Strega Sambuca 750ML

Strega Sambuca 750ML is an Italian anise-flavored liqueur bottled at 42% ABV (84 proof) in a 750ml format. Produced by one of Italy's oldest spirits houses, this sambuca stands apart from competitors through its unusual inclusion of elderflower and coffee alongside traditional star anise — a combination rarely found in the category.

Quick Facts: ABV: 42%  |  Origin: Benevento, Campania, Italy  |  Style: Sambuca (Anise Liqueur)  |  Distillery: Strega Alberti Benevento S.p.A.

Production & Heritage

Strega Alberti Benevento S.p.A. has been producing spirits in the southern Italian city of Benevento since 1860, best known internationally for its namesake herbal liqueur, Liquore Strega. The company's sambuca expression is distilled in small stills heated by steam, a gentler method that preserves the delicate aromatic qualities of the botanicals. What distinguishes this from mainstream sambucas is the inclusion of three core ingredients — star anise, elderflower, and coffee — which are allowed to marry during an aging period designed to achieve full aromatic balance.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A powerful burst of star anise leads, followed by threads of licorice and subtle floral notes from the elderflower. Beneath the anise dominance, faint roasted coffee tones emerge with time in the glass.

Taste: The entry is sweet and full-bodied, immediately coating the palate with rich anise flavor. At mid-palate, the sweetness is tempered by a roasted coffee undercurrent and delicate floral character, preventing it from becoming one-dimensional. The overall impression is intensely flavored yet surprisingly balanced for its sweetness level.

Finish: Long and cleansing, with persistent anise and hints of licorice that linger well after each sip. The finish resolves cleanly, leaving a pleasant warmth from the 42% ABV without any harsh bite.

How to Drink Strega Sambuca

Served neat at room temperature, the full range of botanicals comes through clearly; a single ice cube opens up the floral and coffee notes without diluting the core anise character. The traditional Italian serve — con la mosca, or "with the fly" — involves floating three roasted coffee beans on top, representing health, happiness, and prosperity.

• Espresso Martini: The coffee undertones in this sambuca reinforce the espresso base while the anise adds an unexpected layer of complexity.
• Sambuca Sour: Shake with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup; the elderflower and anise hold up against citrus acidity without losing definition.
• Black Russian variation: Replace the standard coffee liqueur component with Strega Sambuca to introduce anise and floral depth alongside vodka and coffee flavor.

Best For

• After-dinner digestif service alongside espresso
• Introducing Italian anise spirits to drinkers exploring beyond ouzo or pastis
• Adding an anise-forward modifier to espresso-based cocktails
• Hosting an Italian-themed dinner where authenticity matters

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Strega Sambuca taste like? Strega Sambuca delivers an intensely flavored anise and licorice profile balanced by subtle roasted coffee and elderflower notes. It is sweet and full-bodied with a superbly clean, long-lasting finish.

How does Strega Sambuca compare to ouzo? Both spirits share a dominant anise flavor, but Strega Sambuca is noticeably sweeter and richer than most ouzos, which tend toward drier, more herbaceous botanical complexity. Strega Sambuca also includes elderflower and coffee in its distillation, ingredients absent from traditional Greek ouzo production.

Is Strega Sambuca good for sipping neat? At 42% ABV, it is well-suited to neat sipping, particularly as a post-meal digestif. The traditional Italian con la mosca serve — neat with three floating coffee beans — is the most popular way to enjoy it straight.

Where is Strega Sambuca made? Strega Sambuca is produced by Strega Alberti Benevento S.p.A. in Benevento, a city in the Campania region of southern Italy. The distillery has operated from this location since its founding in 1860.

What foods pair well with Strega Sambuca? Biscotti and almond cookies complement the anise sweetness naturally. Tiramisu amplifies the coffee notes already present in the spirit. Dark chocolate truffles match its richness without competing. Roasted figs or dates work well alongside the elderflower character. Strong aged cheeses like Pecorino Romano create an effective sweet-savory contrast.

What sizes does Strega Sambuca come in? The standard widely available format is the 750ml bottle.

Is Strega Sambuca worth the price? Strega Sambuca positions as a mid-range sambuca, and its three-botanical distillation — star anise, elderflower, and coffee — delivers more complexity than many entry-level competitors that rely on anise alone, making it a solid value within the category.

Why Strega Sambuca?

The defining feature of this sambuca is its triple-botanical approach: star anise for the classic licorice backbone, elderflower for aromatic lift, and coffee for roasted depth. Most mainstream sambucas lean heavily — sometimes exclusively — on anise, making the Strega expression genuinely more layered. The steam-heated small-still distillation at Strega Alberti preserves these aromatics in a way that industrial-scale production often cannot. Backed by over 160 years of continuous spirits production in Benevento, this is a sambuca rooted in legitimate Italian distilling heritage rather than brand licensing.