Drinks

Drinks are not all ouzo and retsina although these are popular with locals and tourists alike. Ouzo is a clear spirit made from vine stalks and flavoured with aniseed. Diluted with water it goes a milky colour. Sip with a plate of olives. Retsina is white wine flavoured with pine resin. Serve very chilled and if you find the resin flavour a little strong a drop of soda water turns it into a very refreshing spritzer. Greek wine has improved immeasurably in recent years and very palatable wines are now readily available. Most beer in Greece is of the lager style and is served very cold.

If you fancy something a little bit stronger, Koum Kouat is a liqueur specific to Corfu and is made from the small eponymous orange-like fruit. There are three types; one made only with the fruit, one with a blend of the fruit and its flowers and one from the flowers. Each has its own distinctive taste. The best known Greek brandy is Metaxa which is a little sweeter than French brandies. Try the 3-star when mixing (with sprite, coke, orange, ginger ale, soda or even tonic) or go more upmarket and choose the 5-star. For real connoisseurs the 7-star is very smooth.