
Overall
 
4.0
Traditional Absinthe
Wintergreen Frog

Overall: You could enjoy this during any season, but this would be even better appreciated during a hot day. I can feel it cooling me from the inside out....

MH
Matthew Harding
January 12, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.3
Appearance
 
4.0
Aroma
 
4.5
Louche
 
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.5
Finish
 
4.5
Overall
 
4.5
Traditional Absinthe
Flower power

Overall: This absinthe is super floral and luxurious, you could wear this as a perfume. It would also pair well with a chocolate cake. Appearance: ...

MH
Matthew Harding
January 11, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.2
Appearance
 
4.0
Aroma
 
4.0
Louche
 
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.5
Finish
 
4.5
Overall
 
4.0
Traditional Absinthe
An absinthe that would make any dessert better!

Overall: I think this makes a great summer absinthe. It's cool, but rich and herbal. This would also have some great culinary uses, you could use this in pie,...

MH
Matthew Harding
January 11, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.4
Appearance
 
4.5
Aroma
 
4.5
Louche
 
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.5
Finish
 
4.0
Overall
 
4.5
Traditional Absinthe
Well Balanced Bouquet

Overall: Kind of cross between being medicinal and desserty. This absinthe has something for everyone. The trinity is exquisite, it's floral, desserty, and a little medicinal, but everything about...

MH
Matthew Harding
January 11, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.5
Appearance
 
4.5
Aroma
 
4.5
Louche
 
5.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.0
Finish
 
4.5
Overall
 
4.5
Traditional Absinthe
Quintessential La Bleue

Overall: Simple, but delightful. Traditional daily drinker. I keep looking for more complexity, but this one is pretty simple, yet everything that's there is exquisite. This is a la...

MH
Matthew Harding
January 09, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.2
Appearance
 
4.5
Aroma
 
4.5
Louche
 
4.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.0
Finish
 
4.0
Overall
 
4.0
Retired Brands
Gone too soon!

Aroma: Before water - Anise forward backed by woodsy, earthy notes, the faint aroma of cocoa nibs, a little sugar coated fennel, and minor alcohol burn. Very inviting,...

MH
Matthew Harding
January 09, 2026
Overall rating
 
4.1
Appearance
 
4.0
Aroma
 
4.5
Louche
 
3.0
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.5
Finish
 
4.5
Overall
 
4.0
Traditional Absinthe
A Nod to the Belgian

I'm not sure how old this bottle is. I did see that the brand updated the label, so I definitely picked up an older bottling. Overall: ...

MH
Matthew Harding
January 08, 2026 (Updated: January 08, 2026)
Overall rating
 
4.3
Appearance
 
4.0
Aroma
 
4.5
Louche
 
4.5
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
4.5
Finish
 
3.5
Overall
 
4.5
Traditional Absinthe
Modern Day Pernod Fils 🫢

Aroma: Boozy wormwood flowers before adding water. Trinity forward once louched. Sugar coated, creamy fennel up front wrapped in fruity anise and backed by woodsy wormwood notes. ...

MH
Matthew Harding
January 06, 2026 (Updated: January 08, 2026)
Overall rating
 
3.7
Appearance
 
4.0
Aroma
 
3.5
Louche
 
4.5
Flavor / Mouthfeel
 
3.0
Finish
 
4.0
Overall
 
3.5
Retired Brands
Essence of Mystery Indeed

Overall: This is a very unique absinthe. It's not for everyone. This is an absinthe nerds absinthe. For people that love exploring new interpretations. It does make me feel...

MH
Matthew Harding
19 results - showing 1 - 19