anisette
ReferenceFrance, Bordeaux
Tasting Notes
Sweet green anise, licorice, subtle fennel, sugar syrup. Clear, viscous from high sugar content. Sweeter and lower-proof than pastis — this is a dessert-adjacent sip, not a session aperitif. Slight louche when watered (less dramatic than pastis). Finish is sweet, warm, anise-lingering. The sweetness rounds the anise edge that makes pastis polarizing — anisette is anise with training wheels. Quality versions show green-anise freshness; cheap versions taste like licorice candy.
Brand Guide
Benchmark: Marie Brizard Anisette ($15-20, since 1755). Standard: Various Mediterranean anisette producers ($12-18). The category is essentially Marie Brizard — other brands exist but lack the history and distribution. The 270-year-old recipe is the category's moat.