Molinari Extra is the most popular sambuca in the world. Its creator, Angelo Molinari, was called the “King of Sambuca” by the press. Subsequently, this unofficial title was inherited by his children and grandchildren. Today, Molinari produces more than ten million bottles of sambuca a year and exports the drink to 70 countries.
Historical reference. Angelo Molinari was born in 1893 in Rome. In his youth, he worked for a company that supplied Italian wines and liquors to Ethiopia, then opened his own bar in Addis Ababa. In the 20s of the XNUMXth century, the bar owned by Molinari was one of the most fashionable establishments in the Ethiopian capital, and Signor Angelo himself became famous as a talented mixologist.
At the end of 1935, the Italo-Ethiopian war began, and the Molinari family was forced to return to their homeland. In 1936, Signor Angelo got a job at the famous Manzi company. Her factory, which produced sambuca, was located in the city of Civitavecchia.
Molinari has mastered all the secrets of making Manzi branded anise liqueur, the recipe of which has remained unchanged since the XNUMXth century. But this drink seemed to Signor Angelo too dry, and he wanted to create the perfect sambuca.
By the end of World War II, the Manzi company suffered serious losses, and Molinari had to quit. There was no work in Civitavecchia, so the mixologist who was left out of work, in order to feed his family, began to make alcoholic drinks at home and sell them to neighbors. In 1945 he registered the firm Molinari. About any hired workers, as well as about the factory building, there could be no question: signor Angelo made sambuca, limoncello and other liqueurs in a barn, and two sons and a daughter helped him.
In the first year of its existence, the company produced only 300 bottles of sambuca. But the drink was so good that even the inhabitants of Civitavecchia, accustomed to the first-class sambuca Manzi, appreciated the anise liqueur Molinari. Signor Angelo kept his secret in the strictest confidence. It is only known that instead of green anise, he used the more expensive and fragrant star anise, which was grown in China.
Angelo Molinari was one of the first Italian entrepreneurs to appreciate the advertising potential of television. In the 50s in Italy, most television programs were educational in nature. Therefore, the Molinari sambuca advertisement shown on television was a resounding success: people believed it unconditionally. Screen star Anita Ekberg participated in the advertising campaign. The videos were extremely popular, in which the favorite of the public, Walter Chiara, said: “We say sambuca – we mean Molinari.”
Signor Angelo considered drunkenness evil. He argued that people need to instill a culture of drinking. On-screen hero Chiara became famous for another catchphrase: “It is better to drink less, but better, and best of all, drink Molinari.” The quality and skillfully advertised drink gained such popularity that in 1959 Molinari finally built an automated distillery.
The demand for sambuca was constantly growing, and already in 1964 the second enterprise of the Molinari company was opened, and in 1975 the third. In 1971, the volume of production of the drink exceeded three million bottles.
Of course, many companies followed the example of Molinari and also began producing anise liqueur. On the labels of various brands of sambuca, the words flaunted: Extra, Fantastic, which attracted the attention of buyers. And then Angelo Molinari went to court. In 1970, the court of Perugia, after a thorough check of all the ingredients and manufacturing technology of Molinari sambuca, ruled that this liqueur is of the highest quality. From then until our time, Molinari Sambuca Extra is the only alcoholic drink whose belonging to the extra class is certified by the courts.
In 1975, Signor Angelo died, bequeathing the company to his children: Marcello, Antonio and Mafalda. Signor Marcello became the head of the company, and only his father entrusted him with the full recipe for the drink that brought wealth and fame to the family. The heirs of Angelo Molinari decided that in each generation this recipe would be known to only one person.
But in 1981, the unexpected happened: Signor Marcello was kidnapped by mafiosi. For two months, the family knew nothing of his whereabouts. The production of sambuca was suspended, because the recipe for the liqueur disappeared along with the president of the company. After the police found Marcello Molinari and brought him back home, the signature sambuca recipe is kept in a safe deposit box.
In the mid-80s, Signor Marcello fulfilled his father’s ambitious dream: he bought the Manzi brand from its bankrupt owners. Since that time, Molinari has produced two varieties of sambuca: Molinari Extra and Manzi.
By the beginning of the 2003st century, the annual production of Molinari Extra sambuca exceeded six million bottles. The company has gained international fame. But because of the kidnapping and the injury received in a car accident, Marcello Molinari’s health deteriorated. Since 2008, the firm has been effectively run by his sister Mafalda; the position of executive director was held by their brother Antonio. In XNUMX, after the death of Signor Marcello, Mafalda Molinari officially became the president of the company.
Signora Mafaldo is still remembered in Civitavecchia with love and respect. In the mid-90s of the XX century, she was a senator from the Democratic Party. In her hometown of Mafalda, Molinari founded a foundation named after her father. This charitable organization deals with health issues, at its expense, a large medical center was built and equipped with the latest technology in Civitavecchia.
When Signora Mafalda took over the family business, she was already about 80 years old. The elderly lady was famous for her business acumen and clarity of mind. She considered it necessary to prepare a shift for herself and her brothers. Since 2003, the grandchildren of Angelo Molinari have been involved in the management of the company: Mario, Inge and Angelo.
Mario Molinari inherited his grandfather’s talent and proved to be a talented mixologist. He owns the idea of creating a coffee liqueur based on sambuca. Signor Mario reasoned that not everyone has time to slowly gnaw coffee beans while sipping sweet sambuca. The intense rhythm of modern life dictates different rules. A mixture of traditional anise liqueur and Arabica extract has become as popular as the original Molinari Extra.
True, according to EU law, only liquor with anise flavor can be called sambuca. Therefore, the new drink is modestly called “Molinari Coffee Liqueur”. Nevertheless, it was appreciated by sambuca lovers all over the world, from Sydney to Delhi.
Signora Mafalda passed away in 2015 and Mario Molinari became president of the company. The family business is in good hands, and there is no doubt that the quality of the legendary drink will remain impeccable.
Types of sambuca Molinari
Molinari Extra is a colorless transparent sambuca with a strength of 42%. The taste of the drink is moderately sweet with a pleasant anise note.
Molinari Caffe liqueur is also produced – a coffee liqueur with a strength of 36% based on sambuca. Signor Mario Molinari recommends drinking it chilled.
Recipe for the popular Molinari sambuca cocktail:
- 45 ml Sambuki Molinari Extra;
- 90 ml prosecco (dry sparkling wine);
- 7,5 ml orange juice;
- 7,5 ml pear juice;
- 150 ml white grape juice.
Mix the ingredients in a glass or shaker.