We recently hosted our monthly “Booze Group” and held a tasting of licorice alcohol, paired with Greek food. The most commonly known licorice-tasting drinks are Ouzo, Sambuca, Pastis, Pernod and Absinthe. Others include Arak, Anisette/Anis, Raki, Aguardiente and Xtabentun. Read on for details of the anise-flavored booze we tasted, and the menu.
Licorice Alcohol
Almost every region offers an anise-flavored alcoholic beverage. The licorice flavor usually comes from anise or star anise. Anise is a plant with long stems and white flowers, and star anise is a fruit from a tree related to the magnolia family. We contributed Pernod Paris (France), and Ouzo Metaxa (Greece) to the tasting. The other two couples brought Absente Absinthe Refined (France) and Yeni Raki (Turkey). First, we sipped them, next we added ice to them, and finally we crafted co*cktails. Each featured unique flavors, and subsequently the group liked all of them.
Absente Absinthe Refined (France)
Absente crafts Absinthe Refined in southeastern France. This is 110 proof, using high-quality artisanal distillation methods and ingredients. The recipe includes the botanical wormwood, the key ingredient of an authentic absinthe recipe. Consumers have always known that wormwood contains digestive and antiseptic properties. However, In the mid-19th century, people started to use it for its supposed hallucinogenic effects, caused by the thujone (naturally present in the herb). As a result, it was banned in 1912. Almost a century later, in 1999, this recipe became the first absinthe containing thujone available in the U.S. since the ban. On the other hand, Absente limits the thujone level to 10mg per liter.
Mey Yeni Raki (Turkey)
Mey Yeni Raki is the world’s most produced and popular raki. Yeni Raki features an intense anise scent and characteristic taste, containing 20 different grapes from Turkey within its ingredients. Moreover, their anise comes only from the Western Anatolian Regions. In production since 1944, it is also one of the oldest raki brands in Turkey. Mey double distills Yeni Raki in traditional copper flasks. They do not add other extracts or herbs, which isn’t always the case in other aniseed spirits.
Pernod Paris (France)
The oldest anise liqueur in France, Pernod Ricard makes this brand from distillates of star anise, fennel and 14 other botanicals such as coriander and mint. The original version also included wormwood and was produced as absinthe since1805. Today’s Pernod began in 1938, although the company released a reformulated absinthe-based on the original recipe in 2005. Now established in over 110 countries, Pernod Paris is renowned for its subtle flavors. It has a low licorice content, which consequently sets it apart from pastis.
Ouzo Metaxa (Greece)
I initially tasted this Ouzo by Metaxa when I was in Greece many years ago. Not surprisingly, Ouzo is a classic Greek alcoholic beverage. In the early 1900s, the Metaxa distillery in Piraeus created many alcoholic drinks, including the popular Ouzo. These days, it’s the number-one selling Ouzo in the US, with a clean, crisp anise taste. Metaxa makes it from a precise combination of Tsipoura (pressed grapes) and select herbs and berries including aniseed, licorice, mint, wintergreen, fennel and hazelnut. Master distillers at the House of Metaxa handed down Its unique recipe for generations.
Menu to Pair with Licorice Alcohol
Here is the menu served at our Booze Group event. First, we sipped our drinks with appetizers, next came dinner and dessert.
Appetizers: Shrimp Santorini and Pita/Hummus
Dinner: Greek salad, BBQ Flank steak and Potatoes Zorba
Dessert: Tiger Tail (Licorice ice cream with Orange sherbet)
Summary: Licorice Alcohol
In conclusion, we love licorice-flavored beverages. And there are so many to choose from. They pair well with certain food flavors, but also are tasty enough to enjoy as an aperitif or digestif. We will not have any difficulties finishing our contributions to this group event.
Meanwhile, find us on Instagram,FacebookandTwitter. And of course, here, atWrite for Wine– It’s Wine O’Clock Somewhere.
Cheers!
Margot and Dave
FAQs
You've likely heard the rhymes before. Wine before liquor, never sicker. Beer before wine, and you'll feel fine. Liquor before beer, you're in the clear.
What is the alcohol that tastes like licorice? ›
The most commonly known licorice-tasting drinks are Ouzo, Sambuca, Pastis, Pernod and Absinthe. Others include Arak, Anisette/Anis, Raki, Aguardiente and Xtabentun.
What is the saying about wine and liquor? ›
The saying “wine before liquor, never sicker” comes down to whether mixing these drinks causes worse hangovers. And the answer is, the mixing of the two drinks is not the problem. Ultimately, the amount of alcohol you're drinking is all that matters.
What is the Greek liquor that tastes like licorice? ›
Ouzo is made with grape or grain and is distilled with anise, fennel, and other herbs. This black licorice-flavored drink is usually served alongside appetizers such as cheese, dips, or olives. The proper way to enjoy ouzo is chilled and diluted with water.
Where in the Bible does it say to drink little alcohol? ›
1 Timothy 5:23-25 King James Version (KJV)
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
What is the beer and wine rhyme? ›
According to this saying, the order that you consume your alcoholic drinks matters (the complete phrase is: 'beer before wine and you'll feel fine; wine before beer and you'll feel queer'). But every hangover has the same culprit: alcohol.
Why is absinthe illegal? ›
Because of its popularity, the Temperance League lobbied against absinthe due to the high rate of alcohol related crime and false claims that it made you hallucinate or “go crazy” (which it did not). Absinthe was banned in most of Europe between 1905 and 1910, and the United States followed in 1912.
What is the Italian drink that tastes like licorice? ›
Sambuca (Italian: [samˈbuːka]) is an Italian anise-flavoured liqueur. Its most common variety is often referred to as "white sambuca" to differentiate it from other varieties that are deep blue ("black sambuca") or bright red ("red sambuca").
Can I drink licorice tea everyday? ›
Excessive consumption of liquorice can cause hypertension and hypokalaemia, which may lead to cardiac arrhythmias and myopathy.
What is a classy quote about wine? ›
“Wine cheers the sad, revives the old, inspires the young, and makes weariness forget his toil.” “I love everything old—old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine.” “Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized.” “Wine is bottled poetry.”
Galatians 5:19–21: "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: ... drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." Ephesians 5:18: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.
What is a famous quote about alcohol? ›
25 Drinking Captions and Puns for Instagram
- "Sip happens, but wine helps."
- "Just brew it."
- "You're brew-tiful, let's drink."
- "You had me at merlot."
- "It's wine o'clock somewhere."
- "Let's raise a toast to the coast."
- "I'm not drunk, I'm just grape at puns."
- "Wine a little, laugh a lot."
Ouzo is a clear liquid. However, when water or ice is added, ouzo turns a milky-white colour. This is because anethole, the essential oil of anise, is completely soluble in alcohol at approximately 38% ABV and above, but not in water.
What alcoholic drink tastes like licorice? ›
Because ouzo is made primarily with anise, the drink tastes very similar to black licorice. Many people compare it to sambuca, an anise-flavored alcohol from Italy. Ouzo has also been described as “fiery,” not because it is spicy but because it wakes up the back of your palate.
What is the Mexican liquor that tastes like licorice? ›
Xtabentún (Spanish pronunciation: [(i)ʃtaβenˈtun]) is an anise liqueur made in Mexico's Yucatán region from anise seed and fermented honey produced by honey bees from the nectar of xtabentún flowers. Rum is then added to the anise and honey mixture.
What is the rhyming slang for alcohol? ›
London co*ckney rhyming slang about beer
That's why “pig's ear” and “King Lear” are two of the most popular words for beer. When ordering half a pint of beer, you can use the phrase “cow's half” and, once it gets you pissed, aka drunk, you can refer to the state you're in as “Brahms and Liszt” or “elephant's trunk”.
What is the liquor saying? ›
It's based on the sayings “liquor before beer, you're in the clear; beer before liquor, never sicker.” Drinkers want to know which statement is “true,” and some swear from their personal experiences that one or the other works for them.
What is the memory verse for alcohol? ›
Isaiah 5:22 - Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink, 1 Corinthians 10:31 - Therefore, whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
What is the saying a drunk mind speaks a sober heart? ›
“A drunk mind speaks a sober heart” is a saying often attributed to French Enlightenment philosopher Jean-Jaques Rousseau, himself quite a drunk. The idea is that when we are drunk we lose our inhibitions and allow ourselves to verbalize our true thoughts and feelings, bringing our true personality traits to light.
We recently hosted our monthly “Booze Group” and held a tasting of licorice alcohol, paired with Greek food. The most commonly known licorice-tasting drinks are Ouzo, Sambuca, Pastis, Pernod and Absinthe. Others include Arak, Anisette/Anis, Raki, Aguardiente and Xtabentun. Read on for details of the anise-flavored booze we tasted, and the menu.
Almost every region offers an anise-flavored alcoholic beverage. The licorice flavor usually comes from anise or star anise. Anise is a plant with long stems and white flowers, and star anise is a fruit from a tree related to the magnolia family. We contributed Pernod Paris (France), and Ouzo Metaxa (Greece) to the tasting. The other two couples brought Absente Absinthe Refined (France) and Yeni Raki (Turkey). First, we sipped them, next we added ice to them, and finally we crafted co*cktails. Each featured unique flavors, and subsequently the group liked all of them.
Absente crafts Absinthe Refined in southeastern France. This is 110 proof, using high-quality artisanal distillation methods and ingredients. The recipe includes the botanical wormwood, the key ingredient of an authentic absinthe recipe. Consumers have always known that wormwood contains digestive and antiseptic properties. However, In the mid-19th century, people started to use it for its supposed hallucinogenic effects, caused by the thujone (naturally present in the herb). As a result, it was banned in 1912. Almost a century later, in 1999, this recipe became the first absinthe containing thujone available in the U.S. since the ban. On the other hand, Absente limits the thujone level to 10mg per liter.
Mey Yeni Raki is the world’s most produced and popular raki. Yeni Raki features an intense anise scent and characteristic taste, containing 20 different grapes from Turkey within its ingredients. Moreover, their anise comes only from the Western Anatolian Regions. In production since 1944, it is also one of the oldest raki brands in Turkey. Mey double distills Yeni Raki in traditional copper flasks. They do not add other extracts or herbs, which isn’t always the case in other aniseed spirits.
The oldest anise liqueur in France, Pernod Ricard makes this brand from distillates of star anise, fennel and 14 other botanicals such as coriander and mint. The original version also included wormwood and was produced as absinthe since1805. Today’s Pernod began in 1938, although the company released a reformulated absinthe-based on the original recipe in 2005. Now established in over 110 countries, Pernod Paris is renowned for its subtle flavors. It has a low licorice content, which consequently sets it apart from pastis.
I initially tasted this Ouzo by Metaxa when I was in Greece many years ago. Not surprisingly, Ouzo is a classic Greek alcoholic beverage. In the early 1900s, the Metaxa distillery in Piraeus created many alcoholic drinks, including the popular Ouzo. These days, it’s the number-one selling Ouzo in the US, with a clean, crisp anise taste. Metaxa makes it from a precise combination of Tsipoura (pressed grapes) and select herbs and berries including aniseed, licorice, mint, wintergreen, fennel and hazelnut. Master distillers at the House of Metaxa handed down Its unique recipe for generations.