Product of: Italy

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Nardini Mistrà is an ouzo-like liqueur is based on Italian grain neutral alcohol and flavoured with star anise. Only a small amount of sugar is added and it is this product’s relative dryness and high alcohol strength which sets it apart from Sambucas. Best served over ice diluted with iced water.

Mistrà is flavoured with an infusion of star anise in neutral spirit and appropriately, the label depicts the flower of the anise plant. Nardini has produced Mistrà since the 1800s, but its origins are even older. Anise has long been used to flavour liqueurs and spirits, especially around the Mediterranean Basin, think Ouzo, Pastis, Anisette, Mastika and Rakı, all practically national drinks in their respective countries. Italian anise liquors such as Sambuca are collectively referred to as being ‘mistrà’, a name thought to derive from "Misithra", a Byzantine city near modern day Mystras (close to Sparti in the South of Greece), where the Venetians imported anise liquor from.

Traditionally drunk with iced water as a refreshing summer’s drink, when the water is added, Mistrà turns a cloudy white (louche) as the water dilutes, causing anise oils to drop out of suspension in the alcohol.

Review and Tasting

Sampled on 16/01/2014

Appearance:

Crystal clear.

Aroma:

Very aromatic star anise. Wonderfully clean.

Taste:

Dry and very strongly aniseed with black pepper spirit spice.

Aftertaste:

Dry, liquorice and star anise.