Tasting note

Henri Bardouin was a pioneer in 1990 making a more complex and different pastis, the star anise based aperitif long loved in the south of France. His pastis is extraordinarily complex: multi-layered, multi-flavoured with about 65 different herbs and spices. Yes there's star anise and liquorice but also mugwort, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, thyme, lemon verbena, St. John's wort, oregano, kidney vetch, angelica, grains of paradise, sage, rosemary, borage, black and white pepper and much more. Add about five parts water to one part pastis - it will turn cloudy, milky white. Aromatic, with a subtle interplay of spices, liquorice and herb flavours, it fascinates and intrigues - sure to bring out the poet in you. I will be chagrined if Vintages doesn't reorder once it's all gone from the stores. Score - 93. (Margaret Swaine, winealign.com, July 14, 2013)