Edouard Pernod Absinthe: ca. 1900- 1915

Pre Louche

Mid Louche

Full Louche

COLOR BEFORE WATER 10/10
Feuille Morte This absinthe is nearly 100 years old. It has aged well over time and has faded, as it should, like an autumn leaf.

LOUCHE ACTION 10/10
The louche began much more slowly in the Edouard than in the Pernod Fils. As more ice water was added by fountain it became very thick with a nice translucent band at the top. At 4:1 this drink was as opaque as milk!

COLOR AFTER WATER 10/10
Now even though this sample was dark brown the finished louche was to my surprise a rather opalescent green. (My camera does not do it justice) I recall Mr. Hartsmars similar surprise when sampling vintage Berger absinthe.

AROMA 28/30
The nose of this sample neat is unlike any commercial or clandestine absinthe available. The aroma is remarkably similar to Pernod Fils yet I found this sample to be a bit more floral in its character with a bit less heat. There was also the same dusky scent that I noted in the samples of Pernod Fils. This aroma has been described as a baby powder scent and I feel that it is attributed to its age. I have also been told however that the aroma may come from the variety of hyssop which was used in its production. The aroma after the louche is quite mellow and very pleasant.

MOUTHFEEL 10/10
The full bodied and rounded mouthfeel of the Edouard was reminiscent of vintage Pernod Fils Thick yet very well refined. I cannot think of any brand on the market like it.

TASTE 19/20
The flavor of this sample has been well preserved. Overall the flavors of the herbs have become much more unified and the alcohol base seems to have mellowed considerably. The anise and fennel seem to predominate and they taste dusky and dry. The wormwood is there and does come out in the slightly bitter finish. There are other subtle herbal notes that I cannot quite pin down. I am not sure if some of these flavors are attributed to the age of this absinthe or ingredients that I do not recognize. There were flavors almost like cinnamon, ginger or cardamom. Compared to Vintage Pernod Fils the Edouard seems to be a bit lighter in its flavor and a bit sweeter.

OVERALL IMPRESSION 10/10
Although this absinthe is not the finest absinthe I have ever had it was unique and it was a treat to sample. Given the rarity of this drink I give it a ten. Having had the opportunity to sample this along with vintage Pernod Fils I will say the Jades are on definitely the right track.


Total: 97/100

* Label photo by Oxygenee.

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Pernod Fils Absinthe: ca. 1900- 1910 Pre-ban Pernod Fils Absinthe COLOR BEFORE WATER 10/10 At nearly 100 years old this absinthe, like the Edouard, was what has been described as being the color Feuille Morte. It has aged well over time and has faded, as it should, like an autumn leaf. LOUCHE ACTION 10/10 Bringing the glass under the fountain the louche began almost immediately and was a lot stronger than I had expected. There were beautiful gradient lines in the glass that swirled around until the final stage at which the contents became very opaque. COLOR AFTER WATER 10/10 The final stage of the louche was very thick and became quite a nice shade of white. Considering how brown the sample was before water I was amazed at the final shade of the louche. AROMA 30/30 The nose was much more intense than I had imagined. There was a considerable amount of heat! I had assumed that a bottle over 90 years old would have mellowed out much more. The scent was very fragrant and full of spice! It was very well balanced and was unlike anything I had smelled before. The aroma of the bouquet was brilliant and it certainly filled the room! I could really smell the heavy fragrance in the air. There was a rich musky/spicy character that I have not witnessed in any other commercial or clandestine absinthe! The aroma of Pernod Fils was very unique indeed. MOUTH-FEEL 10/10 The mouth feel was another big surprise; it had a consistency similar to that of skim milk! It was very heavy and rich in the mouth. Unlike anything available TASTE 18/20 Tasting the Pernod neat was very, very good! Although the alcohol was sharp to the nose it was subdued on the tongue by the rush of alpine flavors. The taste was balanced and herbal. After water had been added there were absolutely no overpowering flavors. The unification of flavors made it difficult to pick out what may have been any ingredients outside the generic Pontarlier recipe. The lingering quality on the palate lasted forever! Much longer than any commercial or clandestine out there. If there were a commercial absinthe available that tasted like Pernod Fils I would drink it exclusively! Yum! OVERALL IMPRESSION 10/10 I am glad that I had the chance to sample vintage Pernod Fils. It was much different than I had imagined and I will say that there is nothing out there like it. Total 98/100 Thank you Oxy for the Samples! * Bottle photo by Oxygenee.