Katsaros Tirnavou Tsipouro

Nose: Gentle ethanol sweetness with faint grape pomace aromas. A subtle earthy scent, somewhat like fennel. As it sits, the nose becomes sweeter, reminiscent of acacia honey. Palate: Sweet ethanol upon tasting. It's clean, similar to vodka but with an elusive floral/fruit quality instead of vodka's characteristic near-vanilla taste. The texture is neutral, leaning slightly oily. Finish: Brief. A faint fruity sweetness in the aftertaste. This resembles grappa, but is more neutral, like a mix of grappa or grape eau-de-vie and quality potato vodka. It surpasses any raki or arak I've tried. While pleasant neat, I preferred it very chilled and on the rocks. It also serves as a nice mixer, pairing exceptionally well with cola. Katsaros also offers a version with a light anise flavor and a standard ouzo. 'Good': 83/100 (3.5 stars)