Chios mastiha and Rakomelo are between ta 50 Best Rated LIQUEURS in the World! Read the List of TasteAtlas below:
Rakomelo
Rakomelo is a Cretan drink that combines honey and tsikoudia, a clear Cretan spirit that is sometimes referred to as raki, though it is not anise-flavored like the namesake Turkish spirit. The drink is often flavored with herbs and spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, or cloves.
It is frequently prepared at home by combining warm spirit and honey, but commercially produced versions are also available. Rakomelo is sometimes served warm, usually as a soothing winter drink or a health remedy, while the well-chilled variety is mainly enjoyed neat or with ice, preferably as an aperitif or a digestif.
It is believed that it dates back to the 12th century and its origin is mainly associated with Crete, though some sources list the Cyclades as its original location, primarily the island of Amorgos.
Chios mastiha
Chios mastiha is a Greek liqueur that is made with Masticha Chiou—a resinous sap of the Schinias tree. Although Schinias is found in other Mediterranean countries, the plant only produces resin on Chios, presumably because of the island’s unique microclimate.
The liqueur is made by macerating Chios mastic or Chios mastic oil in grain spirit or distilling it with alcohol. The combination is then diluted with water and sweetened before it is bottled. Chios mastika must have a minimum of 15% ABV. The process results in a clear and subtly sweet spirit with fresh notes of pine, anise, herbs, and citrus fruit.
The drink is usually enjoyed neat or on the rocks, occasionally with a squeeze of lemon or mixed with other fruit juices. Recently, it has also become a popular and versatile cocktail ingredient. In Greece, it mostly enjoyed as an aperitif or a digestif, and it is often accompanied by various meze dishes.
