Effie Panagopoulos is the first Greek woman to found a liquor brand, KLEOS Mastiha Spirit (30% ABV; $37.99 SRP). In 2018, KLEOS kicked off in Boston where Effie was born to Greek immigrants, then rolled out to 16 states and 7 countries. KLEOS just became available online to 48 states, a low ABV botanical spirit made from an ancient Greek superfood called mastiha, the resin of the Skinos tree which grows in 24 villages on the Greek island of Chios. Mastiha is known for healing and digestive properties, double distilled with two forms of mastiha: mastiha resin and essential oil. KLEOS goes down easy and silky-sweet, a touch too sweet for me, but with some welcome vegetal notes of eucalyptus, sage, cucumber and mint. For those who want something different, it’s a fun newcomer in the mastiha category, even as it will be tougher for bartenders and those who want to control the sweetness level in a cocktail.
