Liqueurs

Sambuca

Liqueur
40% ABV
11 drinks

Is this for me?

Choose this if…

✓You want sweetness, flavour depth and lower ABV in your cocktail.
✓Features in 11 WhatDrink drinks.

Skip if…

✗You want a dry, neutral or high-ABV spirit base.

At a Glance

99 kcalCalories

40%ABV

10.5gSugar

13.5gCarbs

LiqueurType

11Recipes

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

What is Sambuca?

Sambuca is mapped to the Sambuca reference category. This page supports recipe discovery, ingredient context, flavor navigation and related drink-guide grouping across WhatDrink.

What does Sambuca taste like?

anise, liquorice, sweet, herbal, balanced structure, aromatic finish, cocktail ingredient context

Sambuca profile

Mixability: HighIntensity: BoldSweetBeginner-friendly: High

Best used for: aromatic cocktails, tropical drinks, citrus cocktails, dessert drinks

Appears in 11 recipes
High-strength spirit (40% ABV)

Ways to use sambuca

Shots (6)Cocktails (5)

Sambuca is mapped to the Sambuca reference category. This page supports recipe discovery, ingredient context, flavor navigation and related drink-guide grouping across WhatDrink.

Flavour profile

AniseHerbalLicoriceSweet

Observed quantities

Observed in single-serve recipes: middle half 14.79–37.50 ml; median 29.57 ml.

In the measured recipes in this dataset — from 9 observed uses.

Scoped nutrition

Calories (per 100 ml): 330
Sugar (per 100 ml): 35 g
Carbs (per 100 ml): 45 g

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

Diet compatibility

Gluten-FreeCompatible
KetoNot compatible
Low-CarbNot compatible
Low-SugarNot compatible
Veganvaries
VegetarianCompatible

Based on the listed ingredient only — a public recipe facet, not medical, allergy or coeliac advice. Specific brands and preparation can change compatibility.

Trust & methodology

Canonical ingredient/component authority assembled from reviewed identity, recipe, flavour, nutrition, diet and substitution evidence. Observed quantities and co-use patterns are descriptive, not prescriptions or universal recommendations.

Evidence last updated: 2026-07-16T03:30:39.066659+00:00

Drink counts and recipe data are based on published WhatDrink recipes. Figures may vary as new recipes are added.

Sambuca — common questions

How many cocktails are made with Sambuca?: There are 11 cocktail recipes featuring Sambuca in the WhatDrink database.
What are the most popular cocktails made with Sambuca?: Top-ranked cocktails made with Sambuca include B-53, Brainteaser, Bumble Bee. Rankings are based on recipe quality and data completeness.
What is the ABV of Sambuca?: Sambuca has an ABV of approximately 40%. The exact strength varies by brand and expression.
What do the sensory profile dimensions mean?: Sensory profile dimensions describe key flavour characteristics: Intensity (light to bold), Sweetness (dry to sweet), Mixability (how versatile it is in cocktails) and Beginner-Friendly (acquired taste to easy intro). Each scale helps you compare Sambuca with similar ingredients at a glance.
How do I use the Sambuca sensory profile to find drinks I like?: If you enjoy the intensity and flavour profile of Sambuca, look for other ingredients or cocktails with a similar profile. Compare Intensity, Sweetness and Mixability to find substitutes or discover new cocktails in the same flavour family.