An old Lombard villa gave this liqueur its name. Inside the bottle it is water-clear, sweet and loud with aniseed, the way Italians have poured it after dinner for generations.
Expert description
Villa Cardea Sambuca Classica is an Italian Sambuca Liqueur bottled at 38% ABV, built almost entirely around star anise. Sambuca is Italy's classic aniseed liqueur, and this one follows the traditional recipe as stated on the label. It is made from alcohol, water, sugar and natural flavours, and it pours completely clear.
The Villa Cardea brand is named after an 18th-century villa in Lombardy and covers a range of Italian liqueurs and spirits. This bottle is produced in Pedrengo, near Bergamo. Classica is the straightforward style: pure aniseed, no cask ageing, no tricks.
Drink it as a digestif after a meal, splash it into an espresso, or keep a bottle in the freezer for a small, cold finish to the evening.
Tasting notes
Nose
A cool, spicy aroma with clear star anise and a hint of liquorice behind it.
Palate
Sweet and soft on the tongue, with pronounced aniseed from the very first sip. The flavour stays focused and does not wander.
Finish
Long and sweet, with the anise lingering well after the glass is empty.
Specifications
Name: Villa Cardea Sambuca Classica
Distillery: Villa Cardea
Region/Country: Lombardy, Italy
Type: Sambuca Liqueur
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 8007253902213
Serving suggestion: Serve chilled, over ice, or alongside an espresso
Flavour profile
Aniseed · Sweet · Spicy · Liquorice · Smooth
Did you know?
In Italy, sambuca is often served with three coffee beans floating in the glass. Their bitterness cuts through the sweetness, and you chew them as you sip.
