Ouzo, The Spirit of the Greek Summer

Greek Reporter ^ | May 23, 2023 | Tasos Kokkinidis

[DoodleBob]

The anise-flavored drink Ouzo is deeply connected with the nation of Greece. It is simply the spirit of Greek summer which no one can copy.

It’s probably the most social drink ever distilled. Those who share this particular flavor, come closer and speak more easily. Ouzo is the drink of companionship and confession.

Ouzo drinking is an art. Or maybe it’s a way of life, says Matt Barrett, an American who writes about Greece. However, it’s not the ouzo but rather who you drink it with that really makes the experience, he adds.

A unique Mediterranean experience

When Greeks say “Let’s go for a little ouzo,” this is not only an important social invitation but also a culinary pleasure that is rarely turned down.

Ouzo conjures up many images but the most common one is a picture of sitting at a seaside taverna as the summertime sun is glowing red and setting over the Aegean Sea.

...

But the most popular of all is definitely the island of Lesvos, with the ouzo from Plomari being the best example.

Its production demands special skills; part of it is produced by the distillation of the skins of grapes after wine is produced, but a larger part is water flavored with various aromatic herbs of which aniseed prevails.

In Greece, ouzo is popular during Lent (Sarakosti), and of course throughout the summer.

Literary scholars believe the name ouzo originated from the ancient Greek verb “to smell,” or “ozo.” However, romantics prefer to think it comes from the phrase “Ou zo,” or “Without this I can’t live.”

[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...