Sambuca

Sambuca is an Italian anise flavored liqueur, made from the essential oils of star anise or green anise and sometimes additional ingredients such as elderflower or liquorice, bottled at a minimum of 38 percent alcohol by volume. It comes in white, black and red varieties and takes its name from the Latin sambucus, meaning elderberry, with the modern liqueur credited to Luigi Manzi in the Italian town of Civitavecchia around 1850. It is traditionally served as a shot with three or seven whole coffee beans floating on top, said to represent health, happiness and prosperity or the seven hills of Rome, and can also be served on the rocks, with water, or occasionally set alight before drinking. Mixed with water it turns cloudy through the same anise driven ouzo effect seen in other anise spirits.