The sun was sinking into the Aegean, stretching the sky into impossible shades of fire and peach, the air thick with salt and the slow-burning warmth of a day spent doing nothing. The tavern clung to the hillside, its whitewashed walls kissed golden by the last light, vines heavy with bougainvillea spilling over its edges like laughter.
The table was set with simplicity—linen soft with years of sun, a dish of olives wrinkled from the heat, a bowl of pistachios cracked open with careless fingers. But the glass—tall, sweating, filled with something pale as honeyed light—was the only thing that mattered.
A Mastiha Spritz.
It tasted like the islands themselves. Mastiha, the resin of ancient trees on Chios, carried the scent of pine and sun-warmed earth, of myths whispered through olive groves, of something both untamed and deliberate. The bubbles rose slow, effervescent against the citrus bite of lemon, the crisp embrace of dry white wine. It was cooling and bright, the sweetness stretching long before fading into something herbal, something meant to be chased by another sip.
Waves lapped at the cliffs below. The wind carried the scent of thyme from somewhere unseen.
Across the table, she smiled—lazy, knowing, the kind of smile only ever exchanged in places where time moves differently.
The sky darkened. The lights of fishing boats flickered along the horizon, winking like secrets.
I lifted my glass again, knowing this was the kind of drink—the kind of moment—that could never follow me home.
What Is Mastiha?
Mastiha, also called Chios Mastiha Μαστίχα Χίου, is a liqueur made from the distilled resin of the mastic shrub. The only flavoring in the drink comes from the mastic resin or oil and it has a bit of menthol attributes. In fact, ancient Greeks would chew on mastic resin as a breath freshener! Currently Mastiha is a protected DOP from Greece, since mastic is only grown on Chios.
How To Make A Mastiha Spritz
One of the best things about spritz cocktails is that they are so simple to make, and great to serve in large batches. This cocktail only has three (sometimes four) ingredients!
Ingredients
- 100 ml Mastiha Liqueur. A accessible brand for this is Skinos, but the best quality in my opinion is Stoupakis. I know 100 ml seems like a lot, but the liqueur is only about 15% so it isn’t very strong
- 15 ml Apple Juice. Sounds weird, but weirdly goes well with the liqueur.
- 150 ml Sparkling Wine
- Soda Water, optional.
You can build the mastiha spritz directly in a spritz glass. Just add ice and all the ingredients, give a quick single stir to combine, garnish with a dehydrated apple slice, and serve. The total ABV of this cocktail is around 10-13% depending on the strength of your wine, so they will creep up on you.
Mastiha Spritz
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Add all ingredients to a large wine goblet with ice. Give a quick singluar stir, garnish with a dehydrated apple slice, and enjoy!
Good
Lovely summer drink. Will make again.
I haven’t made this but it sounds fantastic. Will make next summer!
I’m Greek and never had mastiha like this before but this needs to be everywhere!