Anisette (Sambuca)
I like Sambuca, but it's a bit pricey. After doing some research for sambuca recipes on the web and experimenting with ingredients at home, I came up with a decent substitute for it.
Submitted by: Steven from Des Plaines, IL
Yield: 750 ml (approx. one fifth)
Preparation Instructions:
- Dissolve the honey in approximately 1 cup of the vodka.
- Then separately mix the anise extract with the remaining vodka and add this to the honey mixture, and shake well.
This is best served and consumed ice-cold!
Note: using honey gives this a richer, more complex flavor & texture, but also gives a cloudy, amber color to the liquor.
thespicehouse.com
More About This Recipe
One may substitute an equal amount of 'Simple Syrup' for the honey, if desired. (See: http://www.drinkboy.com/LiquorCabinet/Syrups/SimpleSyrup.html for a recipe.) I have used 190 proof alcohol plus an equal volume of water to make the 100 proof alcohol. One should then dissolve the honey or simple syrup in the water first, then mix in the alcohol plus anise extract.
This is absolutely delicious, perfect for sipping over ice. We have our own honey, so it was a good use for it. Can be difficult to find 100 proof vodka. Don’t go cheap on the vodka.
Thanks for this recipe…have a dear friend who claims this is his favorite after-dinner pleasure!!!