Hapsburg Absinthe XC Extra Strong Italy 50 cl 89,9%

Some bottles are built to be respected rather than sipped neat. Hapsburg's X.C. series tops out at 89.9%, and the Extra Strong expression is marketed as one of the strongest absinthes around. The colour is green like the rest of the family – it's the strength that sets it apart.

Expert's Description

Hapsburg Absinthe XC Extra Strong Italien Absint 50 cl 89,9% is an Italian Absinthe distilled on wormwood and bottled at 89.9%.

The X.C. series is Hapsburg's answer to extreme strength, and Extra Strong – the house's own name for the plain, unflavoured expression – sits right at the top of the range alongside the fruit-flavoured X.C. variants like Black Fruits. Where Classic at 72.5% is meant as an entry point to the brand, X.C. is built for experienced absinthe drinkers and bartenders who want maximum herbal power in a small dose.

At 89.9% there's room for far more essential oils from wormwood, anise and fennel than in the milder expressions, giving a denser, more intense louche once ice water is added. That's exactly why it's never recommended to drink it undiluted – the bottle is built to be diluted heavily or dosed into cocktails.

The extreme strength also means even a small amount changes a drink significantly. Bartenders typically use XC Extra Strong as a drop-dosed flavouring rather than a base, where it can lay down a clear anise line without filling up the glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense and sharp, with mint and pepper pushing through alongside anise. The wormwood sits heavy and earthy underneath, and the alcohol clearly makes itself known in the aroma.

Palate

Powerful from the first contact, with spice, herbs and a marked liquorice sweetness fighting against the wormwood's bitterness. Even diluted, the flavour stays intense.

Finish

Long and warm, almost burning, with a persistent herbal bitterness that lingers in the mouth well after.

Specifications

Name: Hapsburg Absinthe XC Extra Strong Italien Absint 50 cl 89,9%
Producer: Hapsburg Absinthe
Region/Country: Italy
Type: Italian Absinthe
ABV: 89.9%
Size: 50 CL
Botanicals: Wormwood, anise and mint
Serving suggestion: A few drops diluted with plenty of ice water, or dosed into cocktails

Flavour Profile

Intense · Spiced · Herbal · Powerful · Mint

Did You Know?

At 89.9%, the X.C. series ranks among the strongest absinthes sold anywhere, and the bottle is marketed outright as one of the most potent on the market.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Hapsburg Absinthe XC Extra Strong Italien Absint 50 cl 89,9%

What does Hapsburg Absinthe XC Extra Strong taste like?

Intense mint and anise meet a heavy, earthy wormwood bitterness and a touch of pepper. At 89.9%, the flavour is markedly more powerful than in the house's milder expressions, even after dilution.

Can XC Extra Strong be drunk neat?

It's not recommended. The strength is high enough that the bottle is built to be diluted heavily with ice water or dosed drop by drop into cocktails, not drunk undiluted.

Why does Hapsburg make an absinthe this strong?

The X.C. series targets experienced absinthe drinkers and bartenders who want maximum herbal power in a small dose. The higher the alcohol strength, the more essential oils from wormwood, anise and fennel can stay in solution, giving a more intense flavour and a denser louche.

What's the difference between Extra Strong and the fruit-flavoured X.C. editions like Black Fruits?

The base and the 89.9% strength are the same, but Black Fruits has dark berry flavouring added on top of the classic wormwood-anise profile. Extra Strong is the plain, unmodified expression.

How do you use it in cocktails?

As a powerful flavouring rather than a base. A few drops are enough to set a clear anise and herbal line in a drink without the overall alcohol strength running away.

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

Yes, actually more so. At 89.9% there's room for more essential oils in solution, so the louche effect becomes denser and more pronounced than at lower strengths.