Ouzo: Beginners Guide (rewrite) (Other Spirits in general)

Member Name: janharper

Product:	Other Spirits in general
Date:	08/06/01 (151 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: strong

Disadvantages: expensive in UK

I just like drinking Ouzo, but I did learn a bit about the 'proper' way to do it!. On a recent holiday to Cyprus I drank this at every opportunity.

It's a Greek spirit which is generally around 40% proof. It tastes very strongly of aniseed and makes your eyes water if you try to drink it neat.

Cypriot friends assured me that Ouzo is excellent for sore throats, coughs and stomach upsets. I could believe that as it is quite soothing once the initial burning goes away!

The object of drinking Ouzo, for the Greeks, anyway, is not to get drunk but to get so totally relaxed that nothing matters anymore, to dance, to sing, and just to be happy. Who can possibly be that happy if they can't stand up, feel very sick and have their head in their hands?

I spotted a 70cl bpttle of this in Tesco. It was priced at £10.80 which shocked me. I paid just £1.85 for the same sized bottle in Cyprus. Somebody somewhere is making a huge profit on this. Surely it isn't all tax!

I walked away in disgust as I really felt that I would have ripped off if I had paid that price. I will probably pay for it eventually but at the moment I refuse to pay over the odds.

For those of you who perhaps aren't so 'tight' with their cash there are several ways to enjoy this drink.

Try it with water which is the traditional way to drink it. It turns milky but if you add a few drops of vodka it goes clear again. I don't recommend that you do this! It was just by way of information.

You can drink it with orange juice, or lemonade. There are probably lots of other ways to do it and things to mix it with but these are my favourites.

This drink is very potent and the Greeks say that if you get drunk on Ouzo you will be drunk for three days. Every time you drink some water it starts the Ouzo off again. I'm not telling you whether I think that's true, or not!

The best Ouzo is said to c
ome from Lesvos, in Greece. The most popular one being Mitilini.

The proper way to drink Ouzo is to drink it slowly with mezedes which are little plates of food, or snacks (octopus and things like that!). This way you relax and let the world float over you without feeling the effects of the alcohol too much. Life gradually becauses beautiful and all is fine with the world. (A very Greek way of doing things, particularly in the villages and among the Cypriot Greeks.)

There are many different kinds of Ouzo to choose from, although you won't get this selection in UK. (Unfortunately you will probably have to take whatever brand the shop has, or do without!)


However, when in Greece or Cyprus choose between these:

Ouzo Mini: Smooth and soft tasting. 40% proof

Ouzo Kefi: This is what you are likely to get in Tavernas and Kefis if you just ask for Ouzo.

Barbayannis: Most famous Ouzo. 46% proof...strong!

Plomari by Arvanitis: No other Ouzo comes in a corked bottle. All the others have screw caps.

There are other Ouzos available locally in different Greek towns like Kronos. EPOM is about the largest company making this spirit. (It's this one that I've seen on sale in UK).


If you do by chance meet someone who distills their own Ouzo take care! This stuff is very strong, its effects will hit you like a hammer, and you just don't know what it might do. It won't have the aniseed taste of commercially produced stuff but you might enjoy a glass. It isn't really Ouzo, more like Raki. (Don't have too many! I speak from experience...three was far too many for me!

Now I've written all that I really wish I hadn't been such a skinflint. I could just do with a large Ouzo and water. Maybe I'll buy it tomorrow.

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