Sambuca

Sambuca is an Italian anise-flavoured, usually colourless liqueur. Its most common variety is often referred to as white Sambuca in order to differentiate it from other varieties that are deep blue in colour (known as black Sambuca) or bright red (red Sambuca). Sambuca is commonly confused with Ouzo, a Greek anise-flavoured liqueur.

Ingredients

Sambuca contains essential oils obtained from star anise, Illicium verum, which give the liquor a strong anise flavour. The oils are added to pure alcohol, a concentrated solution of sugar, and other flavouring. It is commonly bottled at 42% ABV (84 proof).

History

The Molinari company states that the name Sambuca comes from an Arabic word: Zammut. This was the name of an anise-flavoured drink that arrived to the port of Civitavecchia by ships coming from the East. The Oxford English Dictionary states, however, that the term comes from the Latin word sambūc-us, meaning "elderberry".

A "Sambuq" is a type of Arabic ship which may originally have been used to import the drink and may have given it its name.

The Italian word Sambuca was first used as the name of another anise-based liquor that was created in Civitavecchia about 130 years ago.

The first commercial version of such a drink started at the end of 1800 in Civitavecchia thanks to Luigi Manzi that started selling Sambuca Manzi, that is still produced today. In 1945, soon after the end of Second World War, commendatore Angelo Molinari started producing Sambuca Extra Molinari, that helped the diffusion of Sambuca all over Italy.

Serving

Neat

Sambuca can be served neat, as Ammazzacaffè or just as refreshment.

On the rocks

Sambuca can be served with ice, optionally adding some coffee beans as ornament. The ice enhances the flavours and changes the colour of the drink from transparent to dense white.

With toasted coffee beans

In Italy it is common to serve neat Sambuca with some floating coffee beans dropped on it: it is called Sambuca con mosca (literally, "Sambuca with flies"). The beans are there as an ornament, but they can be chewed to increase the taste of anise. It is usually served in restaurants with 3 coffee beans and is said that the beans represent: health, happiness, and prosperity.

In coffee

Sambuca can be added to coffee as a sweetener instead of sugar. The mixed drink in Italian is called Caffè corretto (literally, "corrected coffee"), though more commonly caffè corretto refers to grappa and coffee.

With water

Sambuca can be served adding fresh water, becoming a refreshing less alcoholic drink.

On fire

Sambuca can be served in a shot glass and then set on fire for a second or two, in order to increase flavour. Another alternative is known as "Gas Chambers" which is the same as on fire but the fumes are caught in a glass and after the shot is taken the fumes are sucked up through a straw.