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It is no secret that the anise-elderberry liqueur Sambuca, beloved by the Italian people, has several different modifications produced by dozens of manufacturers. Accordingly, before embarking on a practical acquaintance with the Apennine variation on the theme of anise, it is advisable to get some idea of both its types and the most popular brands.
details about sambuca
dark sambuca
A characteristic feature of this type of drink is a dark blue color, achieved by adding licorice root to its composition.
Thus, thermonuclear liquorice freshness is added to the burning fresh taste of anise. From this point of view, the black variation of the liquor is rightfully considered the most elite.
The plant components contained in this drink make it a good digestive, slag-removing, anti-cold and sedative.
This sambuca is recommended to be used as an aperitif and digestif.
There is also a coffee and chocolate version of sambuca.
By the way, it seems that the chocolate-anise drink inherited from melted chocolate the inherent sweetness and viscosity of the latter.
But his coffee “colleague” boasts a more complex composition.
So, for its preparation, as a rule, several varieties of coffee are used at once, growing in different parts of the globe.
For example, the famous sambuca Molinari caffe contains grains of exquisite Caribbean Arabica and fragrant Robusta grown on African and Polynesian coffee plantations.
red sambuca
Dessert drink, has a rich red color.
This effect is achieved by adding extracts from various red fruits and berries to the future liquor.
Thus, the producers of the drink create raspberry, cranberry, pomegranate or, say, cherry sambuca.
The fruit and berry component slightly muffles the anise component of the classic drink, making it sweeter, thicker and more viscous.
At the same time, it should be noted that the scale of production of the mentioned variety of the drink is somewhat inferior to the two previous ones.
Accordingly, the sale of Italian red anise liqueur is much less common than its white and black counterparts.
However, it is possible that sooner or later the name of this type of drink will turn into an anachronism, giving way to a more capacious definition: fruit sambuca.
Indeed, even today there are brands of the drink, which contain such fruits that have nothing to do with red, such as oranges, green apples, pears, bananas and even mangoes.
Popular brands of sambuca
Among the producers of liquor, Italian companies mainly prevail.
But this does not mean that the distilleries of other countries refuse to include the mentioned drink among their products. Accordingly, both those and others will find their proper place in our review.
cocktails with sambuca
Sambuka Molinari
The appearance of this brand is associated with the name of Angelo Molinari, who in 1945 founded his own artisanal liquor company near Rome.
Thanks to the efforts of Molinari and his family, the Italian regional drink not only entered the global alcohol market, but also successfully established itself on it.
In particular, it was the founder of the company Molinari who came up with the idea to ennoble rustic anise by adding overseas star anise – star anise.
As a result, one of the hallmarks of modern Italy was born: the white Sambuca Molinari, which received not only the “extra” distinction certified by the state, but also the status of a national drink.
In addition to this 42-degree star brand, the aforementioned Sambuca Molinari caffe enjoys remarkable popularity in the world.
This 38-degree drink, created by the nephew of the founder of the company, Mario, is now widely used both in its pure form and as part of rather colorful cocktails or as a tonic supplement to black coffee.
Ramazotti sambuca
White and black sambuca Ramazzotti (respectively, 38 and 40 degrees) are now produced in the vicinity of Milan under the auspices of the Italian branch of the famous alcomonster Pernod Ricard. The creation of this brand, which appeared at the end of the 1815th century, is associated with the distillery company of the same name, which since XNUMX has specialized in the development and production of liqueurs and beaters.
If the black variation of the drink fully corresponds to its licorice-anise essence, then the white modification of the liquor can surprise its admirers with additional notes of vanilla and violet. At the same time, both varieties of the drink are best used as a digestif.
Luxardo Sambuca
The Italian family company Luxardo, whose headquarters is located in the province of Veneto, has been specializing in the production of classic fruit liqueurs since the beginning of the XNUMXth century.
Therefore, it is not surprising that most brands of the 38-degree anise liqueur presented by the company belong to the red (and not only) fruit and berry sector of the sambuca palette.
However, the innovators from Veneto did not stop there. In addition to fruit, they began to actively develop the theme of spices.
As a result, varieties of sambuca with the addition of cinnamon and chili pepper appeared on the market.
All this art causes delight among lovers of sweet and spicy drinks, as well as genuine indignation on the part of connoisseurs of the classics of the genre.
At the same time, the Luxardo house is not alien to adherence to traditional foundations.
An example of this is the white Sambuca dei Cesari Luxardo, which harmoniously combines the dominant motif of anise and vanilla-cherry undertones.
Di Amore sambuca
White Sambuca Classico Di Amore, produced by the respectable Barbero distillery in Turin, boasts 42 degrees of alcohol and an infallible reputation.
The only conditional deviation from the textbook canon is the addition of lemon zest to the drink, which somewhat reduces the natural sweetness of the liquor.
Sambuca Cellini
Sambuca Bianco Cellini with a strength of 40 degrees is produced by the Bottega family distillery, located 50 kilometers from Venice. The drink is part of a diverse line dedicated to the famous sculptor and jeweler Benvenuto Cellini and is primarily aimed at bohemian people. In addition to the traditional anise flavor, the liquor has light floral notes.
Cesare Sambuca
The name “Cesare sambuca” in the post-Soviet space can mean as many as two white 40-degree drinks: Italian sambuca Originale Cesare da Sesto and Spanish (or rather, Catalan) sambuca Cesare imperator.
The first of these is produced in the vicinity of Turin by the local wine company Perlino.
It is interesting that in this liqueur, despite its transparency, the constant anise dominant has a slight licorice overtones.
The second – produced by Teichenne, is considered a very worthy substitute for the Italian classics.
Vakkari sambuka
38-degree white sambuca Vaccari and its black (sister) – sambuca Vakkari nero (Vakkari nero sambuca) are produced by one of the oldest distilleries in the world – the Dutch company Lucas Bols. Launched in 1990, the brand was named after the creator of the vanilla-anise liqueur Galliano, Arturo Vaccari.
Both white and black varieties of liquor are made on the basis of Italian alcohol and, according to experts, fully meet Apennine standards.
However, the relatively low strength of the drink makes it less bright in comparison with the same 42-degree Molinari.
At the same time, it is this Dutch alcohol, and not its more venerable Italian counterparts, that is the most popular anise liqueur from the point of view of the inhabitants of Mexico.
Villa Viola sambuca
The transparent 38-degree drink sambuca Villa Viola is produced by the German trading and distilling house Karlheinz Haus.
This solid anise liqueur with a slight vanilla flavor is recommended for cocktails.
Perhaps the drink is devoid of genuine Apennine charm, but, like any German product, it is made with strict observance of the proper rules.
Accordingly, it is unlikely that he is able to surprise with anything, but he will not bring any special disappointments either.
how to drink sambuca
Relevance: 13.04.2016
Tags: Liqueurs, Pourings, Liqueurs, Brands of liqueurs