Hapsburg Absinthe Quartier Latin Italy 50 cl 53,5%

In Paris's Quartier Latin, writers and artists sat with green glasses in front of them long before absinthe became something you photographed. Hapsburg named their mildest bottle after the neighbourhood, and even with the strength turned down, there's no mistaking which family it comes from.

Expert's Description

Hapsburg Absinthe Quartier Latin Italien Absint 50 cl 53,5% is an Italian Absinthe distilled on wormwood and bottled at 53.5%.

The name comes straight from Paris's Quartier Latin, the district on the Left Bank where absinthe was the drink of choice among writers, painters and other creative types in the late 1800s. Hapsburg uses the history as a frame for their mildest absinthe – an expression built to be drunk more often, without giving up the bitter herbal character.

At 53.5%, Quartier Latin sits markedly lower in strength than the house's Classic at 72.5% and the extreme X.C. editions at 89.9%, but that doesn't make it tame. The wormwood is still clearly present, and anise and fresh herbal notes give a lighter, more fruit-forward expression than the stronger bottles in the range.

The colour is pale, almost translucent green – lighter than the deep golden green of Classic – and the louche effect, the well-known cloud that forms when ice water is added, turns out more delicate and less dense as a result.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Anise and fresh green herbs dominate, with a light sweetness and a hint of mint. The wormwood sits discreetly underneath, more suggestion than statement.

Palate

A light, fresh entry where liquorice and a mild bitter herbal streak from the wormwood meet. The sweetness is more pronounced than in Classic, and the overall experience is more approachable.

Finish

Short to medium, with a clean, herbal bitterness that fades quietly again without overstaying its welcome.

Specifications

Name: Hapsburg Absinthe Quartier Latin Italien Absint 50 cl 53,5%
Producer: Hapsburg Absinthe
Region/Country: Italy
Type: Italian Absinthe
ABV: 53.5%
Size: 50 CL
Botanicals: Wormwood, anise and fresh herbs
EAN no.: 5016978102108
Serving suggestion: Ice water and sugar following the classic ritual, or as a shot

Flavour Profile

Anise · Herbal · Fresh · Fruity · Mild

Did You Know?

The Quartier Latin district takes its name from Latin, the language students and scholars at the Sorbonne spoke in the Middle Ages – long before absinthe made the area famous for something else entirely.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Hapsburg Absinthe Quartier Latin Italien Absint 50 cl 53,5%

What does Hapsburg Absinthe Quartier Latin taste like?

Anise and fresh herbs dominate, with a mild sweetness and only a discreet trace of the wormwood's bitterness. The flavour is lighter and more approachable than the house's stronger expressions.

Why is it called Quartier Latin?

The name comes from the district on Paris's Left Bank, where absinthe was the drink of choice among the city's writers and artists in the late 1800s. Hapsburg uses the name as a tribute to that era.

Is 53.5% a good strength to start with if you've never tried absinthe before?

Yes, it's a natural way into the category. The wormwood is clear enough that you get the real absinthe flavour, without the intensity that can put off first-time tasters at higher strengths.

Does it turn as cloudy as other absinthes when you add water?

The louche effect is still there, but it turns more delicate than with a full-strength absinthe. At 53.5% there are fewer essential oils to separate out of solution, so the cloud is lighter and less dense.

Can it be drunk as a shot?

Yes, the milder strength makes Quartier Latin one of the few absinthes that works well as a shot without ice water, though the classic ritual with sugar and water still brings out more nuance.

What's the difference between Quartier Latin and Hapsburg Classic?

Strength is the big difference – 53.5% versus 72.5% – but it also shows up in character. Quartier Latin is paler in colour and lighter and more fruit-forward in flavour, while Classic is deeper, golden green and more intense.

Does it work in cocktails?

Yes, the lower strength makes it easy to dose in drinks where you want anise and herbal character without the drink being dominated by alcohol.