Anisette

Anisette

Anise, also known as anís or aniseed, is a plant native to the eastern Mediterranean region and southwest Asia known for its flavor which has a close resemblance to liquorice, fennel, and tarragon. Anisette, also known as Licor de anís, is a drink traditionally consumed in France, Italy, Portugal, Mexico and Spain, it has a sweet anise-flavor and an alcohol by volume level of 25% which is lower than other anise-flavored drinks. Anisette, like Pastis, another anise-flavored beverage was first created for the purpose of replacing absinthe when it was banned.

Different brands

A few different brands of Anisette include Marie Brizard, from France, Anís del Mono, from Spain, and Sambucca Romana, from Italy. The difference between Pastis and Anisette is that Pastis is made using star anise, a spice that has a close resemblance to anise in flavor, instead of aniseed, the seed from the Mediterranean anis plant. Anisette commonly has a transparent yellow color, while diluted with water it is quite clear. The beverage is made from sixteen different seeds and plants which are all macerated, the maceration is then blended with a neutral spirit and sugar syrup, which would explain why anisette is generally considered sweeter than other anise-flavored liqueurs.

 

The liqueur has a strong, sweet flavor with a hint of liquorice, the flavor is in fact so strong that if drunk too fast it can cause irritation to the throat. In mixed drinks it usually produces a sweet flavor, however it is often mixed with water, where it produces a milky white consistency.

 

There are a few different trade-marks of the Spanish variant of anisette known as anís, a small list follows on a few different kinds:

1. Anís Najar – Produced in Arequípa, Peru. Has a dry taste and a high alcoholic content.
2. Anís del Mono – The name is Spanish for "The Monkey's Anisette" first produced in 1904 in Spain. It was first known as Anís del Juliano.
3. Anis Mico – The most popular brand of Mexican anís.