Opa! The Greeks make an art form and a social event out of drinking ouzo. They consider who you drink with as important as how you drink and where you drink. When and Greece, you will notice that there are always two watering holes in every town no matter how small the town is. Each of these two watering holes flies a different flag to let you know how they lean politically. Doing this makes for a more pleasant drinking experience for every one because it is easy to avoid political arguments.
Another thing the Greeks do when drinking ouzo is make sure to eat. There is even a traditional appetizer selection called mezedes that is customarily served with ouzo in Greece. The purpose of the mezedes is to allow you to sit and drink for hours on end. When great people drink ouzo, it is a social occasion. Eating while drinking ouzo helps keep you on an even keel while imbibing this strong drink.
Ouzo is a drink that takes some getting used to! It has a strong licorice flavor, and people who don’t enjoy licorice have a hard time enjoying ouzo. Many people ask if its flavor is similar to anise, and the answer is yes. Some people think it is even stronger in flavor. Not only is it strongly flavored like licorice, it has a high alcohol content. Because of this you should drink ouzo carefully and in moderation.
Another little-known custom in Greece is to drink your ouzo with water. Since the drinking of ouzo is a social custom, the Greeks do a lot to make the experience last. You can tell when you’re drinking ouzo with the proper amount of water, because it makes the ouzo turn a milky white when it is added. In Greece the men who drink ouzo will keep adding water to their glass the entire time they are in the café.
Ouzo is not distilled in the traditional sense. There are two ways to make ouzo, cooking it and mixing it. Because cooking it acts as a kind of distillation, ouzo that is cooked is labeled as distilled. Most ouzo is made by a local ouzo maker. It is not uncommon for each town, and sometimes each café, to have their own brand. As a general rule, cooked ouzos are preferred over mixed.
In 2006 Greece won the right in court for exclusive use of the word ouzo. People in other countries who make ouzo must now label it “Greek style ouzo”. This is helpful to people who want to buy ouzo, as it lets you know immediately with product was authentically made in Greece. If you can buy the new label with the knowledge that cooked ouzo tastes better, you stand an excellent chance of buying the best product every time.
Interestingly, if you travel to Greece you will discover that no two kinds of ouzo taste the same. Because each family, café and company who makes ouzo does so with their own recipe, every batch tastes different. Ouzo has a long history in Greece. Similar to moonshine here in the United States, ouzo recipes are often a source of family pride and income. Exporting ouzo has done a lot to improve the economy of many towns in Greece.
If you want to make a Greek sweat, let him see you drink your ouzo on the rocks or mixed with soda. When served too cold, the taste of ouzo is ruined. When served with carbonated water, the carbonation will ruin the texture. The only way to drink ouzo and enjoy it fully is to mix it with water just under room temperature or slightly cool, or drink it neat. So drink your ouzo like a real Greek, mixed with water and served with mezades!