Ouzo is a Greek alcoholic beverage made from grape and anise. It has a typical strength of 40-50% ABV and is known for turning cloudy white when water is added.
How it is made
Ouzo is produced by distilling a mixture of ethyl alcohol with various aromatic herbs, with anise always being present. By law, at least 20% must come from grape distillation, though some varieties contain a higher percentage. The distillation occurs in copper stills, followed by fermentation of the mixture.
History
The name 'ouzo' comes from the Turkish word üzüm, meaning 'grape cluster' or 'grape infusion'. Similar anisette spirits are found throughout the Mediterranean. The name was officially registered as Greek in 1989, meaning only Greece can produce and label the spirit as ouzo.
How it is served
Ouzo is typically served as an aperitif in small, narrow glasses of 50-100ml. A small amount of cold water with ice is added, causing the drink to turn cloudy white due to the anise oils precipitating out of the alcohol. It is rarely accompanied by food, though some Greeks enjoy it with pastries, octopus, or salads. On this site, it appears in the Zorbatini cocktail.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Узо (напиток), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.