🌿 Anise spirits

Anise-flavoured spirits are strong drinks whose main flavour comes from anise, star anise or fennel. In the EU they are categories 25–29, 36 and 41: from the general anise-flavoured spirit drink (from 15 % vol.) to pastis (from 40 %) and pastis de Marseille (from 45 %).

The spirit is flavoured by maceration, by distillation with plant seeds, or by adding natural distilled extracts. Pastis also contains liquorice extract; its aroma is measured by anethole: 1.5–2 g/l in pastis and 1.9–2.1 g/l in pastis de Marseille, with less than 100 g/l of sugar.

Anis (category 28) has a minimum of 35 %, and distilled anis (29) is anis with alcohol distilled with the seeds, at not less than 20 % strength. Sambuca (36) is a colourless anise liqueur of at least 38 % vol. with at least 350 g/l of sugar. Mistrà (41) is colourless, sugar-free, 40–47 %. Ouzo is a protected name of Greece and Cyprus.

Ouzo is linked to Greece and Cyprus, pastis to France and Marseille, sambuca to Italy, and Anís Paloma Monforte del Cid and Chinchón to Spain.

Why it matters to you. Pastis, ouzo and sambuca are different categories: pastis contains liquorice and no more than 100 g/l of sugar, while sambuca is a colourless liqueur with over 350 g/l of sugar. Strength varies from 15 to 47 %. The figure is shown on the label. WHO: no safe level of alcohol exists.

Other sections of this topic: Bitters and bitter spirits; Caraway spirits and aquavit; Pomace spirits; Liqueurs; Gin and juniper spirits; Asian spirit traditions; Mulled wine and fortified wines; How spirits are made. All sections are gathered on the “Spirits” page.