Ouzo, The Spirit of the Greek Summer

Greek Reporter ^ | May 23, 2023 | Tasos Kokkinidis

[txeagle]

I credit Ouzo for providing the decisive edge that allowed me to win an air guitar contest in a harborside bar in Souda Bay way back in 1985.

I still get the heaves when someone cracks a seal on a bottle of that stuff.

[Night Hides Not]

I had a similar experience in Lutjenburg, but with Jagermeister. It involved a dice game at the local discotheque. I stopped counting after the 12th shot. The chaser was Holsten Pils. I was 25 or 26 at the time.

[jjotto]

I believe classic arak from the North Africa and the Middle East is made from grapes and anise only while ouzo also includes grains and some other spices. Arak apparently dates to the 12th century.

[DoodleBob]

If you go near Athens, the place to go allegedly is Brettos in a section called the Plaka. They make their own ouzo which is supposedly the best.

[married21]

Likely so. Thanks for that info.

[Alas Babylon!]

Probably not yet opened when I was last in Greece, circa 1992 or so...