Have you heard of the Greek ouzo? I bet you did. More than just a Greek drink, Ouzo is a philosophy, a way of life. The best ouzo comes from Lesvos, as most café owners in Greece would admit.

What is ouzo?

Ouzo is a very strong drink, with an anise or licorice-like flavor. Ouzo always accompanies mezedes (appetizers) and you might even find it in mixed drinks.

If you don’t like strong alcohol drinks, chances are you won’t like ouzo either. But it’s worth a try, right?



Name and history

The origin of the name is still disputed. According to the late professor Alexander Filadelfefs tsipouro gradually became ouzo. Based on an anecdote , the drink got the name of “ouzo” after a Turkish physician tasted the local tsipouro produced in the town of Tyrnavo and said “This is uso Massalia, my friends”, referring to its quality. The term spread by word of mouth and became “ouzo”.

Tsipouro, ouzo’s precursor, has its origins in the Byzantine era and continued to be made during the Ottoman era. Modern ouzo started to be produced in the 19th century. Most of the production was centered in the island of Lesvos. In 2005 Greeks won the right to label ouzo as an exclusively Greek product, which means that producers outside the country can’t use the name “ouzo” for a similar drink.

Ouzeries

Ouzeries are café-like establishments where ouzo is served with mezedes. You can find ouzeries in almost any place –from the big cities to the small villages.

The trick to drinking ouzo without the alcohol overwhelming you –or better said, without getting drunk in 10 minutes – is to slowly sip it together with mezedes. A good trick not to get drunk fast is to water it down as you drink it.

Although drinking alone might have its charm, ouzo should be savored with friends.

When mixed with water or ice, ouzo –which is clear in color – becomes milky white, because the essential oil of anise is soluble in alcohol but not in water.

Be careful not to confuse ouzo with raki or tsipouro, which are usually made at home by locals. They are strong and resemble ouzo but don’t have the licorice flavor associated with real ouzo.

Mixed drinks

Although traditionally ouzo is served with water or ice, in clubs –in Greece and all over the world – you will find some mixed drinks based on ouzo:

• Mussaka: made by mixing ouzo, drambuie and coke
• Zorbatini: made by mixing vodka and ouzo
• Greek Lightning: made by mixing ouzo, vodka and raspberry liqueur.

>>more information on Ouzo Cocktails