If you’re Italian you’re probably familiar with Sambuca and the many ways one can drink it. For the rest of you who are wondering what the heck we’re talking about allow us to explain.
Sambuca is an Italian liqueur with an anise flavour. There are many ways to indulge in its boozy goodness, but the three most popular ways to have it are:
Ammazzacaffè
Translated, Ammazzacaffè means ‘coffee killer’. It's also what old-world Italian magicians traditionally say before pulling an espresso out of their hat. Kidding! People commonly consume this liqueur after a hearty (yet typical) Italian meal and after the traditional caffè. It's usually sipped as a refreshment but it’s also supposed to dull the aftertaste of coffee… giving you another excuse to stay seated at the dinner table for a while longer.
Sambuca Con Mosca
‘Sambuca with flies’ - don’t worry, the ‘flies’ they're referring to are just three coffee beans dropped into the Sambuca itself. The beans represent health, happiness, and prosperity - which sorta makes you wonder why they couldn't come up with something better than 'flies' to describe three such virtuous wishes.
Caffè Corretto (Coffee with a splash of Sambuca)
The most popular way to drink Sambuca is by adding it to your coffee. The Sambuca acts as a sweetener when poured into coffee. This way, instead of a sugar-high to start your day, you can just get plain old sh*t-faced.
Adding it to cola... or setting fire to Sambuca in a shot glass are other fun ways to enjoy this tasty and unique drink. Enjoy!
-Angelique Picanco