There’s something about that first sip of ouzo that feels like a promise. It’s the taste of the Greek seas, the laughter echoing through whitewashed alleyways, the lazy afternoons stretching out like a cat in the sun. Greek summer doesn’t start with the calendar. It starts with the clink of a glass filled with ice and the sweet scent of anise floating in the air.
Ouzo isn’t just a drink — it’s a ritual. It’s seafood meze, olives, and tomatoes sprinkled with sea salt. It’s barefoot dinners by the shore, with the sky painted in shades of orange and pink, and the breeze carrying hints of thyme. There’s no rush. You drink, you talk, you live.
Every Greek has a story that begins with ouzo. It’s what your uncle drinks when he talks about the island he left as a child. It’s what you share with a stranger who somehow becomes a friend. At first, it burns just a little — and then it melts away, like the sun dipping behind the mountains.
Wherever you find yourself in Greece this summer, don’t hurry. Find a shady taverna, order an ouzo, and let the Mediterranean teach you the art of slowing down. Summer will be waiting — in every sip. And yes, tsipouro has earned its loyal following: strong, fiery, raw. But ouzo? Ouzo is poetry in a glass. It’s summer, sea, and soul — all wrapped in the scent of anise…
P.S. A sip of ouzo is meant to bring joy, not excess. Drink gently, drink wisely — and never behind the wheel. The best summers are the ones we remember clearly...
