Romana Sambuca Italian Anise Liqueur 12 x 50ml Mini Bottles

There arethree coffee beans in the glass. Onefor health. One forhappiness. One for prosperity.The Italians call it"con la mosca" — with thefly — a name whosespecific Roman irreverence isentirely characteristic of thecity's relationship with its ownpleasures. You pour the sambuca,drop the beans,briefly flame the surface to warm thespirit, cover the glass toextinguish the flame, and drink. Thisis not a cocktail. This is a ritual.

The Pallini family has been producingspirits in Rome since 1875. In 1964they secured exclusive productionrights to the "Sambuca Romana" name —the distinction that separates Romanafrom every generic sambuca thatfollowed. Today it is the #1 sellingSambuca in the United States. Theliquid inside every bottle begins withthe distillation of green anise andstar anise — the two botanical sourcesof the licorice-adjacent aromatic thatdefines every sambuca worththe name — followed by the addition ofelderberry extract, maceration, and thePallini family's closelyguarded secret natural flavor formulathat gives Romana its specific andimmediately recognizable housecharacter.

Tastings.com awarded 89Points and a Silver Medal — "HighlyRecommended." The tasting notesconfirmed across everysource: pronounced star anise andlicorice on the nose with gentle hintsof elderflower, vanilla, and softcitrus. Sweet and layered on the palatewith rich anise up front, botanicalcomplexity in the mid-palate, and asmooth mouthfeel throughout. Long androunded on the finish with anise warmthand a gentle sweet-herbal resonancethat lingers. Crystal clear,brilliantly luminous, at 42% ABV.

Inthe 12 x 50ml format — twelveindividually portioned mini bottles,one for each espresso, one for eachguest, one for each moment that theRoman after-dinner tradition deserves.

Origins & Craftsmanship

The Pallini family established their Romedistillery in 1875 — the era whenItaly's herbal liqueur and digestiftradition was at its most codified andits most specifically artisanal, whenRoman families developed and jealouslyprotected the botanical formulas thatwould define their brands forgenerations. In 1964, the familysecured exclusive rights to the"Sambuca Romana" name — a legal andcommercial distinction that confirmsRomana as the defining and the mostauthoritative expression of the Romansambuca tradition, separating it fromthe many producers who have followed inthe category it established.

The sambuca name itself derives atleast partly from the Latin"sambucus" — elderberry — the botanicalwhose extract has been central to theRomana production process from itsearliest formulation. Theproduction protocol begins with thedistillation of two distinct anisesources: green anise, whose slightlymore delicate and morespecifically herbaceous aromaticcompounds complement the more boldlysweet and more specificallylicorice-adjacent character of staranise. The twodistillates are combined withelderberry extract — the Sambucus nigraberry whose subtle dark fruit depthadds the most specifically unusual andthe most enduringly distinctivesecondary botanical quality to Romana'saromatic profile. Careful sweeteningwith sugar follows, then the secretnatural flavor formula that the Pallinifamily has maintained since the 1875founding — a proprietary blend ofnatural herbs and spices whose specificcomposition remains undisclosed butwhose contribution to the finalcharacter is confirmed across everyindependent tasting note in thearomatic complexity that distinguishesRomana from simpler, single-botanicalanise spirits.

The resulting liqueuris crystal clear — the clarity itself aquality signal, the distillationprecision and the careful filtrationproducing the brilliant luminosity thatmakes a pour of Romana Sambuca one ofthe most visually beautiful spiritsserves available. Bottled at 42% ABV /84 proof. Each 50ml mini bottleindividually portioned for the mostconsistent and the most specificallyversatile presentation available.

Critics Reviews

Tastings.com — 89 Points, Silver Medal — "Highly Recommended"

Blackwell's confirmed tasting notes:
"Pronounced star anise and licorice,with gentle hints of elderflower,vanilla, and soft citrus. Exceptionallyaromatic — the scent itself evokesclassic Italian herbal liqueurs. Sweetand layered, with rich anise flavor upfront supported by botanical complexityand a smooth mouthfeel. Notes of spice,floral herb, and a lingering licoricebackbone unfold without harshness. Longand rounded, with continued anisewarmth and a gentle sweet-herbalresonance that lingers on the palate."

The Liquor Bros (confirmed):
"Licorice on the nose — not overpowering, butwelcoming. When it hits the front ofthe tongue, it is very soft, and as itwashes over, the licorice tasteintensifies. As it moves to the back ofthe mouth and on the palate,the aromaticinfluence of anise herbiness."

Wine N Liquor (confirmed):
"Velvety, sweet sensation with boldnotes of star anise and subtle herbalundertones that linger on the palate. Awarming finish that pairs beautifullywith coffee beans or alongside crispbiscotti for a traditional Italianafter-dinner ritual."

Romana Sambuca official:
"Distinctive, flavorful and unique Italianliqueur. Bold yet pleasingly sweetanise flavor. Memorable tasteexperience with a smooth finish."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Crystal clear with brilliant luminosity — theprecision distillation and carefulfiltration producing one of the mostvisually pure and the most immediatelybeautiful spirits in the Blackwell'ssection. The nose opens with the mostimmediately and the most specificallyaromatic quality that green anise andstar anise together produce: pronouncedstar anise and licorice leading withoutbeing overpowering — welcoming ratherthan aggressive, the Pallini family'smost characteristic and the mostconsistently confirmed aromaticapproach across 150 years of Romansambuca production. Gentle hints ofelderflower follow with the mostdelicate and the most specificallyfloral secondary dimension — theelderberry extract's most aromaticcontribution at its lightest and themost graceful expression. Vanilla addswarm sweetness. Soft citrus adds themost refreshing and the mostspecifically brightness-forwardsecondary quality. The secret naturalflavor formula's contribution is mostapparent as the overall aromaticcomplexity that no single-ingredientanise spirit approaches — the sensethat there is more herethan star anise alone, somethingherbal and warm and specifically Romanbeneath the primary anise character.

Palate
Sweet, layered, and smooth— the velvety sensation mostimmediately apparent when theentry delivers the bold anise at thefront of the tongue before the licoricetaste intensifies and washes across thepalate. The specific sequential flavorprogression that the Liquor Bros mostaccurately observed — soft at entry,intensifying as it moves across thetongue, herbal at the finish— is the most specifically and the mostmemorably Romana-distinctive palatequality. Rich anise flavor leads, fulland satisfying. Botanicalcomplexity builds through themid-palate as the secret formula'sherbal and spice componentsemerge progressively alongside theprimary anise. The mouthfeel issmooth and specifically velvety — the42% ABV present andwarming without any harshness. Alingering licorice backbonecarries the whole experience through.

Finish
Long, warm, andsweet-herbal. Anise warmth persistsmost enduringly alongside the gentlesweet-herbal resonance that theelderberry extract and the secretformula together produce at the close.The finish is rounded and clean —deeply satisfying and specificallyinviting of the next sip or the firstespresso.

Quick Overview

Serving & Occasion

Con la mosca — the mostspecifically Roman and the mosttraditionally correct Romana serve:pour 50ml neat, add three coffee beans,briefly flame, cover to extinguish,drink warm. The most theatrical andthe most specifically Italianbar service moment available fromany liqueur in the section.Chilled neat — straight from therefrigerator in a small glass, theanise and elderflower most vivid atcold temperature.Over espresso — asplash poured directly into oralongside espresso for a caffècorretto.In cocktails — see below.

Cocktail Suggestions

Romana Espresso Martini (the signature serve)
1.5 oz vodka ·1 oz Romana Sambuca · 1 oz freshespresso cooled · ½ oz coffee liqueur.Shaken hard over ice, served up withthree coffee beans. The anise andelderflower add an aromatic complexityto the espresso martini that plainvodka-only versions cannot approach.

Italian Sambuca Sour
1.5 oz RomanaSambuca · ¾ oz fresh lemon juice · ½ ozsimple syrup · optional egg white.Shaken over ice, served up. The anisesweetness and lemon together producethe most broadly accessible RomanaSambuca cocktail format.

Sambuca and Soda
1.5 oz RomanaSambuca · 3 oz club soda · lemon twist.Built over ice. The dilution opens theelderflower and vanilla notes while theanise carries through with refreshinglightness.