Original Absinthe: ALANDIA Verte Review

Original Absinthe: Review of ALANDIA Verte

Absinthe Review: Most important facts

  • ALANDIA Verte is a naturally green colored Absinthe.
  • This Absinthe is made with real wormwood (artemisia absinthium) from France.
  • The taste is balanced and smooth with only a little bitterness.

What is actually original Absinthe?

ALANDIA Verte is an original Absinthe made by ALANDIA Spirits. The design of the bottle looks vintage, the label also reads “Absinthe Supérieure” so maybe you ask yourself, what is actually original Absinthe?

Original Absinthe means that it is close to the 19th century originals. First and foremost, this means that the brand in question is made with wormwood (artemisia absinthium). If this is not the case, you have a Pastis or Anise, both spirits are made with fennel and aniseed but no wormwood. Original means, as well, that the Absinthe is naturally colored with coloring herbs. No artificial colorings should be used. The latter is often the case for mass-marketed Absinthes, as artificial coloring is less complex and of course cheaper. Artificially green colored Absinthes are as well stable, meaning that you can put the bottle into direct sunlight and nothing will happen. This is often a retailer requirement to guarantee a long shelf life.

In comparison, natural green Absinthe can lose its green color, as sunlight is harmful for the green chlorophyll coloration. But it is important to know, that this does not affect the quality. It is just a natural process. The color turns from green to a brown tone, called “feuilles morte”, the color of a fallen leaf. A naturally colored Absinthe is how a green Absinthe should be made, because wisely chosen the coloring herbs add the finishing touch to the distillate.

Original Green Absinthe ALANDIA Verte
Natural Green Absinthe ALANDIA Verte: Wrapped in paper for protection

As ALANDIA Verte is naturally colored, every bottle is wrapped in paper to protect the natural green color from direct sunlight. After opening, you should rewrap the bottle and store it in a dark place to keep its natural green color as long as possible.

ALANDIA Verte: Original Absinthe label design

ALANDIA Verte’s label is inspired by a vintage original: Absinthe R. Large from the 19th century. Nevertheless, the design was only used as a template, unique elements were added, that describe what ALANDIA Verte is about. For example, you can see two silver lions in a blue and red shield at the top of the label. This emblem is the city emblem of Fougerolles, the city where ALANDIA Verte is distilled.

Fougerolles was already during the peak of the Absinthe era known for producing high-quality Absinthes. Together with Pontarlier it was the “capitol” of Absinthe. Many distilleries were located here, one of them was the Devoille distillery where ALANDIA Verte is distilled. To be precise, the Devoille distillery was founded in 1859 by Paul Devoille. Therefore it can look back on a long company heritage.

Original Absinthe Label
Inspiration for the label: The original R. Large Absinthe label

On the ALANDIA Verte (and R. Large label) you can also spot a wormwood leaf in the background. It is present, because ALANDIA Verte uses high-quality wormwood from Fougerolles. The Devoille distillery has its own wormwood fields and cultivates Absinthes famous herb like in the old days: Every year in July the tall wormwood plants are harvested by hand and dried in the so called “séchoir”, a wooden hut. It was done like this 150 years ago. The whole process guarantees a very aromatic quality, which is quite important, as original Absinthe should have the distinctive floral though slightly bitter taste of wormwood.

Absinthe Wormwood Harvest
Absinthe Wormwood Harvest: Now and then

ALANDIA Verte: Smell, color, louche, mouthfeel, taste

If you want to review an Absinthe you should first smell at the opened bottle and take a closer look at the undiluted color once it is in the Absinthe glass. ALANDIA Verte has a fresh and herbal aroma with sweet notes of anise. No harsh or sharp notes of the alcohol are present (although the spirit has 65% alcohol by volume).  The green tones are bright and clear, reflecting lights in a magical way. Once ice-cold water is added ALANDIA Verte louches to a dense opalescent white. Green tones are still detectable but overall the louche looks innocent and pure.

After you have completely diluted the Absinthe you should smell another time at the glass. Did the initial aromas change? For ALANDIA Verte you still have this irresistible floral scent, but it is now smoother, as the liquor is diluted with water. It reminds a bit of herbal milk, somehow fresh but creamy and slightly sweet…

Once you take the first sip the fresh and herbal taste of anise and fennel hit your taste buds. Enough room is left for the other herbs, reducing the “licorice” taste. Slightly grassy tones of genepi follow (genepi is another wormwood specie that is part of the recipe) and finish in a complex and floral taste of wormwood.

Absinthe ALANDIA Verte Louche
Absinthe ALANDIA Verte: Starting to louche

Below you can see a video how ALANDIA Verte should be prepared. The traditional way with ice-cold water and 1 sugar cube is recommended. You can also skip the sugar if you like, as anise and fennel already give this Absinthe a natural sweet taste.

Overall impression of ALANDIA Verte Absinthe

Intentionally, ALANDIA Verte is not the most complex Absinthe. The focus is set on the floral notes of wormwood, which we really love. As this Absinthe is so smooth and balanced you want to drink more than just one glass. This sets this Verte apart from heavier wine alcohol based Absinthes, which you really have to drink slowly, sip by sip.

We recommend ALANDIA Verte to first-timers and connoisseurs alike. Beginners will most likely appreciate the fresh taste of this Absinthe, not overpowering on fennel therefore reducing the “licorice” taste. The latter can detect the individual components: Fresh notes of green anise, balanced out with slightly grassy tones of genepi finishing in a complex and floral taste of wormwood.

We hope that you enjoyed this article. If you already have tested ALANDIA Verte please let us know, what you think about this Absinthe and leave a comment on this page. If you want to buy a bottle of ALANDIA Verte just visit our online store.

Green greetings from the world of Absinthe,

Mike from the ALANDIA-Team

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Frequently Asked Questions

Absinthe, also called Absinthe (French spelling), is a spirit with 45 to 85 percent alcohol by volume. Real Absinthe is traditionally made from grand wormwood (artemisia absinthium), green anise, fennel and, depending on the recipe, other herbs. Most Absinthes are green in color, which is why the liquor is also called the Green Fairy.
Traditional Absinthe is a distilled spirit made of grand wormwood, green anise and fennel. Other herbs such as melissa, calmus, lemon balm, angelica roots etc. are used as well, to round off the taste.
To make Absinthe you primarily need neutral grain spirit as a base (160 proof). The herbal components for distillation are grand wormwood, green anise and fennel. Additional herbs can be added to round off the taste. For the coloration of the distillate further herbs are needed. Typical are pontic wormwood, hyssop and melissa.
Traditional Absinthe is a distilled spirit made of grand wormwood, aniseed and fennel. You can also find DIY recipes how to make Absinthe with neutral grain spirit like Everclear and herbs. Although it sounds tempting, Absinthe can not be properly made with a DIY kit, as these herbal kits only macerate the herbs instead of proper distillation. The result is a very bitter liquor without the fine taste of real Absinthe.
It is a common belief that Absinthe containing wormwood has a very strong bitter taste. This is true for wormwood macerates or teas, however, when the plant is distilled, most of the bitter parts are lost. Additionally the bitter components are mainly allocated in the stem which is not used for distillation.
In the United States, Absinthe is not a controlled substance anymore. It was legalized in 2007. Real Absinthe with wormwood can be sold in the USA as long as it stays below 10 mg/kg of thujone. In the European Union, Absinthe may be sold as long as it stays at 35 mg/kg of thujone.
As Absinthe is not a controlled substance anymore you can legally buy it online and in liquor stores. Real Absinthe with wormwood can be sold in the USA as long as it stays below 10 mg/kg of thujone. In the European Union, Absinthe may be sold as long as it stays at 35 mg/kg of thujone. You can get real Absinthe at the online store www.alandia.de. Worldwide shipping, including the USA, is offered.
Absinthe was legalized in the United States in 2007. It is not a controlled substance anymore and can be sold in bars and liquor stores. The thujone content of Absinthe in the USA is limited to 10 ppm (equal to 10 mg/kg). In the European Union 35 ppm are legal.
Thujone is the ingredient that is responsible for Absinthe's bad reputation. It is a component of the wormwood plant. In very high doses, thujone can be toxic, but the alcohol in Absinthe would kill you long before you drank enough to get any other effects. The legal thujone content is limited by law, nevertheless it is a myth that preban Absinthes contained outrageous amounts of thujone. The levels were comparable to modern Absinthe, 10 to 35 ppm (equal to 10 -35 mg/kg).
Absinthe is spirit of history. Invented in the late 18th century it has fascinated people for centuries. Part of the fascination comes from the sophisticated way of preparing the drink with a spoon, sugar and water. Another element is the myth around the ingredient thujone which gave Absinthe its bad reputation, and finally resulted in the ban of the drink by the beginning of the 20th century.
Absinthe is traditionally of green color. The coloration is done by steeping herbs in the distilled liquid (for example petite wormwood, hyssop, and melissa among others). Chlorophyll from these botanicals is extracted giving Absinthe its famous green color. Nevertheless, Absinthe may also be colorless if the coloration step is skipped. These Absinthes are called "Blanches" (French for white).
To give Absinthe its traditional green color chlorophyll from the coloring herbs is extracted. Why Absinthe is of green color and not colorless is a matter of aesthetics and also taste, as the coloring herbs add herbal complexity that is typical of high quality Absinthe.
Absinthe is a high-proof liquor. Its alcohol content is between 45 and 85 percent alcohol by volume, which equates to about 90 to 170 proof. 68 was the most common alcohol content of Absinthe in the 19th century. Because of its strength Absinthe is supposed to be diluted with water.
Absinthe typically has an alcohol content ranging from 45% to 85% alcohol by volume (90 - 170 proof), making it a high-proof spirit.
The name "Absinthe" derives from the liquor's main ingredient: grand wormwood. The latin name of this herb is artemisia absinthium.
A bottle of Absinthe costs between $ 30 and $ 100. The price depends on the size of the bottle, alcohol content and the quality of the brand. Distilled Absinthe is more expensive than macerated Absinthe.
Absinthe is mainly produced in France and Switzerland. The first commercially produced Absinthe was the Dubied Absinthe from the French-speaking part of Switzerland from the year 1789. Already in the bible wormwood is mentioned as a natural remedy.
Yes, you can once again buy real Absinthe with wormwood (artemisia absinthium) in the US. It was legalized in the United States in 2007. Nevertheless, the thujone content of Absinthe in the USA is limited to 10 ppm (equal to 10 mg/kg). In the European Union 35 ppm are legal, which means they can be made with more wormwood compared to the US.
Yes, Absinthe is legal in the US can be bought in liquor stores, bars and restaurants. It was legalized in the United States in 2007. The thujone content of Absinthe in the USA is limited to 10 ppm (equal to 10 mg/kg). In the European Union 35 ppm are legal.
Preban Absinthe bottles, meaning Absinthe that was produced before its ban in 1910, do still exist. Bottles in good condition cost up to $3000-5000. As Absinthe is a high proof liquor with 68% abv (136 proof) the quality actually improves with aging.
Yes, there are different types of Absinthe, including traditional green Absinthe and clear Absinthe, each with distinct flavors.
Absinthe has an anise flavor, which can be reminiscent of licorice, but it also includes herbal and floral notes.
Prominent figures like Vincent van Gogh and Oscar Wilde were known for their fondness for absinthe.
Making real, distilled Absinthe at home is possible but complex and often regulated. It requires specialized knowledge and equipment.
Absinthe is distinct due to its unique combination of botanicals, including wormwood, which imparts its signature flavor. Absinthe is as well served with water and sugar, you do not drink it straight.
The louche is the milky cloudiness that forms when water is added to Absinthe; it's a natural reaction due to the anise oils in the drink.
Store Absinthe in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight, to preserve its flavor and color.

Author: ALANDIA

The ALANDIA Absinthe store was established in 2001. From this date on we are proudly serving the Absinthe Community worldwide.

14 thoughts on “Original Absinthe: ALANDIA Verte Review”

  9. I’ve tried it and bought thru your site. Enjoyed it very much. I have been waiting to purchase more. I love the bottles it comes in.
    Blessings,
    Sullyswytch
    (Joy K Lambert)

  12. What great service! Everything done perfectly with no issues. My shipment to the US only took three days with DHL!
    I ordered a set: two glasses, a carafe, spoons, and sugar. Two bottles of Jade, 1898 and 1901. Opened the 1898 , me and the green fairy are quite happy now.
    Alandia, top notch company

  13. I ordered jade verte suisse 1898, received Nouvelle Orleans instead, tried to resolve the the mistake and was met with a ghost nothing no response whatsoever. No way to run or make favor here. There are others out there that can bring your favorite to you, I strongly suggest you investigate and consider the other. Before you end up with one of their mistakes. Your out a lot of money with a product in hand you don’t carefor.
    P.S. I still have a unopened bottle of Nouvelle Orleans, will let it go cheap.

  14. Frank, please check your spam folder. We replied to every single mail and tried from different accounts. We offered the wrong bottle for a big discount and gave the option to send the right Jade. Please check spam folder and let us know.

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