Skinos Masthia 700ML

Skinos Mastiha 700ML is a 30% ABV Greek mastiha liqueur distilled from the rare PDO resin of mastic trees on the island of Chios. It holds the distinction of being the only distilled mastiha spirit in the world and earned Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in both 2011 and 2013.

Quick Facts: ABV: 30%  |  Origin: Chios & Athens, Greece  |  Style: Mastiha Liqueur  |  Distillery: Skinos, Athens

Production & Heritage

Skinos sources its key ingredient — mastiha resin crystals — exclusively from mastic trees on the southern part of Chios, the only place in the world where these trees produce the aromatic resin. The crystals carry a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status from the European Union. Once harvested, the resin is tapped, collected, and dried before being macerated in alcohol for three months. The infused spirit then undergoes distillation in traditional copper pot stills at the Skinos distillery in Athens, followed by careful sweetening to balance the naturally herbaceous and resinous character of the mastiha.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with pronounced mastiha resin and chalky minerality, evolving into crushed juniper, freshly cut mint leaves, and rain-soaked cedarwood. Delicate violet undertones emerge alongside hints of pine sap, evoking a Mediterranean hillside after a summer storm.

Taste: The entry is lightly sweet with an almost minty pine needle freshness that immediately distinguishes it from other herbal liqueurs. Mid-palate, earthy and leafy notes wash across the tongue, anchored by a restrained sweetness that provides balance rather than cloying richness. The resinous mastiha character stays present throughout, threading together the herbal and mineral elements.

Finish: The finish is long-lasting, clean, and distinctly cleansing, with persistent minerality that lingers well beyond the final sip. A subtle dryness emerges at the close, leaving traces of pine and dried herbs on the palate.

How to Drink Skinos Mastiha

Serve Skinos well-chilled on its own as a digestif, or over ice to allow the resinous pine and mineral notes to unfold slowly. It also works exceptionally well in cocktails:

• Mastiha Sour: Skinos replaces the standard citrus liqueur, contributing herbal depth and earthy minerality to the sour template.
• Mediterranean Spritz: Mixed with prosecco and a splash of soda, the liqueur's pine and mint character creates a refreshing, aromatic aperitif.
• Mastiha Martini: Stirred with a dry gin, Skinos adds a resinous backbone that complements the botanicals without overpowering them.

Best For

• Gifting someone who collects unique and regionally specific spirits
• Expanding a home bar with a genuinely rare category of liqueur
• Serving as an after-dinner digestif at a Mediterranean-themed dinner party
• Introducing cocktail enthusiasts to an unfamiliar botanical ingredient

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Skinos Mastiha taste like? Skinos Mastiha delivers a lightly sweet, pine-forward profile with prominent minerality, freshly cut mint, and earthy herbal notes. The flavor is clean and resinous without being heavy, making it unlike any standard herbal liqueur.

How does Skinos Mastiha compare to Chartreuse? Both are complex herbal liqueurs, but Skinos is lighter and more approachable at 30% ABV compared to Green Chartreuse's 55% ABV and denser botanical intensity. Skinos leans toward clean pine resin and mineral character, while Chartreuse delivers a broader, more pungent herbaceous punch.

Is Skinos Mastiha good for cocktails? Skinos works well in cocktails where you want resinous, herbal, or subtly sweet components — it pairs naturally with citrus, sparkling wine, and gin-based builds. Its moderate 30% ABV and balanced sweetness make it a versatile modifier rather than an overpowering base spirit.

Where is Skinos Mastiha made? The mastiha resin is harvested exclusively from PDO-certified mastic trees on the southern part of Chios, a Greek island in the eastern Aegean Sea. The resin is then macerated and distilled at the Skinos distillery in Athens, Greece.

What foods pair well with Skinos Mastiha? Grilled seafood like octopus or prawns complement its herbaceous minerality. Fresh goat cheese salads echo its Mediterranean character. Baklava and honey-based desserts harmonize with its subtle sweetness. Lemon-dressed lamb chops work alongside its pine and mint notes. Citrus sorbet provides a refreshing contrast to the resinous palate.

What sizes does Skinos Mastiha come in? The standard bottle is 700ML, which is the most widely available format for this expression.

Is Skinos Mastiha worth the price? Skinos positions as a mid-premium specialty liqueur, and its value proposition rests heavily on its rarity — it is the only distilled mastiha spirit on the market, made from PDO-protected resin found nowhere else on earth. For anyone seeking a genuinely distinct category of spirit rather than another iteration of a familiar style, it represents strong value within its price tier.

Why Skinos Mastiha?

No other commercial spirit distills PDO mastiha resin from Chios, making Skinos a true category of one. The three-month maceration and copper pot distillation translate the raw, ancient ingredient into something polished and versatile — complex enough for contemplative sipping yet balanced enough for creative cocktail work. Multiple Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition confirm that international judges recognize the quality, not just the novelty. For anyone looking to move beyond conventional herbal liqueurs into genuinely singular territory, Skinos Mastiha occupies a space no other bottle can fill.