Tsipouro Tales

I have mentioned tsipouro many times in my Skiathos Newsletters & my autobiography, but some (many?) of you may not know exactly what tsipouro is.It is a distillation of either wine, or a secondary fermentation of grape skins after the wine has been drained off. The more famous "e;Ouzo"e; was also originally made like this, but nowadays ouzo is made from any commercial alcohol & then flavoured with anise & sugar.But why "e;Tsipouro Tales"e;? Well, as I mentioned above, apart from mezedes, tsipouro is always accompanied by good company. Herein lies the "e;tales"e;, as people relate their ups & downs, family problems & delights, tall stories, banter & ribbing, and everything in between. You will never see a table of quiet Greeks, especially in a "e;Tsipouratheko"e; (where you drink tsipouro, formerly known as an "e;Ouzeri"e;).