PR Anisette Liqueur Essence 20 ml

PR Anisette Liqueur Essence 20 ml

Anisette is the gentlest member of the aniseed family. Where the more forceful anise spirits are dry and rough-edged, anisette is sweet, smooth and friendly – an uncoloured, liquorice-like liqueur that for generations has belonged in cafés, where it is served in small glasses, let down with cold water or slipped into the coffee cup.

It is a simple drink in the best sense of the word. No twenty herbs, no bitterness, no colour – just pure, sweet aniseed doing exactly what it should. For anyone who likes liquorice it is hard to find anything more straightforward.

Colour & Appearance

The finished liqueur is water-clear and bright. Pour in ice-cold water and the thing that makes aniseed drinks such fun happens: the liqueur clouds and turns milky white and opalescent, because the anise oils come out of solution as the alcohol strength drops.

Nose

The nose is pure, sweet aniseed – green anise first, fresh and a little herbal, followed by the warmer, spicier star anise. In the background there are fennel seed, sweet liquorice root and a small floral note.

Palate

The palate is soft and sweet with aniseed at the centre. The green anise gives a bright, almost cool freshness, while star anise and liquorice root fill in with depth and roundness. The sweetness carries the aromas and makes the mouthfeel smooth and slightly oily, entirely without sharpness. Next to sambuca, anisette is lighter and cleaner in style – less spicy, more purely aniseed. With water it opens up further and becomes a cool, thirst-quenching drink.

Finish

The finish is long, clean and sweet. Aniseed and liquorice rest on the tongue, and the mouth feels pleasantly cool and fresh afterwards.

How to Use

The essence is mixed with vodka or neutral spirit plus sugar. 20 ml makes 750 ml of finished liqueur. It can also be mixed without sugar if you prefer a drier aniseed drink. Instructions are on the label.

Serving Suggestions

• With iced water in a tall glass – watch the liqueur turn milky white.
• A splash in a cup of strong coffee, with or without sugar.
• Neat and well chilled in a small glass after dinner.
• With soda water, lemon and lots of ice as a summer drink.
• A few drops in fish soup, shellfish sauce or in aniseed bread and biscuits.

About the Essence

Anisette is part of the PR (Prestige) series and an obvious choice for liquorice lovers who want something softer than the dry anise spirits. The fact that it can be mixed both with and without sugar means you decide the style yourself – a classically sweet liqueur or a leaner aniseed drink to let down with water.

One tip is always to keep a bottle in the fridge in summer, when the cool aniseed flavour really comes into its own. The essence is also available in 25 litres for producers and professional kitchens.