Advent Calendar: Anisette

Advent Calendar:

Dec 16
ANISETTE

For a family that is no stranger to drinking and drunks, the Tias were, almost universally, teetotalers. It's one of life's great ironies for me that my mom, who died of cirrhosis, probably had cumulatively consumed in her entire life no more alcohol than what is contained in a single case of cheap beer. But once a year she, Tia Vina, Tia Blanca, Tia Chela and others would join their vivacious sister Celina in having a shot of anisette. Anisette is a liqueur made from anise. It's the basis for other liquors like sambuca, ouzo and pastis. They'd make a big production about it, giggle at their naughtiness. And, we'd stop what we were doing and check it out. Mostly, because it was part of the familial ritual but also because after all there is prim and proper Tia Vina doing a shot. (A "shot" is an exaggeration. This ain't no Alabama 1.5 shot. These were little demitasse liqueur classes made to look like miniature wine glasses.) They'd have a merry time of it, acting like they were doing a line on the bar at some Bourbon Street dive.