Sambuca truly tastes like if you made gumdrops into a drink. The biggest downside for me is that it is very sweet and syrupy, headache inducingly so if you know what I mean. I love anise/licourice flavor, and I think Sambuca nails that aspect. Personally though, I would pick Absinthe over Sambuca anyday, due to it not being so loaded with sugar and considering whatever the interesting quality it is that the wormwood adds to it