J. Herbin Diabolo Menthe is named after the popular French beverage that bears the same name, made from green mint syrup and either lemonade or 7-Up (I found differing recipes). In either case, the model for the ink is a very diluted green color, with bubbles.
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The J. Herbin take on the diabolo menthe has many similar characteristics as the drink. The ink is very faintly green and I described it as "frosty" even before I found out that the drink it is modeled after is carbonated. Where the model and the product differ, however, is that I would describe the ink as a teal, with more blue than green. But, then again, I did find both to be refreshing.
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The above image is my full page review of the ink, taken with a flash. Click for full view.
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This above image is the same review, taken without a flash. Click for full view.
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While writing on the wonderfully smooth 90 g Clairefontaine paper in my new Quo Vadis Habana journal, I experienced no feathering, no bleedthrough and no nib creep.
Overall, I found Diabolo Menthe to be a nice, cool, teal with a very wintery feel to it. While I don't think I will be using Diabolo Menthe as an everyday ink, and I don't have any current plans for it... I will think of something. After all, winter is right around the corner, and this is just the color ink to get me into the spirit of the season.
NOTE: Winter is my favorite season of them all, and I can't can't can't wait for it to get here.
5 comments:
Thank you! I agree, the color does seem to be a good match for the season! I can see it working in late spring, too.
You're ever so welcome, Eliza. I appreciate it when readers help give the site direction by letting me know what they'd like to see.
James
I suspect in a B or BB nib, this will be glorious!
Beth,
Brilliant, now I have a legitimate excuse to purchase a BB nib... and a new pen to go with it.
Thanks for the suggestion!
James
I really like this ink - the color. I'm finding it not such a smooth writer, quite different from the other Herbins I've used. For some reason, it seems to me to be 'grabby' on the paper - I've tried it on both Rhodia and Clairfontaine. I tried it in 4 different pens - 2 Jinhao, a Bulow, and my favorite Mont Blanc and the experience is pretty consistent. I seemed to have a better experience with an earlier pen, but don't have it handy. I think it may work better with a broad point nib. For what it's worth!
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