rakí

A clear grape-based aniseed-flavoured spirit, similar to ouzo but often stronger, drunk across the former Ottoman empire (after all, the rationing was, the Prophet had banned wine, but he never mentioned distilled spirits...). It's still the national drink of Turkey. Atäturk was a big fan.

Cretan tsikoudiá, which isn’t aniseed flavoured, is usually called rakí. It’s made after the wine making, when the moesta (the skins etc of the grapes) has fermented for 6 weeks. Almost every wine-making village has its own kazani or raki distillery that operate from around mid October until Christmas.

It’s the occasion for a party; friends and family arrive with their barrels of moesta and at night grill meat, play music and sing and drink the rakí hot, fresh from the still.