Ouzo
Also known as: anise spirit
In short
Ouzo is Greece's anise spirit: legally tied to its home country, drunk with water and rarely without meze. We explain the origin rule, the ouzo effect and the culture of the ouzeries.
In depth
What is ouzo?
Ouzo is a Greek anise spirit, and the name is protected: within the EU, ouzo may only be produced in Greece. It is aromatised with anise, traditionally complemented by fennel and sometimes mastic.
The ouzo effect
Add water, and ouzo turns milky. The phenomenon is so striking that it even carries the name ouzo effect and is known by that name outside the bar as well.
The culture
Ouzo is rarely drunk neat: water belongs to it, and so do meze, small plates with olives, cheese and occasionally octopus. In Greece's ouzeries, every glass comes with a small plate, and the evening belongs to the table round.
Remember this one
"Absinthe brings the ritual, pastis the afternoon, ouzo the evening."
At our lounge
The evening in a glass: ask us whether an ouzo is on our shelves, with water of course.