Romana Black Sambuca Italian Anise Liqueur 12 x 50ml Mini Bottles

The Romanafter-dinnertradition runs something like this:the grappa or the amaroarrives, the espresso arrives,and if the occasion is right,the sambuca arrives as well —with three coffee beansfloating on the surface, one forhealth, one forhappiness, one for prosperity. "Con lamosca" — with the fly — iswhat Italians call it, a namewhose specific irreverence isentirely characteristic of Rome'srelationship with its ownpleasures. You light it briefly to warmthe spirit and thebeans, cover the glass toextinguish the flame, and drinkwhat remains. It tastesof anise and licoriceand somethingdarker and more ancient that theelderberry provides.

The Pallinifamily has producedspirits in Rome since 1875, and in 1964they secured exclusive productionrights to the "Sambuca Romana" name — a distinction that separates this bottling from the many generic sambucas on the market. Romana Sambuca is the #1 selling Sambuca in the United States. The Black expression is the darker, richer, more specifically elderberry-forward version of the range — a unique blend of essences derived from Sambucus Nigra berries and star anise, producing the deep, almost inky color and the more concentrated botanical complexity thatdistinguishes Black from the clearoriginal. 

The 12 x 50ml format is themost practical and the mostspecifically versatile Romana Blackpresentation available — twelveindividually portioned mini bottles fortastings, flights, events, hospitalitysettings, gifting, or any occasionwhere the full 750ml is more than themoment requires. One bottle perespresso. One bottle per table. Twelvebottles per conversation.

Origins & Craftsmanship

ThePallini family has produced spirits inRome since 1875, and in 1964 theysecured exclusive production rights tothe "Sambuca Romana" name. The name sambuca itself is believedto derive at least partly from theLatin "sambucus" — elderberry —referencing the botanical traditionthat has anchored the liqueur'sproduction since its earliestformulation. Production begins with thedistillation of green anise and staranise, followed by the addition ofelderberry extract, maceration, andcareful sweetening using what thefamily describes as a "secret naturalflavor formula." 

The Black expression extends thisfoundation with a specificallyelderberry-forward emphasis: RomanaBlack is a unique blend of essencesderived from Sambucus Nigra berries andstar anise — the Sambucus Nigra being thespecific black elderberry species whosedeeper, more concentrated berrycharacter produces the Black's richercolor and more complex botanicalprofile relative to the standard clearexpression. The "Black" designationindicates a richer, more concentratedflavor profile compared to transparentor white sambucas — often achievedthrough extended maceration of aniseand complementary botanicals, as wellas a touch of natural coloring thathints at sweet licorice, toasted herbs,and spice. 

Each mini bottle (50ml) isindividually portioned, offeringconsistent expression and ease of usefor tastings, flights, events, orhospitality settings.

Critics Reviews

Tastings.com — 89 Points, Silver Medal (Romana Sambuca program):
"HighlyRecommended — bold star anise andelderberry character."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Deep,dark amber-brown — the Sambucus Nigraelderberry extract and the extendedmaceration producing a color of genuinedepth and warmth. The nose opensboldly with prominent star anise andblack licorice — not overpoweringbut welcoming, as the Liquor Brosmost accurately characterizes theRomana aromaticapproach. Anise seed adds the mostspecifically botanical and the mostherbal-adjacent secondary layer. Hintsof burnt sugar add themost specifically caramelizedand the most specificallyItalian-digestif-tradition secondaryquality. Clove adds the mostmemorably warm and the mostspecifically spiced tertiary note. Awhisper of citrus peel adds themost delicate and the most specificallyfresh secondary aromatic contrast tothe dark, concentrated primarycharacter.

Palate
Sweet,full-bodied, and velvety — the mostimmediately distinctive quality of asambuca at 40% ABV whose smoothnessbelies its proof. The entry is verysoft on the front of the tongue beforethe licorice taste intensifies as itwashes across the palate — the specificand specifically sequential flavorprogression that the Liquor Bros mostaccurately observed. Sustained aniseand licorice intensity carries throughthe mid-palate with the full-bodiedconsistency of extended maceration.Black pepper adds the most specificallyunusual and the most memorably spicedsecondary quality. Clove spice deepensthe herbal complexity. Toasted herbalundertones add the most specificallyartisanal and the most genuinelyhandcrafted secondary dimension. TheSambucus Nigra elderberry character ismost apparent as a slight dark berrydepth beneath the anise's primaryaromatic dominance.

Finish
Long,warm, and anise-persistent. Thearomatic influence of anise herbinesscarries the close most enduringly.Sweet-herbal resonance lingerspleasantly. The 40% ABV provides thewarmth that makes the finish genuinelysatisfying without becoming aggressive.Clean and rounded at the very close —the classic Italian digestif finishthat invites the next sip or the firstespresso.

Quick Overview

Serving & Occasion

Con la mosca — the mosttraditional and the most specificallyRoman serve: pour 50ml neat into asmall glass, add three coffee beans(health, happiness, prosperity),briefly flame the surface, cover toextinguish, drink. The warmth of thespirit and the beans together is themost specifically Italian digestifexperience available from any liqueurin the section.Chilled neat —straight from the refrigerator in asmall glass, the most broadlyrecommended and the most immediatelyapproachable serve.Over espresso —the most contemporary Italian café barserve, a splash of Romana Black pouredover or alongside espresso for acorretto.In cocktails— see below.

Cocktail Suggestions

Black Sambuca Espresso Martini
1.5oz vodka · 1 oz Romana BlackSambuca · 1 oz freshespresso (cooled) · ½ oz coffeeliqueur. Shaken hard overice, served up. The Black'selderberry depth and licoriceintensity add a specifically Italianand the most specificallyaromatic dimension to the espressomartini format.

Black Negroni Variation
1 oz gin ·1 oz Romana BlackSambuca · 1 oz sweet vermouth.Stirred over ice,expressed orange peel. The star aniseand clove carry through the Negroniformat in a specifically herbaceous andthe most specifically anise-forwardNegroni variation.

Sambuca Sour
1.5 oz Romana Black Sambuca · ¾ oz freshlemon juice · ½ oz simple syrup ·optional egg white. Shaken over ice,served up. The anise sweetness andlemon together produce the most broadlyaccessible and the most immediatelycocktail-friendly Romana Black servefor first-time sambuca drinkers.