THE fortunes of sambuca have been transformed since the category’s move into flavoured varieties.
Hi-Spirits, distributor of flavour pioneer Antica Sambuca, said the liqueur has come on leaps and bounds since it began supplying the brand in 2004.
“Sambuca has definitely ‘come of age’ in UK pubs and bars over recent years,” said Jeremy Hill, chairman of Hi-Spirits.
“When we launched Antica in 2004 it was very much a speciality spirit, served after a meal in the traditional Italian style with coffee beans floating in the glass, or as a novelty ‘flaming shot’.”
According to Hill, a new way of drinking sambuca emerged when Hi-Spirits launched what were claimed to be the first flavoured sambucas with the Antica brand.
“For example, the Raspberry Sambuca Spritzer was created by a barman at JD Wetherspoon, and is our signature serve for Antica Raspberry,” added Hill.
Next month Hi-Spirits will launch a new range of cocktail and long drink serves for the summer, which it will support with POS kits, including glassware.
The recipes include:
• The Malibuca – 25ml Classic Antica Sambuca, 25ml of Malibu and ginger beer
• The Sunbuca – 50ml Raspberry Antica Sambuca, 25ml of Malibu and orange and pineapple juice.
