Sambuca is an Italian liqueur that is flavored with anise, which gives it a sweet, licorice-like taste. It is usually clear and colorless, although some varieties may have a slight yellow or blue tint. Sambuca is made by infusing the aniseed with alcohol and then adding sugar syrup, making it a sweet and strong drink.
Sambuca is often served as a digestif, which is a drink that is consumed after a meal to aid digestion. It is sometimes served neat, at room temperature, and often flamed with three coffee beans, which represent health, wealth, and happiness. Sambuca can also be used as a mixer in cocktails, and is often combined with coffee or other sweet liqueurs.
What Can Sambuca Liqueur be Mixed With?
Sambuca is a sweet, anise-flavored liqueur that can be mixed with a variety of drinks to create tasty and refreshing cocktails. Some popular mixers for Sambuca include:
Water: Sambuca can be mixed with cold water to create a refreshing and slightly sweet drink.
Coffee: Sambuca and coffee make a delicious combination. Simply add a shot of Sambuca to a cup of hot coffee for a tasty treat.
Cola: Sambuca can be mixed with cola to create a sweet and fizzy cocktail.
Lemonade: Mix Sambuca with lemonade for a sweet and tangy drink.
Orange Juice: Mix Sambuca with orange juice to create a sweet and citrusy cocktail.
Grapefruit Juice: Mix Sambuca with grapefruit juice for a refreshing and slightly bitter drink.
Cranberry Juice: Mix Sambuca with cranberry juice for a sweet and tart cocktail.
Remember to always drink responsibly and in moderation.
Sambuca Liqueur Cocktails Recipes
Sambuca and Coke
1 1/2 oz. Sambuca
Cola
Ice
Lemon twist, for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour the Sambuca over the ice, and then top with cola. Stir gently and garnish with a lemon twist.
Sambuca Sour
1 1/2 oz. Sambuca
1 oz. lemon juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup
Ice
Lemon wheel, for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the Sambuca, lemon juice, and simple syrup to the shaker. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Sambuca and Orange Juice
1 1/2 oz. Sambuca
3 oz. orange juice
Ice
Orange slice, for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a highball glass with ice. Add the Sambuca and orange juice to the glass. Stir gently and garnish with an orange slice.
Sambuca Espresso Martini
1 1/2 oz. vodka
1 oz. Sambuca
1 oz. espresso
1/2 oz. simple syrup
Ice
Coffee beans, for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, Sambuca, espresso, and simple syrup to the shaker. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with coffee beans.
Sambuca Black Licorice
1 1/2 oz. Sambuca
1/2 oz. black raspberry liqueur
1/2 oz. blackberry liqueur
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
Ice
Black licorice, for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the Sambuca, black raspberry liqueur, blackberry liqueur, and lime juice to the shaker. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a piece of black licorice.
Sambuca Winter Solstice
1 oz. Sambuca
1 oz. amaretto
1 oz. vanilla liqueur
1 oz. heavy cream
Ice
Cinnamon stick, for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the Sambuca, amaretto, vanilla liqueur, and heavy cream to the shaker. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Sambuca con la Mosca (Sambuca with Flies)
1 1/2 oz. Sambuca
3 coffee beans
Ice
Instructions:
Fill a rocks glass with ice. Pour the Sambuca over the ice. Garnish with three coffee beans. This cocktail is traditionally served with the coffee beans floating in the Sambuca to represent health, wealth, and happiness.
Sambuca Manhattan
1 1/2 oz. bourbon
1 oz. Sambuca
1/2 oz. sweet vermouth
Dash of bitters
Maraschino cherry, for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a mixing glass with ice. Add the bourbon, Sambuca, sweet vermouth, and bitters to the mixing glass. Stir well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Sambuca Margarita
1 1/2 oz. Sambuca
1 oz. tequila
1 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz. triple sec
Salt, for rim
Lime wedge, for garnish
Instructions:
Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a chilled margarita glass. Dip the rim in salt to coat. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the Sambuca, tequila, lime juice, and triple sec to the shaker. Shake well and strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Spiced Sambuca Punch
1 1/2 oz. Sambuca
1 oz. spiced rum
1 oz. apple cider
1/2 oz. honey syrup
1/2 oz. lemon juice
1 dash of aromatic bitters
Apple slice, for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the Sambuca, spiced rum, apple cider, honey syrup, lemon juice, and bitters to the shaker. Shake well and strain into a chilled punch glass. Garnish with an apple slice.
Sambuca Mule
1 1/2 oz. Sambuca
3/4 oz. lime juice
3 oz. ginger beer
Ice
Lime wheel, for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a copper mug with ice. Add the Sambuca and lime juice to the mug. Top with ginger beer and stir gently. Garnish with a lime wheel.
About Sambuca Liqueur
Origin: Sambuca is an Italian anise-flavored liqueur that originated in Italy. It is believed to have been first produced in the late 1800s, although the exact date of its creation is unknown.
Ingredients: Sambuca is made from anise, which gives it its distinctive licorice flavor, along with sugar and other herbs and spices. The herbs and spices used in Sambuca can vary depending on the brand and recipe, but commonly include elderflower, licorice root, and star anise.
Texture: Sambuca is a clear, syrupy liqueur with a thick and viscous texture.
Proof: Sambuca is typically 42% alcohol by volume (ABV), or 84 proof.
Usage: Sambuca can be consumed on its own as a digestif, or used as an ingredient in cocktails. It is often served chilled and neat, but can also be mixed with water or used as a flavoring for coffee or desserts.
Serving: Sambuca is often served in a shot glass with three coffee beans as a garnish, a tradition known as “con la mosca” (with flies). The coffee beans represent health, wealth, and happiness.
Festive drink: Sambuca is a popular drink during the Christmas season in Italy, where it is often served with panettone or other holiday desserts.
Production: Sambuca is produced by distilling anise, sugar, and other ingredients together, and then adding water to dilute the alcohol content. Some varieties of Sambuca are also aged in oak barrels to enhance their flavor.
Manufacturer: There are several manufacturers of Sambuca, including Molinari, Luxardo, and Ramazzotti, among others.
Variations: There are several variations of Sambuca available, including black Sambuca, which is flavored with licorice root and has a darker color, and white Sambuca, which has a milder flavor and is often used as a substitute for other anise-flavored liqueurs. Some brands also produce flavored versions of Sambuca, such as raspberry or lemon.