🥃 Aniseed-flavoured spirit drink
Category 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787: spirit of agricultural origin flavoured with anise, star anise or fennel; the taste of anise predominates; from 15% ABV.
Aniseed-flavoured spirit drink is category 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/787. It is spirit of agricultural origin flavoured with natural extracts of star anise, anise, fennel or another plant with the same aromatic component. The minimum strength is 15% ABV, the lowest among the EU aniseed categories, and the taste of anise must predominate.
How it is made. The regulation allows three methods: maceration and distillation, redistillation of spirit with seeds or other parts of plants, and adding natural distilled extracts. Only aromatic preparations and natural aromatic substances may be used for flavouring. Other plant extracts or spicy seeds are allowed, but the taste of anise must predominate.
Neighbouring categories. Category 25 is the broadest. Narrower ones have stricter requirements: pastis (26) — from 40% ABV and with liquorice extract; pastis de Marseille (27) — from 45%; anise (28) — from 35%; distilled anise (29) contains spirit distilled with seeds. Sambuca is a separate liqueur category, and ouzo is a protected name.
The sign in the glass. Anethole from anise, star anise and fennel dissolves in strong alcohol but not in water. So with cold water such drinks turn cloudy — this is called the «ouzo effect». The more anise, the denser the haze.
Why this matters to you. The words «aniseed-flavoured spirit drink» on a label mean only the general rules: strength may be from 15% ABV, and the herb mix may vary. If you want pastis or anise, look for that legal name and its strength. WHO reminds us: there is no safe amount of alcohol.
Facts
| EU category | 25 — aniseed-flavoured spirit drink |
|---|---|
| Alcohol (% vol.) | from 15% ABV |
| Raw material | spirit of agricultural origin; star anise, anise, fennel |
| Distillation method | maceration and distillation, redistillation with seeds or distilled extracts |
| Legal basis | Regulation (EU) 2019/787, Annex I, item 25 |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Aniseed-flavoured spirit drink → kind of → 🌿 Anise spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Related to
- 🏷️ Label, law and health
- Images and sayings
- 🥃 Fennel
- Part of
- 🌿 Anise spirits
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Anis, 🌿 Pastis, 🌿 Pastis de Marseille, 🌿 Sambuca, 🥃 Ouzo, 🥃 Mastika, 🥃 Kümmel, 🥃 Distilled anis, 🥃 Herbero de la Sierra de Mariola
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that any aniseed drink can be called pastis?
No. Pastis is a separate category 26: from 40% ABV and with liquorice extract. The general category 25 requires only 15% ABV and a predominant anise taste.
What is the minimum strength of an aniseed-flavoured spirit drink?
15% ABV under Regulation (EU) 2019/787, Annex I, category 25.
Which plants give the flavour?
Star anise, anise, fennel or another plant with the same main aromatic component; other herbs are allowed if the taste of anise predominates.
Can synthetic flavourings be added?
No. Only aromatic preparations and natural aromatic substances are permitted.
Why does such a drink turn cloudy with water?
Anethole does not dissolve in water and forms fine droplets when diluted — the «ouzo effect».
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🏷️ Label, law and health — Legal name, strength in % vol. (for drinks above 1.2%) and age by the youngest component: how to read a label.
- 🥃 Anis — Aniseed spirit (EU category 28) flavoured only by anise, star anise or fennel; from 35% vol.; in Slovenian also janeževec.
- 🥃 Herbero de la Sierra de Mariola — A Spanish herbal anise drink with an EU protected name: at least four plants from the Sierra de Mariola mountains in Alicante province, macerated or distilled with spirit; 22–40% ABV.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Anis · 🥃 Distilled anis · 🥃 Absinthe · 🌿 Pastis · 🥃 Mastika · 🌿 Pastis de Marseille
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks, Annex I as adopted: cat. 1 rum (min. 37.5 %, no flavouring, sweetening up to 20 g/l), cat. 19 juniper-flavoured spirit drinks (min. 30 %), cat. 25 aniseed-flavoured spirit drink (min. 15 %), cat. 26 pastis, cat. 28 anis
- The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails: louche (G. Stone) — anethole from aniseed, star anise and fennel, the "ouzo effect"
- Difford's Guide: Armand Guy Pontarlier Anis Ponsec (45 %; distilled from green aniseed; turns cloudy with water)
- European Medicines Agency: Anisi fructus (aniseed, Pimpinella anisum L., fruit) — EU herbal monograph 2014; contraindicated in allergy to Apiaceae; not under 12 years
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)