If so, has anything worth buying come out on the CO front while I've been living under a rock? I'm thirsty.

Sometimes, and no, not really.

Highly overrated. If that Lyonnaise looks good.

The Bel Amie is good but it's sold out for now.

Since good abainthe is made form a grape base, and brandy is grape base, I've decided to not worry about products with the additional steps and switched to brandy.

The newspaper said that stuff is dangerous.

A good time for me to admit that I've never been too fond of Belle Amie, though it has a nice wormwood profile and is pretty good indeed. I'm obviously the exception so probably it's just me (and maybe heureverte forumite Repliquant). I found it (way) overcolored and too heavy on coriander (plain soapy). It should however be noted that we tasted it just a few months after its distillation, long before it was released.

The sample I had was nicely balanced and flowery but it was just a wee sample -- enough for a couple of drinks.

Thass the main flaw of samples-they disappear fast.

And the main problem
with you is that you don't.

Want me to bring a sample in Boveresse buddy?

The only problem I've found with the Bellle Amie is that it can get very quickly over watered and get very quickly undrinkable.

The main problem is that ya are incurable of your noromity despite various attempts at.

Said the pinhead
to the norom.

And pinheads rule, noroms don't.

Harry Nilsson rules.
What's your point?

Needs to be rectified.

After drinking Lucid a few times am beginning to think that the American version, while better than I previously mentioned, is still not as good as those overseas. Therefore I recently aquisitioned a bottle of Duplais Balance, Brevens, Hellbitch, and a bottle of Jade NO (had the Jade NO, all others new to me). Am anxiously looking forward to receiving such bottles, as this is my first actual purchase of absinthe outside of Lucid/Kubler in a few years, and have not had any of the Duplais products in general.

So if you get a hair up your cello and decide to get to Colorado give me a hollar. Although I will be the first to admit there are finer tastings in Austin.

A bit late to plan for this year, but who all would be game for a ski louchefest?

Received previously said package today from Markus in remarkable time. Kind of curious, has anyone heard of Customs stopping any absinthe orders from overseas since the relinquishment of the US ban? Not sure if they are still required to stop all packages or if they have to prove that the twozone content is above the US requirement before they can do such.

Haven't tried any of the hooch yet, any recommendations of which to try first (won't be til Friday night before I get a good night to try it). Obviously Hellbitch's comments might be a bit swayed but interested to hear from him as well.

Start with the Balance, the lightest, then the Brevans (herbaceous) then the Hellbitch (citrus fruits).
You can let them all breathe and age a little but don't let the Hellbitch age too much, it needs to be drunk fresh.

You had one of the first "Oirsbeek" releases. (I wouldn't know how those age...) The current version (since mid-2007) has been rebalanced, the coloration step has been slightly modified and it ages nicely.

It does indeed. Less of a citrusy and smoother with age.

Good to know, I have to try the new version then.
And why the Blanche is not available? I've tried it in Luc's shop (not sure of its age) and it was really good, definitely sumthin' worth selling!

The Blanche leads a slumbering existence since Hellbitch Distillery is having a hard time coping with the relatively high demand of the Verte by a Dutch wholesale dealer (who carries just one decent absinthe brand, virtually the only one available in Netherlandia). I know Luc is interested so we'll probably settle that at some point in the future.

Both are very good.

That's was my plan after sniffing them neat as well. They all three seem pretty distinctive, and am looking VERY forward to giving all three a try.

It's nice knowing Jade isn't the only CO on the market with significant depth and pride in its production now (the last CO I had that came close was the Foug).

That was so 4 years ago...

Hey, it ain't been that long since I've been out of the circle, three years, yeah, but four, that's just crazy talk! The sad part is that I am still comparing all absinthe to the first glass of HG I ever tasted, and even if it truly is better, unfortunately in my mind it will never even be close.

Here's to L7!

Stay still together?

Hellbitch is the only one worth paying for. And remember, just say no to Jade NO.

Ted made that one easy for us.

Who says he doesn’t care about the Lounge?

If I'm not mistaken, he said it.