A look at Corsair Red Absinthe-Infused with Hibsicus.
Posted in Absinthe, Spirits on August 12th, 2009 by halw – 2 Comments
A 375ml bottle of Corsair RED Absinthe
Originating from the Corsair Artisanal distillery in Bowling Green, Kentucky Corsair “Red,” as it’s been dubbed, is an absinthe with a twist. An artisanal product, only available in a 375ml variety, Corsair takes a traditional absinthe, adds citrus and tarragon to the mix and then infuses it with red hibiscus for twenty-four hours.
The nose of Corsair is a combination of anise, sweetness and an unplaceable fragrance reminiscent of a red wine(burgundy?) with floral notes. I’m guessing the wine-like, floral notes are stemming from the hibiscus infusion. Continuing to throw the senses for a loop, the taste is a combination of spiciness and floral with minor notes of anise. The hibiscus seems to overpower the anise, more than I’d prefer.
It does louche in almost traditional manner, though with the infusion the color (as shown below) is a bit out of the norm.
After adding another portion of water, the Corsair began to grow on me. Floral notes mixed with spice danced with notes of anise to create a one-of-a-kind taste. Given its unique flavor profile, I’m curious to see how Corsair would work in cocktails.
Corsair RED louching after water's been added.
So far removed from a traditional absinthe, it took me a while to determine a rating on this one. Would I say this is the best absinthe I’ve ever tried? No. Would I recommend anyone who’s a fan of absinthe to give this a try for the sheer experience of something different? Definitely.
Final Score: 7 out of 10
