Two glasses with a green cocktail
Photography, Jorge Rivera

Mastiha and Basil Spritz

This elevated cocktail utilizes an ancient Greek superfood.

“With a sweet and aromatic woodiness and refreshing taste, mastiha is the resin released from the skinos tree in Chios, also known as the ‘mastic island,’ explain Helena and Vicki Moursellas in their book Peináo: A Greek Feast for All. “Famous for its healing properties, mastic is one of the most ancient superfoods. A couple of years ago at our favourite beach bar in Fourka, the bartender served us this cocktail. Straight after finishing it we asked him if we could put the recipe in our next cookbook.” The sisters use the Skinos brand, which you can find easily online or in liquor stores.

Two glasses with a green cocktail

Mastiha and Basil Spritz

Helena and Vicki Moursellas' recipe for a spritz cocktail with mastiha spirit, lemon and basil.
Course cocktail, Drinks
Cuisine Greek
Servings 2 drinks

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tsp honey
  • 2 tsp boiling water
  • 100 ml Skinos Mastiha Spirit
  • 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 handful basil leaves
  • ice cubes
  • club soda to top

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl, combine the honey and boiling water. Stir to dissolve and cool.
  • Add the mastiha, lemon juice, basil leaves, honey mixture and a small handful of ice cubes to a cocktail shaker and shake until well combined.
  • Strain into two tall glasses filled with ice cubes, top with a splash of soda water and garnish with extra basil leaves.

More recipes from Helena and Vicki Moursellas

Greek Easter Bread
Helena and Vikki Mourselles' recipe for a traditional tsoureki (Greek Easter bread).
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Slices of Greek Easter bread spread with marmalade

Orange and Chili Marinated Olives
Helena and Vicki Moursellas' recipe for a classic, crowd-pleasing Greek snack: warm olives marinated in spicy citrus oil.
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Greek Semolina Cake
Helena and Vicki Moursellas share an easy family recipe for citrus revani – Greek semolina cake.
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A semolina cake with citrus slices on top over a light pink bagkround

Greek Country Bread With Lemon and Thyme
Helena and Vikki Moursellas' recipe for a fluffy, focaccia-like Greek bread with garlic confit oil, lemons and thyme.
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A loaf of bread with lemon slices and herbs baked on top on a mustard-brown tablecloth

Sesame Dark Chocolate Cookies
Helena and Vicki Moursellas share their recipe for Greek chocolate chip cookies with tahini and sesame seeds.
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A chocolate chip cookie sprinkled with sesame seeds being lifted with a spatula off a green-and-white checkered sheet of them

A book cover in a light frame

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