Saturday, December 13, 2014

What is Sambuca? How it's made

An italian liqueur. It is as strong as vodka or whisky (37.5%) but is easier to drink due to its sweetness which masks the taste of the alcohol. It tastes like aniseed or liquorice and comes in several varieties and colours, including white sambuca (which is actually clear), black sambuca(which is more like a dark purple) and red sambuca (which is actually red).

It originates from a region of Italy around Rome. Civitavecchia, a famous port near Rome has some of the famous Sambuca producers, but nowdays it is being produced all over Italy majorly.

Contemporary mixology bars and the market in general are asking for constant inovation, so some of the Sambuca producers have launched many other styles of Sambuca liqueur that are primarily infused with angelica,
Liquorice and Anise but also being flavored and coloured for instance with raspberry, banana, cacao and other spices and herbs as well to form a sambuca style liqueurs flavored differently.


It can be drunk straight, or it can be drunk with 3 coffee beans (known as Sambuca con mocca)in the glass (the beans represent health, happiness and prosperity). It can also be set on fire - aka. flamed. A way of taking a shot is to light it and then extinguish using the palm of the hand. The glass then sticks to the palm due to suction. The shot is then finished while the drink is still warm.

Contemporary mixology and creative bartenders are incorporating Sambuca into original creations, either cocktail and coffee mixology creations.

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