Let's get some Ouzo up in this piece.

December 5, 2007 9:43 AM

You ask a dude at the liquor store about wine, he's got opinions on maybe a hundred different varieties. Then the next lady has her own opinions about wine, and then they fight, and there is exciting vitality there, there is a big open world of fine beverage to explore. By contrast, you ask about Ouzo, and they say, "Well, I guess we got this one bottle right here." People, recommend me some Ouzo. Bonus points if you know where I can try a large variety of different Ouzos in the New York area.
posted by Greg Nog to food & drink (10 comments total)

The best place to find different varities of Ouzo go to some Greek stores, they are the ones without the dudes.
posted by bigmusic at 9:53 AM on December 5, 2007

It's not in NYC, but Zaytinya in DC has a good selection, of which I've had a few. I don't remember what was what, but their list may give you some guidance.
posted by MrMoonPie at 10:11 AM on December 5, 2007

One possibility from the Times.
posted by RogerB at 10:34 AM on December 5, 2007

Although Ouzo 12 is not bad, Ouzo Ploumari (plu-MAH-ree) is the best in my opinion.

The same company makes some other ouzos -- aged and what not, but that is like buying aged vodka in my opinion.
posted by hariya at 11:01 AM on December 5, 2007

Ploumari from a guide to ouzo.
posted by hariya at 11:04 AM on December 5, 2007

Ouzo Boutari is wonderful.
posted by evariste at 11:20 AM on December 5, 2007

Go to Grand Wine and Liquor in Astoria (right next to the N stop at 30th/Grand Ave). At least when I lived nearby, they had a stupendous selection of Greek wines and brandies and a number of different ouzos (can't give details, since I'm not an ouzo fan), as well they might, serving the biggest Greek neighborhood in America. If they don't have what you want, they can probably tell you where to find it.
posted by languagehat at 11:26 AM on December 5, 2007

Seconding languagehat. Gotta go for Astoria for Greek things.
posted by spec80 at 12:50 PM on December 5, 2007

Yeah, Astoria is the place to go, and Ploumari is the one to ask for. Although, if you don't want to leave Manhattan, there is at least one Greek joint in Hell's Kitchen that carries it, although I can't remember the name / location off-hand. Its on the West side of 9th, on a northern corner of a block, in the 50's, I'm pretty sure...
posted by allkindsoftime at 12:34 AM on December 6, 2007

An update, for those of you still curious about my anise:

I had a bit of Ouzo last night, and realized that Plomari is the one I've been drinking whenever I buy it. So all right, that's one down, and evariste recommends Boutari. Thanks for the Grand Wine and Liquor tip, languagehat; I'll see what they've got.
posted by Greg Nog at 12:35 PM on December 6, 2007