Absinthe Ordinaire Liqueur (750Ml)

Absinthe Ordinaire Liqueur comes from the south of France. It is made in Forcalquier, in the hills of Provence, by Distilleries et Domaines de Provence. The name honors Doctor Pierre Ordinaire, tied to an early absinthe recipe from 1792. This is a lightly sweetened absinthe liqueur bottled at 46% ABV. That makes it gentler than most classic absinthes.

The recipe leans on familiar absinthe botanicals. You will find wormwood, anise seed, lemon balm, mugwort and peppermint. They are distilled in copper pot stills. In the glass, the color is pale green with bright yellow glints.

On the nose, sweet anise and fresh fennel come first. The palate opens with candied licorice, then turns toward green herbs and wormwood. Add water and a soft mint note shows up. The finish is long, fresh and lightly spicy, with anise hanging on to the end.

You can serve it the old way. Pour a measure, then drip in cold water slowly. The spirit turns cloudy as it louches, and the aromas open up. It also makes a handy rinse for a Sazerac. A few dashes add herbal lift to modern cocktails too.

Pick this bottle if you enjoy licorice and herbal liqueurs. Pastis fans and curious cocktail makers will feel at home with it. If you want a full-strength, unsweetened absinthe, look elsewhere. For a smooth, sweet-leaning start in the category, it is an easy choice.