Romana Black Sambuca Italian Anise Liqueur 12 x 50ml Mini Bottles
The Roman after-dinner tradition runs something like this: the grappa or the amaro arrives, the espresso arrives, and if the occasion is right, the sambuca arrives as well — with three coffee beans floating on the surface, one for health, one for happiness, one for prosperity. "Con la mosca" — with the fly — is what Italians call it, a name whose specific irreverence is entirely characteristic of Rome's relationship with its own pleasures. You light it briefly to warm the spirit and the beans, cover the glass to extinguish the flame, and drink what remains. It tastes of anise and licorice and something darker and more ancient that the elderberry provides.
The Pallini family has produced spirits in Rome since 1875, and in 1964 they secured exclusive production rights to the "Sambuca Romana" name — a distinction that separates this bottling from the many generic sambucas on the market. Romana Sambuca is the #1 selling Sambuca in the United States. The Black expression is the darker, richer, more specifically elderberry-forward version of the range — a unique blend of essences derived from Sambucus Nigra berries and star anise, producing the deep, almost inky color and the more concentrated botanical complexity that distinguishes Black from the clear original.
The 12 x 50ml format is the most practical and the most specifically versatile Romana Black presentation available — twelve individually portioned mini bottles for tastings, flights, events, hospitality settings, gifting, or any occasion where the full 750ml is more than the moment requires. One bottle per espresso. One bottle per table. Twelve bottles per conversation.
Origins & Craftsmanship
The Pallini family has produced spirits in Rome since 1875, and in 1964 they secured exclusive production rights to the "Sambuca Romana" name. The name sambuca itself is believed to derive at least partly from the Latin "sambucus" — elderberry — referencing the botanical tradition that has anchored the liqueur's production since its earliest formulation. Production begins with the distillation of green anise and star anise, followed by the addition of elderberry extract, maceration, and careful sweetening using what the family describes as a "secret natural flavor formula."
The Black expression extends this foundation with a specifically elderberry-forward emphasis: Romana Black is a unique blend of essences derived from Sambucus Nigra berries and star anise — the Sambucus Nigra being the specific black elderberry species whose deeper, more concentrated berry character produces the Black's richer color and more complex botanical profile relative to the standard clear expression. The "Black" designation indicates a richer, more concentrated flavor profile compared to transparent or white sambucas — often achieved through extended maceration of anise and complementary botanicals, as well as a touch of natural coloring that hints at sweet licorice, toasted herbs, and spice.
Each mini bottle (50ml) is individually portioned, offering consistent expression and ease of use for tastings, flights, events, or hospitality settings.
Critics Reviews
Tastings.com — 89 Points, Silver Medal (Romana Sambuca program):
"Highly Recommended — bold star anise and elderberry character."
Tasting Profile
Nose
Deep, dark amber-brown — the Sambucus Nigra elderberry extract and the extended maceration producing a color of genuine depth and warmth. The nose opens boldly with prominent star anise and black licorice — not overpowering but welcoming, as the Liquor Bros most accurately characterizes the Romana aromatic approach. Anise seed adds the most specifically botanical and the most herbal-adjacent secondary layer. Hints of burnt sugar add the most specifically caramelized and the most specifically Italian-digestif-tradition secondary quality. Clove adds the most memorably warm and the most specifically spiced tertiary note. A whisper of citrus peel adds the most delicate and the most specifically fresh secondary aromatic contrast to the dark, concentrated primary character.
Palate
Sweet, full-bodied, and velvety — the most immediately distinctive quality of a sambuca at 40% ABV whose smoothness belies its proof. The entry is very soft on the front of the tongue before the licorice taste intensifies as it washes across the palate — the specific and specifically sequential flavor progression that the Liquor Bros most accurately observed. Sustained anise and licorice intensity carries through the mid-palate with the full-bodied consistency of extended maceration. Black pepper adds the most specifically unusual and the most memorably spiced secondary quality. Clove spice deepens the herbal complexity. Toasted herbal undertones add the most specifically artisanal and the most genuinely handcrafted secondary dimension. The Sambucus Nigra elderberry character is most apparent as a slight dark berry depth beneath the anise's primary aromatic dominance.
Finish
Long, warm, and anise-persistent. The aromatic influence of anise herbiness carries the close most enduringly. Sweet-herbal resonance lingers pleasantly. The 40% ABV provides the warmth that makes the finish genuinely satisfying without becoming aggressive. Clean and rounded at the very close — the classic Italian digestif finish that invites the next sip or the first espresso.
Quick Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Black Sambuca — Italian Anise Liqueur |
| ABV / Proof | 40% ABV / 80 Proof |
| Format | 12 x 50ml mini bottles |
| Producer | Pallini family — Rome, Italy |
| Founded | 1875 |
| Exclusive Rights | "Sambuca Romana" name — secured 1964 |
| Market Position | #1 selling Sambuca in the United States |
| Primary Botanicals | Star anise · Sambucus Nigra (black elderberry) |
| Additional | Secret natural flavor formula — herbs and spices |
| vs. Clear Romana | Black: richer · darker · more concentrated · elderberry-forward |
| Production | Distillation of green and star anise + elderberry extract + maceration + secret formula |
| Color | Deep, dark amber-brown — Sambucus Nigra + extended maceration |
| Gluten-Free | Yes |
| Mini Bottle Uses | Tastings · flights · events · hospitality · gifting · espresso pairings |
| Style / Identity | Bold, sweet, dark Italian anise liqueur — elderberry depth, licorice intensity, clove spice |
| Aromas & Flavors | Star anise, black licorice, anise seed, burnt sugar, clove, citrus peel, black pepper, toasted herbs, dark berry |
| Best Served | Neat chilled · Con la mosca (with espresso beans) · Over ice · In cocktails |
| Bottle Size | 12 x 50ml |
Serving & Occasion
Con la mosca — the most traditional and the most specifically Roman serve: pour 50ml neat into a small glass, add three coffee beans (health, happiness, prosperity), briefly flame the surface, cover to extinguish, drink. The warmth of the spirit and the beans together is the most specifically Italian digestif experience available from any liqueur in the section. Chilled neat — straight from the refrigerator in a small glass, the most broadly recommended and the most immediately approachable serve. Over espresso — the most contemporary Italian café bar serve, a splash of Romana Black poured over or alongside espresso for a corretto. In cocktails — see below.
Cocktail Suggestions
Black Sambuca Espresso Martini
1.5 oz vodka · 1 oz Romana Black Sambuca · 1 oz fresh espresso (cooled) · ½ oz coffee liqueur. Shaken hard over ice, served up. The Black's elderberry depth and licorice intensity add a specifically Italian and the most specifically aromatic dimension to the espresso martini format.
Black Negroni Variation
1 oz gin · 1 oz Romana Black Sambuca · 1 oz sweet vermouth. Stirred over ice, expressed orange peel. The star anise and clove carry through the Negroni format in a specifically herbaceous and the most specifically anise-forward Negroni variation.
Sambuca Sour
1.5 oz Romana Black Sambuca · ¾ oz fresh lemon juice · ½ oz simple syrup · optional egg white. Shaken over ice, served up. The anise sweetness and lemon together produce the most broadly accessible and the most immediately cocktail-friendly Romana Black serve for first-time sambuca drinkers.
Product Information
Product Information
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Romana Black Sambuca Italian Anise Liqueur 12 x 50ml Mini Bottles
Romana Black Sambuca Italian Anise Liqueur 12 x 50ml Mini Bottles
The Roman after-dinner tradition runs something like this: the grappa or the amaro arrives, the espresso arrives, and if the occasion is right, the sambuca arrives as well — with three coffee beans floating on the surface, one for health, one for happiness, one for prosperity. "Con la mosca" — with the fly — is what Italians call it, a name whose specific irreverence is entirely characteristic of Rome's relationship with its own pleasures. You light it briefly to warm the spirit and the beans, cover the glass to extinguish the flame, and drink what remains. It tastes of anise and licorice and something darker and more ancient that the elderberry provides.
The Pallini family has produced spirits in Rome since 1875, and in 1964 they secured exclusive production rights to the "Sambuca Romana" name — a distinction that separates this bottling from the many generic sambucas on the market. Romana Sambuca is the #1 selling Sambuca in the United States. The Black expression is the darker, richer, more specifically elderberry-forward version of the range — a unique blend of essences derived from Sambucus Nigra berries and star anise, producing the deep, almost inky color and the more concentrated botanical complexity that distinguishes Black from the clear original.
The 12 x 50ml format is the most practical and the most specifically versatile Romana Black presentation available — twelve individually portioned mini bottles for tastings, flights, events, hospitality settings, gifting, or any occasion where the full 750ml is more than the moment requires. One bottle per espresso. One bottle per table. Twelve bottles per conversation.
Origins & Craftsmanship
The Pallini family has produced spirits in Rome since 1875, and in 1964 they secured exclusive production rights to the "Sambuca Romana" name. The name sambuca itself is believed to derive at least partly from the Latin "sambucus" — elderberry — referencing the botanical tradition that has anchored the liqueur's production since its earliest formulation. Production begins with the distillation of green anise and star anise, followed by the addition of elderberry extract, maceration, and careful sweetening using what the family describes as a "secret natural flavor formula."
The Black expression extends this foundation with a specifically elderberry-forward emphasis: Romana Black is a unique blend of essences derived from Sambucus Nigra berries and star anise — the Sambucus Nigra being the specific black elderberry species whose deeper, more concentrated berry character produces the Black's richer color and more complex botanical profile relative to the standard clear expression. The "Black" designation indicates a richer, more concentrated flavor profile compared to transparent or white sambucas — often achieved through extended maceration of anise and complementary botanicals, as well as a touch of natural coloring that hints at sweet licorice, toasted herbs, and spice.
Each mini bottle (50ml) is individually portioned, offering consistent expression and ease of use for tastings, flights, events, or hospitality settings.
Critics Reviews
Tastings.com — 89 Points, Silver Medal (Romana Sambuca program):
"Highly Recommended — bold star anise and elderberry character."
Tasting Profile
Nose
Deep, dark amber-brown — the Sambucus Nigra elderberry extract and the extended maceration producing a color of genuine depth and warmth. The nose opens boldly with prominent star anise and black licorice — not overpowering but welcoming, as the Liquor Bros most accurately characterizes the Romana aromatic approach. Anise seed adds the most specifically botanical and the most herbal-adjacent secondary layer. Hints of burnt sugar add the most specifically caramelized and the most specifically Italian-digestif-tradition secondary quality. Clove adds the most memorably warm and the most specifically spiced tertiary note. A whisper of citrus peel adds the most delicate and the most specifically fresh secondary aromatic contrast to the dark, concentrated primary character.
Palate
Sweet, full-bodied, and velvety — the most immediately distinctive quality of a sambuca at 40% ABV whose smoothness belies its proof. The entry is very soft on the front of the tongue before the licorice taste intensifies as it washes across the palate — the specific and specifically sequential flavor progression that the Liquor Bros most accurately observed. Sustained anise and licorice intensity carries through the mid-palate with the full-bodied consistency of extended maceration. Black pepper adds the most specifically unusual and the most memorably spiced secondary quality. Clove spice deepens the herbal complexity. Toasted herbal undertones add the most specifically artisanal and the most genuinely handcrafted secondary dimension. The Sambucus Nigra elderberry character is most apparent as a slight dark berry depth beneath the anise's primary aromatic dominance.
Finish
Long, warm, and anise-persistent. The aromatic influence of anise herbiness carries the close most enduringly. Sweet-herbal resonance lingers pleasantly. The 40% ABV provides the warmth that makes the finish genuinely satisfying without becoming aggressive. Clean and rounded at the very close — the classic Italian digestif finish that invites the next sip or the first espresso.
Quick Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Black Sambuca — Italian Anise Liqueur |
| ABV / Proof | 40% ABV / 80 Proof |
| Format | 12 x 50ml mini bottles |
| Producer | Pallini family — Rome, Italy |
| Founded | 1875 |
| Exclusive Rights | "Sambuca Romana" name — secured 1964 |
| Market Position | #1 selling Sambuca in the United States |
| Primary Botanicals | Star anise · Sambucus Nigra (black elderberry) |
| Additional | Secret natural flavor formula — herbs and spices |
| vs. Clear Romana | Black: richer · darker · more concentrated · elderberry-forward |
| Production | Distillation of green and star anise + elderberry extract + maceration + secret formula |
| Color | Deep, dark amber-brown — Sambucus Nigra + extended maceration |
| Gluten-Free | Yes |
| Mini Bottle Uses | Tastings · flights · events · hospitality · gifting · espresso pairings |
| Style / Identity | Bold, sweet, dark Italian anise liqueur — elderberry depth, licorice intensity, clove spice |
| Aromas & Flavors | Star anise, black licorice, anise seed, burnt sugar, clove, citrus peel, black pepper, toasted herbs, dark berry |
| Best Served | Neat chilled · Con la mosca (with espresso beans) · Over ice · In cocktails |
| Bottle Size | 12 x 50ml |
Serving & Occasion
Con la mosca — the most traditional and the most specifically Roman serve: pour 50ml neat into a small glass, add three coffee beans (health, happiness, prosperity), briefly flame the surface, cover to extinguish, drink. The warmth of the spirit and the beans together is the most specifically Italian digestif experience available from any liqueur in the section. Chilled neat — straight from the refrigerator in a small glass, the most broadly recommended and the most immediately approachable serve. Over espresso — the most contemporary Italian café bar serve, a splash of Romana Black poured over or alongside espresso for a corretto. In cocktails — see below.
Cocktail Suggestions
Black Sambuca Espresso Martini
1.5 oz vodka · 1 oz Romana Black Sambuca · 1 oz fresh espresso (cooled) · ½ oz coffee liqueur. Shaken hard over ice, served up. The Black's elderberry depth and licorice intensity add a specifically Italian and the most specifically aromatic dimension to the espresso martini format.
Black Negroni Variation
1 oz gin · 1 oz Romana Black Sambuca · 1 oz sweet vermouth. Stirred over ice, expressed orange peel. The star anise and clove carry through the Negroni format in a specifically herbaceous and the most specifically anise-forward Negroni variation.
Sambuca Sour
1.5 oz Romana Black Sambuca · ¾ oz fresh lemon juice · ½ oz simple syrup · optional egg white. Shaken over ice, served up. The anise sweetness and lemon together produce the most broadly accessible and the most immediately cocktail-friendly Romana Black serve for first-time sambuca drinkers.
Product Information
Product Information
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Description
The Roman after-dinner tradition runs something like this: the grappa or the amaro arrives, the espresso arrives, and if the occasion is right, the sambuca arrives as well — with three coffee beans floating on the surface, one for health, one for happiness, one for prosperity. "Con la mosca" — with the fly — is what Italians call it, a name whose specific irreverence is entirely characteristic of Rome's relationship with its own pleasures. You light it briefly to warm the spirit and the beans, cover the glass to extinguish the flame, and drink what remains. It tastes of anise and licorice and something darker and more ancient that the elderberry provides.
The Pallini family has produced spirits in Rome since 1875, and in 1964 they secured exclusive production rights to the "Sambuca Romana" name — a distinction that separates this bottling from the many generic sambucas on the market. Romana Sambuca is the #1 selling Sambuca in the United States. The Black expression is the darker, richer, more specifically elderberry-forward version of the range — a unique blend of essences derived from Sambucus Nigra berries and star anise, producing the deep, almost inky color and the more concentrated botanical complexity that distinguishes Black from the clear original.
The 12 x 50ml format is the most practical and the most specifically versatile Romana Black presentation available — twelve individually portioned mini bottles for tastings, flights, events, hospitality settings, gifting, or any occasion where the full 750ml is more than the moment requires. One bottle per espresso. One bottle per table. Twelve bottles per conversation.
Origins & Craftsmanship
The Pallini family has produced spirits in Rome since 1875, and in 1964 they secured exclusive production rights to the "Sambuca Romana" name. The name sambuca itself is believed to derive at least partly from the Latin "sambucus" — elderberry — referencing the botanical tradition that has anchored the liqueur's production since its earliest formulation. Production begins with the distillation of green anise and star anise, followed by the addition of elderberry extract, maceration, and careful sweetening using what the family describes as a "secret natural flavor formula."
The Black expression extends this foundation with a specifically elderberry-forward emphasis: Romana Black is a unique blend of essences derived from Sambucus Nigra berries and star anise — the Sambucus Nigra being the specific black elderberry species whose deeper, more concentrated berry character produces the Black's richer color and more complex botanical profile relative to the standard clear expression. The "Black" designation indicates a richer, more concentrated flavor profile compared to transparent or white sambucas — often achieved through extended maceration of anise and complementary botanicals, as well as a touch of natural coloring that hints at sweet licorice, toasted herbs, and spice.
Each mini bottle (50ml) is individually portioned, offering consistent expression and ease of use for tastings, flights, events, or hospitality settings.
Critics Reviews
Tastings.com — 89 Points, Silver Medal (Romana Sambuca program):
"Highly Recommended — bold star anise and elderberry character."
Tasting Profile
Nose
Deep, dark amber-brown — the Sambucus Nigra elderberry extract and the extended maceration producing a color of genuine depth and warmth. The nose opens boldly with prominent star anise and black licorice — not overpowering but welcoming, as the Liquor Bros most accurately characterizes the Romana aromatic approach. Anise seed adds the most specifically botanical and the most herbal-adjacent secondary layer. Hints of burnt sugar add the most specifically caramelized and the most specifically Italian-digestif-tradition secondary quality. Clove adds the most memorably warm and the most specifically spiced tertiary note. A whisper of citrus peel adds the most delicate and the most specifically fresh secondary aromatic contrast to the dark, concentrated primary character.
Palate
Sweet, full-bodied, and velvety — the most immediately distinctive quality of a sambuca at 40% ABV whose smoothness belies its proof. The entry is very soft on the front of the tongue before the licorice taste intensifies as it washes across the palate — the specific and specifically sequential flavor progression that the Liquor Bros most accurately observed. Sustained anise and licorice intensity carries through the mid-palate with the full-bodied consistency of extended maceration. Black pepper adds the most specifically unusual and the most memorably spiced secondary quality. Clove spice deepens the herbal complexity. Toasted herbal undertones add the most specifically artisanal and the most genuinely handcrafted secondary dimension. The Sambucus Nigra elderberry character is most apparent as a slight dark berry depth beneath the anise's primary aromatic dominance.
Finish
Long, warm, and anise-persistent. The aromatic influence of anise herbiness carries the close most enduringly. Sweet-herbal resonance lingers pleasantly. The 40% ABV provides the warmth that makes the finish genuinely satisfying without becoming aggressive. Clean and rounded at the very close — the classic Italian digestif finish that invites the next sip or the first espresso.
Quick Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Black Sambuca — Italian Anise Liqueur |
| ABV / Proof | 40% ABV / 80 Proof |
| Format | 12 x 50ml mini bottles |
| Producer | Pallini family — Rome, Italy |
| Founded | 1875 |
| Exclusive Rights | "Sambuca Romana" name — secured 1964 |
| Market Position | #1 selling Sambuca in the United States |
| Primary Botanicals | Star anise · Sambucus Nigra (black elderberry) |
| Additional | Secret natural flavor formula — herbs and spices |
| vs. Clear Romana | Black: richer · darker · more concentrated · elderberry-forward |
| Production | Distillation of green and star anise + elderberry extract + maceration + secret formula |
| Color | Deep, dark amber-brown — Sambucus Nigra + extended maceration |
| Gluten-Free | Yes |
| Mini Bottle Uses | Tastings · flights · events · hospitality · gifting · espresso pairings |
| Style / Identity | Bold, sweet, dark Italian anise liqueur — elderberry depth, licorice intensity, clove spice |
| Aromas & Flavors | Star anise, black licorice, anise seed, burnt sugar, clove, citrus peel, black pepper, toasted herbs, dark berry |
| Best Served | Neat chilled · Con la mosca (with espresso beans) · Over ice · In cocktails |
| Bottle Size | 12 x 50ml |
Serving & Occasion
Con la mosca — the most traditional and the most specifically Roman serve: pour 50ml neat into a small glass, add three coffee beans (health, happiness, prosperity), briefly flame the surface, cover to extinguish, drink. The warmth of the spirit and the beans together is the most specifically Italian digestif experience available from any liqueur in the section. Chilled neat — straight from the refrigerator in a small glass, the most broadly recommended and the most immediately approachable serve. Over espresso — the most contemporary Italian café bar serve, a splash of Romana Black poured over or alongside espresso for a corretto. In cocktails — see below.
Cocktail Suggestions
Black Sambuca Espresso Martini
1.5 oz vodka · 1 oz Romana Black Sambuca · 1 oz fresh espresso (cooled) · ½ oz coffee liqueur. Shaken hard over ice, served up. The Black's elderberry depth and licorice intensity add a specifically Italian and the most specifically aromatic dimension to the espresso martini format.
Black Negroni Variation
1 oz gin · 1 oz Romana Black Sambuca · 1 oz sweet vermouth. Stirred over ice, expressed orange peel. The star anise and clove carry through the Negroni format in a specifically herbaceous and the most specifically anise-forward Negroni variation.
Sambuca Sour
1.5 oz Romana Black Sambuca · ¾ oz fresh lemon juice · ½ oz simple syrup · optional egg white. Shaken over ice, served up. The anise sweetness and lemon together produce the most broadly accessible and the most immediately cocktail-friendly Romana Black serve for first-time sambuca drinkers.
