Very Rare, Tetteris Distillery, Island of Chios, 1958, First Mastiha Liqueur Worldwide, 650 grams

In 1955, the Tetteris Distillery in Chios became the first in the world to distill mastic liqueur.

The family’s distilling tradition dates back to 1846 when Stylianos Tetteris first crafted Ouzo Tetteris for personal use. His passion for anise distillation soon led to wider recognition, and he eventually turned it into a professional endeavor.

In 1910, following Chios’ liberation, Ioannis Tetteris (2nd generation) officially established the family’s first licensed distillery. Since then, ouzo production has continued uninterrupted, earning a reputation for high-quality anise distillates.

The third generation, led by Eleftherios Tetteris (a 1954 Oenology graduate from Dijon, France) and his brother Stylianos, pioneered ouzo bottling in Chios. They also introduced traditional liqueurs, including mastic, marking the first-ever production of mastic liqueur.

Mastika (or mastiha) is a sweet liqueur flavored with mastic resin, which has a distinct pine-like or herbal taste. This resin, sourced from the mastic tree native to the Mediterranean, is collected and distilled into a crystalized form. In Greece, mastiha liqueur from Chios is traditionally enjoyed after meals and is believed to aid digestion due to its reputed medicinal properties.