What alcohol is Greece known for?

Greece's most iconic local spirits are ouzo, raki, tsipouro, and masticha. Ouzo, the national drink, is an anise-flavoured spirit best served chilled and often paired with seafood meze.

What is the most popular alcohol in Greece?

Ouzo drinking is an art. Or maybe it's a way of life. Whatever it is, the island of Lesvos is known for it's ouzo.

What alcohol is only found in Greece?

Ouzo, the anise-flavored liquor, is a product of the Greek soil that consists of pure ethyl alcohol. It is made from grape or grain and distilled with aniseed.

What is Greece's national drink?

Widely known as the national drink of Greece, ouzo is a distilled spirit enjoyed across the country and in neighboring Cyprus. It's flavored with anise or fennel seed and can be divisive — you either love it or hate it. For curious licorice lovers, here is a guide on what ouzo is and how to enjoy it.

Is ouzo stronger than vodka?

It has an alcohol content (ABV) of 37.5 to 50%, or 75- to 100-proof. (For reference, vodka and gin usually have a 40% ABV). And because ouzo has a relatively high sugar content, it can delay the absorption of alcohol, which can cause it to sneak up on you if it's consumed too quickly.

5 Things You Should Never Say or Do in Greece 🇬🇷

Does ouzo give you a hangover?

That's why people often refer to ouzo as “sneaky,” because you may be a few drinks in before you realize it has a reasonably high alcohol content (which is the recipe for a solid hangover the next day).

Do Greeks actually drink ouzo?

One of the most well-known Greek spirits is ouzo, a clear liquor that is flavored with anise. When drinking in Greece ouzo is typically served with small plates of food known as mezedes, and is meant to be sipped slowly and enjoyed over the course of a meal or social gathering.

Can you drink ouzo straight?

It's either served straight, with cold water, or over ice, and always in a small glass. Never rush drinking ouzo; it's meant to be savored slowly, enhancing its aniseed flavors with each sip.

What is a signature Greek drink?

Ouzo, tsipouro, raki, these clear, highly scented strong drinks are the hallmark of Greek celebrations on any occasion.

Is ouzo healthy?

Ouzo is an aperitif, therefore is usually consumed before eating so that it will 'open' the appetite. Anise which gives ouzo its distinctive taste is considered to help in iron absorption in foods. It also helps appeasing the intestine and has mild antiparasitic action.

What alcohol is Santorini known for?

Grapes and wine. The island of Santorini is most famously known for its indigenous white grape varieties Assyrtiko, Athiri and Aidani, though some wines made from international varieties and also from indigenous red grapes such as Mandilaria and Mavrotragano can be found.

Is sambuca Greek?

Sambuca (Italian: [samˈbuːka]) is an Italian anise-flavoured liqueur. Its most common variety is often referred to as "white sambuca" to differentiate it from other varieties that are deep blue ("black sambuca") or bright red ("red sambuca").

How to drink mastiha?

Traditionally, mastiha liqueur is served as a digestif, it is offered in small glasses at the end of the meal and is drunk very cold, or even frozen, because it is kept in the freezer.

What cocktails is Greece known for?

What does mastiha taste like?

Good Mastiha is a genuinely unique liqueur. Just as with juniper, mastic resin has a spectrum of flavours and there's many facets a producer can choose to showcase. It swings from earthy pine, to cedar wood, into sappy cypress and herbal-tinged citrus notes.

Why is alcohol so expensive in Greece?

Greece's price index of 151.1 is mainly attributed to the very high Special Consumption Tax (SCT) on alcoholic drinks in Greece, along with VAT, which both increase costs for the end consumer, creating favorable conditions for illegal trade at the same time.

What alcohol is best in Greece?

Is raki stronger than ouzo?

Yes, both are anise-flavored distillates, but in general raki tends to be much stronger than ouzo.

What is Greek booze?

Traditional Greek alcohol includes beverages like ouzo, tsipouro, and retsina. Ouzo is an anise-flavored spirit often diluted with water and served as an aperitif. Tsipouro is a strong spirit made from grape pomace and is usually enjoyed after meals.

Do you sip ouzo or shoot it?

Aperitif drink

It is traditionally slowly sipped (usually mixed with water or ice) together with mezedes shared with others over a period of several hours in the early evening.

Can you drink ouzo with coke?

Ouzo and Coke

The licorice of the ouzo just goes so well with whatever the crazy-chemical flavors in Coke. You must serve this over ice though and I do suggest letting it sit for a bit to just every so slightly water down the drink.

What is raki in Greece?

The raki is made in the autumn after the grape harvest, when the vines have been pruned. Raki is obtained from the press residue of the fresh grapes during winemaking, the pomace, by distillation. The raki is clear and contains on average between 30 and 40 percent alcohol by volume.

Is ouzo unhealthy?

Did you know that drinking ouzo actually has some major health benefits. Drinking ouzo can ease an upset stomach, relieve headaches, alleviate toothing problems and even more. But even more important it is delicious to drink. So you know what to do; come and drink a glass (or two😉) at one of our restaurants.

What is the Greek version of limoncello?

Limoncello Lazaris liqueur is produced exclusively in Corfu by extracting local lemon rinds into alcohol, following the traditional method that has been passed down from generation to generation for years. The zests are carefully peeled so that no trace of the white, bitter inner part remains.

What do old Greek men drink?

Ouzo, the national drink, is an anise-flavoured spirit best served chilled and often paired with seafood meze. Tsipouro (from mainland Greece, sometimes with aniseed) and raki (from Crete, never with aniseed) are strong grape-based spirits enjoyed with local delicacies.