Samuel Willards Premium Ouzo
Samuel Willards Premium Ouzo Essence — Home Distilling Spirit Flavouring
Samuel Willards Premium Ouzo is a spirit essence designed to replicate the bold, anise-forward character of traditional Greek ouzo — clean, aromatic, and unmistakable. Mixed with a quality neutral spirit base, it produces a smooth, authentic-tasting ouzo that goes milky white when water is added, just like the real thing.
Classic ouzo flavour at home, without the import price tag.
What to Expect in the Glass
Ouzo's defining character comes from anise — specifically the way its aroma blooms when diluted. Samuel Willards' Premium formulation captures that sharp, sweet, liquorice-like intensity up front, with a clean spirit backbone and a smooth, warming finish. The louche effect (the clouding when water or ice is added) is part of the experience, and this essence delivers it authentically.
- Bold anise and star anise aroma, true to traditional Greek ouzo
- Crystal clear in the bottle, turns characteristically cloudy when diluted
- Smooth finish without harshness or chemical aftertaste
- Suitable for sipping neat, on ice, or diluted with chilled water
- Part of the Samuel Willards Premium Selections range — crafted for quality results
How to Use
Samuel Willards essences are designed to be mixed with a neutral alcohol base — typically a home-distilled spirit or a commercially available neutral grain spirit — to create a finished liqueur or spirit at your preferred strength. Follow the dosage instructions on the bottle for the correct essence-to-spirit ratio, then dilute to your desired ABV with water.
For ouzo, chilling the finished product before bottling helps the flavour integrate and softens any sharp edges. Serve over ice or with cold water to experience the characteristic louche — this is normal and a sign the aroma compounds are doing exactly what they should.
Serving Suggestions
Traditional ouzo is served chilled, often alongside mezze — olives, cheese, seafood. It's best enjoyed slowly, diluted to around 30–40% ABV with cold water or a few ice cubes. For something different, ouzo also works well as a cocktail base or as a flavouring in seafood dishes and dressings.
Good to Know
This is a spirit essence, not a ready-to-drink product. You will need a neutral alcohol base (such as a still-distilled grain spirit or purchased grain alcohol) to make the finished product. The quality of your base spirit directly affects the final result — a clean, well-distilled neutral will let the ouzo character shine.