On the occasion of the recently released list of the World’s 50 Best Bars, let’s take a look at the leading Greek Bartending scene and Greek spirits that top exports today.
Within the last ten years, the Greek Bartending scene is moving constantly up, producing excellent talents that stand out in international events and competitions, and therefore great bars that become destinations for people interested in the sprits industry -and not limited to them. To their aid, excellent quality Greek spirits aflood and start dominating the Greek market, and make a strong statement abroad, in every market they enter. Gin, perhaps the most famous spirit among cocktail lovers, is becoming an area of expertise for many Greek companies. Four of the currently most celebrated ones lead the way:
Grace Gin
Grace Gin is the shared vision of three women, two second generation distillers and a spirited woman with extensive knowledge and experience in the drinks industry. The Three Graces have researched and experimented with recipes for more than a year to decide on the 13 different botanicals and the extraction processes.
The product is hand crafted aspect, which emphasizes the process of the ingredients’ selection and how the distiller blends them, to flavour the neutral grain spirit.
Grace Gin has won 18 international awards and distinctions to date, and it is exported to USA, Australia, Switzerland, England, Germany and Cyprus.
Mataroa Mediterranean Dry Gin
Mataroa Mediterranean Dry Gin is a sensory voyage along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. Distilled and bottled in Greece, Mataroa Gin uses precious ingredients from the countries of the Mediterranean to make a unique blend, befitting the centennial know-how of the Melissanidi Distillery that produces it. Twelve unique botanicals, herbs and spices make up the ingredient list. The tests of its secret recipe lasted more than 4 years, and the final result will undoubtedly get the credit of the most demanding gin lovers.
As for the results that the Mediterranean vibes create, the numbers speak for themselves: within 4 years of its launch, Mataroa MDG already exports in 17 countries. Meanwhile, the second member of the Mataroa family, Mataroa Pink, launched in November 2020, already has its own fans thanks to its distinctive taste. Last, but not least, the upcoming launch of Mataroa Happy is expected to stir things up in the spirits business in Greece and abroad.
Old Sport Dry Gin
Handcrafted with passion, a gentle and adventurous gin, mildly complex and fresh, selectively distilled with wild Juniper Berries, Angelica Root, Rosemary, Cardamom Seeds, Cinnamon Bark, Nutmeg, Orris Root, Licorice Root, Lemon Peel, Bitter Orange Peel, Coriander Seeds and Mastiha resin of the native Mastic trees on Chios island. This crisp, fresh, yet gentle in alcohol notes gin has a great finish and it is ideal for the most complex gin cocktails. Old Sport is a Callicounis Distillery product, Callicounis being the oldest family-owned distillery in Greece, having been in the hands of one lineage since 1850. When the founder, George Callicounis, first created his distillates, he combined chemistry with an innate knowledge of aromatic plants, roots, and fruits from the vast vegetation of Messinia (Peloponnese region, Greece). The subtle tastes and flavours of Callicounis’ original recipes have been passed down the generations, along with his craftsmanship and expertise.
Votanikon
Votanikon is a gin with special taste complexity, which highlights the botanical heritage of Greece. Created from a combination of 20 aromatic herbs such as mountain tea from Olympus, basil and dittany from Crete, juniper from the mountains of Macedonia, Kozani saffron, Chios mastic, citrus and chamomile from the Peloponnese, oregano from Mani and sage from Amorgos. Incredibly soft on the palate, with a rich, impressive volume.
About the 50 Best Bars 2023
Sips in Barcelona, Spain is the Best Bar in the world, according to this year’s 50 Best Bars ranking, with New York’s Double Chicken Please and Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy rounding out the top three. Among the top 50 bars in the world there are also three Greek ones, in Athens.
- Line (12th place)
- Baba au Rum (25th place)
- The Clumsies (47th place)
The 2023 distinctions
This year’s 15th edition of the famous catalogue includes bars from 28 cities, with 11 new entries. This is the second year in a row that a Barcelona bar has claimed the crown, as Sips rose to the top spot from number 3 last year.
The List
- Sips, Barcelona – The Best Bar in Europe
- Double Chicken Please, New York – The Best Bar in North America
- Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
- Paradiso, Barcelona
- Connaught Bar, London
- Little Red Door, Paris
- Licorería Limantour, Mexico City
- Tayēr + Elementary, London
- Alquímico, Cartagena, Colombia – The Best Bar in South America
- Himkok, Oslo
- Tres Monos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Line, Athens, Greece
- BKK Social Club, Bangkok- The Best Bar in Asia
- Jigger & Pony, Singapore
- Maybe Sammy, Sidney – The Best Bar in Austalasia
- Salmon Guru, Madrid
- Overstory, New York
- Zest, Seoul – Highest New Entry
- Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, Bangkok – New Entry
- Coa, Hong Kong
- Drink Kong, Rome
- Hanky Panky, Mexico City
- Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne, Australia – New Entry
- Café La Trova, Miami
- Baba au Rum, Athens
- CoChinChina, Buenos Aires
- Katana Kitten, New York
- Satan’s Whiskers, London
- Wax On, Berlin – New Entry
- Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires
- Röda Huset, Stockholm – New Entry
- Sago House, Singapore – New Entry
- Freni e Frizioni, Rome – New Entry
- Argo, Hong Kong
- A Bar With Shapes For A Name, London
- The SG Club, Tokyo – Re-entry from Νο 18 in 2021
- Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
- The Cambridge Public House, Paris – New Entry
- Panda & Sons, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Mimi Kakushi, Dubai, UAE – New Entry, The Best Bar in Middle East and Africa
- Scarfes Bar, London – New Entry
- 1930, Milan
- Carnaval, Lima, Peru
- L’Antiquario, Naples, Italy
- Baltra Bar, Mexico City
- Locale Firenze, Florence, Italy
- The Clumsies, Athens
- Atlas, Singapore – Re-entry from Νο 16 in 2021
- Jewel Of The South, New Orleans – New Entry
- Galaxy Bar, Dubai
