Banging the drum for ouzo

Literature scholars believe the name ouzo to come from the ancient Greek verb "to smell," or "ozo." Romantics prefer to think it comes from the phrase "Ou zo," or "Without this I can't live." Others see its roots in the Turkish word for grape, "uzum," and others say it can be traced back to a story about a Turkish consulate doctor in Thessaly in the 18th century who tasted the local raki and cried out, "But this is uso di Marsiglia!" The phrase, meaning "for use in Marseilles," was at the time stamped on crates of silk worm cocoons exported from Thessaly to major merchants in the French port, and had become synonymous with any product of excellent quality.

All this fascinating information and more is available on the website, tsou.gr, an online temple to ouzo. Created by ouzo fan and collector of rare bottles of Greece's national drink, Haris Bekris, it aims to become a...

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