Mastiha

From the Greek island of Chios, this is an... unusual beverage. From the land that brought us retsina, here is an anise-flavoured spirit "seasoned" with the resin from the mastic tree. Yes, that mastic, the original chewing gum. Gnash, gnash. But not this item from Myskinos, not chewy. Instead, a bewildering mish-mash of evergreens, turpentine, lime peels, and sweet anise. Oddly soapy taste too. Perhaps not coincidentally, mastic is use in soap-making, amongst other non-digestibles. Strange, strange, strange. Needs a generous dose of ice to louche. Requires an even more generous dose of water in order to enjoy. If it were up to me (and it is), I'd only have it as a digestif. Not entirely sure it'd be the last thing past my lips of an evening though.