Opal Nera 'The Original' Black Sambuca Liqueur

Product of: Italy

See more Black sambucas

View 17 cocktails with Black sambuca liqueur

View product website

Opal Nera's distinctive colour comes from the infusion of one of its key ingredients, the purple-black skins of the elderberries.

In 1989 Alessandro Francoli was on his honeymoon in America, where he took time to present his company's traditional Italian grappa and sambucas to a potential buyer. He noticed the interest the buyer showed in a coffee sambuca. This dark sambuca set Alessandro, a trained chemist, thinking. On his return home he experimented with different flavours combined with traditional sambuca and created this black coloured version with a hint of lemon. The inspiration for the colour came from the rich purple-black colour of the elderberries, the key ingredient of all Sambucas, and the colour inspired the suitably dark name.

Review and Tasting

Sampled on 17/08/2014

Appearance:

Clear, deep purple black with ruby tones.

Aroma:

Aniseed and liquorice with white pepper and faint berry scents.

Taste:

Syrupy sweet but balanced with assertive aniseed, liquorice and peppery spirity spice with elderberry and lemon zest.

Aftertaste:

Big aniseed, liquorice finish with zesty citrus and cracked black pepper.