Ouzo 12

Ouzo is traditionally served at room temperature in a tall narrow glass with a small glass of cold water on the side. Adding cold water to the ouzo causes the anise oils to come out of solution, turning the spirit a characteristic milky white in a process called the ouzo effect or louche. This is the correct Greek serve and the most revealing format for appreciating the full anise, liquorice, herbs, and citrus botanical character of the spirit.

On the nose: dominant anise and liquorice, with secondary herbal notes including fennel, mint, and dried citrus. On the palate: sweet anise with a warming herbal complexity and a slight bitterness from mastic resin in some expressions. The finish is long with persistent liquorice and anise notes. Adding cold water produces the louche effect and significantly softens the intensity while releasing additional aromatic complexity. Neat at full strength it is intensely aromatic; diluted it is more approachable and sessionable.

Ouzo is a Greek anise flavoured spirit with Protected Geographical Indication status, produced exclusively in Greece and Cyprus. It is made by distilling a grape based pomace spirit, tsipouro, with a botanical selection in which anise must be the dominant flavour, supplemented by optional botanicals including fennel, liquorice, coriander, and mastic. It must be bottled at a minimum of 37.5% ABV. Greece produces over 200 commercial ouzo brands, with Plomari and Barbayannis among the most internationally recognised.

Ouzo is made from a neutral spirit base distilled from grape pomace or grains, which is then redistilled in copper pot stills with botanicals in which anise must be the primary flavour. Additional botanicals may include fennel seed, liquorice root, coriander, cardamom, ginger, and mastic, a resin from the mastic tree native to the Greek island of Chios. The addition of mastic is a distinguishing feature of some premium expressions. Sugar and water are added before bottling to achieve the target ABV.

You can order Ouzo online here at Celtic Whiskey Shop with nationwide delivery across Ireland and international shipping available. We stock a selection of Greek ouzo expressions including Plomari and Barbayannis. Prefer to browse in person? Visit us at 27 28 Dawson Street, Dublin 2, open 7 days. Our team will help you navigate the full range of anise spirits and Mediterranean liqueurs.