Romana Sambuca Liquore Classico

Nose: black licorice, hard peppermint candy, significant ethanol sting. Palate: sweet black licorice, zesty peppermint, thick cinnamon, a slight to noticeable alcohol sting, with a drawn-out finish featuring persistent sweet licorice, peppermint, and cinnamon notes. It reminds me of Fireball, like a single-trick horse, but this is far more polished. The mouthfeel is dense and quite slick, nearly smooth. While I won't be rushing out to buy this, it's a welcome change from the norm.

Sambuca genuinely tastes like a beverage made from gumdrops. The main drawback for me is its intense sweetness and syrupy texture, to the point of causing a headache if you understand my meaning. I enjoy anise/licorice flavors, and Sambuca excels in that regard. Personally, however, I would always choose Absinthe over Sambuca because it isn't as overwhelmingly sweet and possesses that intriguing quality that wormwood imparts.

This was consistently my preferred choice from that brand. It's packed with black licorice as expected, and the quality surpasses lesser options. It's smooth, delightful over ice, and highly habit-forming. For enthusiasts of black licorice, this is nearly the ultimate expression. A score of 80/100. This went head-to-head with the black variant but ultimately fell short. That's not to say it's bad; if the black version isn't accessible where you are, this is the next best thing.

An Italian liqueur that is rich and herbal, made from an infusion of witch elder bush and licorice. It starts aromatically with notes of herbs and spices, leading to a rich and full experience that ends with a medium-length sweet finish. September 2017

It looks clear. The nose boasts powerful anise. The taste mirrors this and is quite sugary. It has a medium body and feels syrupy on the palate. The finish is moderately sweet.

Thick and quite sugary, it conceals the warmth and licorice notes that are prominent in Greek Ouzo (a style I favor).