FOS Greek Mastiha Liqueur provided by brand representatives. All photos, recipes, and opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.

Mastiha liqueur is made from resin droplets from the Mastiha tree. Mastiha trees are only found on the island of Chios, Greece. The tree resembles a small evergreen shrub. It is also known as a “lentisk.”

Resin droplets form on the tree trunk and its branch tips. These “Mastiha tears” are harvested by making a small incision along the tree trunk using a small iron tool called a kentitiri, similar to a small hammer. This is a delicate and painstaking task.

The tears seep from the cut bark and form translucent crystals as they dry in the natural sunlight. These crystalized tears are gathered and meticulously cleaned with olive oil soap and rainwater. Then the prepared crystals undergo an aging and distillation process. Once processed, a recipe of special ingredients is added to become Mastiha liqueur.

FOS Mastiha Liqueur Tasting Notes

“FOS Mastiha liqueur is a clear spirit with a unique sweet taste – a full range of herbal tones and tree essences, which are beautifully pronounced when served chilled in a shot glass.” – quoted from FOS marketing materials

This liqueur is 28% alcohol by volume.

Recommended storage: cool shaded place

Aroma: The aroma came across as bitter, grassy and woody with some herbal and moss notes.

Taste: This liqueur is super sweet with strong herbal notes. It is herbal, but does not lie toward the bitter side of herbal. It is definitely unique in flavor. I notice some resemblance to gin in that there are predominant fir tree or juniper notes. For lack of anything better to compare this with, I would liken Mastiha liqueur to what sharp sweetened gin liqueur might taste like. The finish is long and sweetened with a hint of drying on the back end.

FOS Mastiha Liqueur can be served chilled in a shot or better yet, let’s try this in a cocktail.

Mastic Grapefruit Drink Recipe

This is a lightly sweetened cocktail. Bitter notes from gin, Aperol and grapefruit soften the liqueur’s sweetness. Even so, the distinct flavor of the Greek liqueur definitely comes across while sipping. Mastic Grapefruit makes a nice spring to summer cocktail.

Mastic Grapefruit – recipe by Cheri Loughlin

1 ounce Gin

1/2 ounce FOS Greek Mastiha Liqueur

1/4 ounce Aperol

1 ounce Fresh Grapefruit Juice

2 ounces Club Soda

Grapefruit Wedge

Place ice in a large rocks glass. Add liquid ingredients in the order given, topping it off with the club soda. Stir briefly. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

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All content ©2016 Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist. All Rights Reserved. Chat with Cheri @Intoxicologist on Twitter and facebook.com/Intoxicologist

Cheri Loughlin is the Omaha writer and photographer behind www.intoxicologist.net and author of Cocktails with a Tryst: An Affair with Mixology and Seduction. You can email Cheri with comments and questions at str8upcocktails@gmail.com.