Opal Nera: anise, elderberries and a dark shimmer
A black sambuca at 40% ABV, with lemon lifting its anise character.
Green anise, Pimpinella anisum, in Köhler’s nineteenth-century atlas: flowers, fruits and botanical details. Public-domain illustration. Opal Nera lists star anise: two different plants with a related anise fragrance.
Franz Eugen Köhler · Image source · Public domain
Understanding the colour
Opal Nera belongs to Francoli’s family of anise liqueurs. Elderberries in the recipe contribute to its distinctive purple-black colour and opalescent appearance. That unusual look invites attention, but its identity becomes clearer through the combination of anise, elder and citrus.
The aromatic ingredients
Casa Francoli lists lemon peels, elderflowers, star anise and elderberries. The lemon essence refreshes the anise aroma and gives the blend another direction. Star anise and green anise are different plants: they share a familiar aromatic register, which makes botanical illustrations a useful way to look more closely at the word “anise”.
Sweetness with aromatic freshness
Anise is immediately recognisable on the palate. The liqueur’s sweetness gives roundness, while lemon provides a fresh aromatic lift. Elder adds its own signature to the combination. At 40% ABV it has a marked presence; its style remains sweet and anise-led, rather than the pronounced herbal bitterness sought in an amaro.
On our menu
We serve a 4 cl measure. Search for anise, elder, lemon, sweet or fresh, then compare its character with the clear Sambuca d’Amante to choose between two different expressions.
Sources and further reading
Explore more in our archives
Sambuca: anise and sweetness →
Sambuca d’Amante: anise and an Italian ritual →
Francoli: a family of distillers →
