Pernod Pastis

The nose vaults from the glass in heady waves of anise, fresh garden herbs, carnations, fennel, and most pungent of all, licorice -- it's a lovely, fascinating, and exotic bouquet that's memorable; tasted neat, it's oily, bittersweet, and potent, with a well-defined note of licorice -- with spring water added, Pernod turns milky, soupy, and opaque and tastes better, since much of the bitterness is diluted, leaving behind the concentrated anise flavor on its own; the finish is long, licorice-like, and sweet. F. Paul Pacult, Kindred Spirits.