Sambuca

A traditional Italian anise liqueur built around star-anise oil (badianum) with secondary flavorings of elderflower, herbs, and sugar. Distinctively sweeter and more star-anise-forward than Greek ouzo or French pastis, sambuca is typically bottled at 38-42% ABV and is crystal-clear (white sambuca) — black and red variants exist with added botanicals or fruit. Classically served chilled neat, flamed with three coffee beans (con la mosca), as a digestif over ice with water (turns louche white), an...