Absinthe Francois Guy

Francois Guy is often described as one of the very best brands available. The reason is clear: Guy is one of the few distilleries left that produced Absinthe in the Belle Epoch. The recipes are nearly the same as then and as you can see yourself, they are using the old stills that have been in use since the late 19th century. Its unique taste is absolutely fantastic: well balanced herbal notes, slight bitterness from the Wormwood that they grow themselves. The aroma of the liquor is pleasant, being somewhat aromatic and a bit woody, bearing a certain similarity to Pastis. The liquor itself is virtually clear, with just a slight tinge of olive. Tasted neat, the flavor is predominantly of Anise, with the woody component being significant, yet not obtrusive. The liquor louches well upon the addition of water and the flavor remains simple and refreshing, being neither thin nor heavy, with that telltale woodiness making its presence known with every sip. (With kind permission of Ted Breaux) Made according to the family recipe by the grandson of Armand Guy, this Absinthe is light, soft and floral in character. This is not an absinthe for those who dislike Anise; the aroma is the first one detected upon opening the bottle and is the chief flavor present in the taste, although the Wormwood and other ingredients show through sufficiently well enough to keep this from being merely an Anise aperitif. As might be expected from an Absinthe so simple, the flavor is not complex or challenging at all, but is entirely pleasant with a refreshing mouth feel. Soft and floral in both fragrance and taste, it does seem to have a generous portion of Hyssop in it and lacks the astringency that many more herbal Absinthes have. Remarkably affordable - it comes in 1 liter bottles, as opposed to the more common 750ml - this makes an excellent "regular" Absinthe. (With kind permission by Hiram @ The Wormwoodsociety) Francois Guy won the Golden Absinthe Spoon at the Pontarlier Absinthiades in 2002, 2003, 2004