We are proud to offer an exclusive portfolio of exceptional spirits and boutique wines from Greece.
Mastiha Tree, which is also known as the famous Crying Tree, rare and
natural tree resin, only grows and is cultivated on the small
Mediterranean island of Chios. Nowhere else in the world has it been
able to take root, which makes it stubbornly Greek.
Our exceptional Mastiha spirit 'FOS' has been exclusively formulated for Ambrosia Group. Originating from the island of Chios using traditional, tedious collection and cultivation methods, while utilizing modern technology to distill, blend and bottle. Its distinctive aroma, mysterious attributes and therapeutic results are common features of Mastiha. This characteristic, balanced sweet spirit has pronounced notes of cucumber, pine, anise, and fresh herbs. FOS is great as an aperitif or a digestif. Served chilled neat, on the rocks, or mixed in an array of different cocktails...
Needless to say we have ensured that our Mastiha liqueur is made out of 100% pure Mastiha & is NOT scented.
We have expanded the FOS brand to other Spirits such as our delicious and unique Ouzo, while we search for other unique spirits that cater to the discerning consumer.
We are also thrilled to announce one of our newest additions FOS Mastiha sparkling water. The combining of Mastiha with water is said to have begun around four millennia ago in ancient Egypt, where they used this simple but enchanting idea to purify the water and make it pleasant to drink. FOS Mastiha Water is the result of the distillation of pure Mastiha using steam.
Enjoy its crisp delicious taste, and beneficial properties.
We feature handcrafted wines from family owned independent producers
from various wine producing regions of Greece. These wines are usually
old world style, soil driven, non additive, and balanced with natural
acidity.
These wines will enhance the flavor of the food you taste. Our wine
portfolio consists of small to medium size production vintages. We focus
on luxury boutique wines that will awaken your taste buds, and explore
your senses.
The most marked difference between Greek vineyards and those of other
countries is that they never spread over great tracts of land but remained
small scale.
Greece vineyards could be found in the most unlikely places, perched on mountain
slopes 1 000m above sea level, carved into cliff faces or next to the surf.
Essentially, with the exception of extremely high altitudes, there is no corner
of Greece where grapevines are not cultivated.
The soil characteristic of a Greek vineyard is mainly rocky limestone soil,
while one fifth of the nation's vineyards are in the fertile plains.
The combination of a temperate climate, lots of sunshine and low rainfall
creates soils of moderate fertility, which produce small crops of excellent
quality.
The diversity of the Greek landscape also creates an ambudance of areas with
their own microclimate and unique ecosystems, favoring the development of
numerous local varieties, in addition to 26 foreign, chiefly French varieties
which have been planted relatively recently and over a limited area. The latter
are mainly used for blending with Greek varieties.
The persistence of certain local varieties over time is remarkable, with even
their names remaining unchanged, and stretching back to the ancient times. There
are at least 28 varieties of wine in Greek regions.
Over the past 15 years the situation has changed. Greek wines have managed to
regain their identity after centuries, following improvements in quality that
can be described as a "revolution"
As more and more well-known wine writers around the world become aware of the
individuality of Greek vineyards, they have come to agree that these unique and
original flavors could become highly sought after in the future.
We are proud of the rich wine heritage Greece has to offer and we invite you to
explore Ambrosia's world.
The island of Chios, in the Aegean Sea, is the 5th largest island in Greece. Chios is a crescent shape island of 325 square miles. Its nickname is the mastic island. In the south of the island are the Mastichochoria, literally the Mastic villages, the seven villages of Mesta, Pyrgi, Olympi, Kalamoti, Vessa, Lithi, and Elata, which together have controlled the production of mastic gum in the area since the Roman period.
The villages, built between the 14th and 16th centuries, have a carefully designed layout with fortified gates and narrow streets to protect against the frequent raids of marauding pirates. Chios has a mild climate and a rich soil. It is precisely in one of these villages that FOS Mastiha was born, with a deeply rooted tradition of cultivation and harvesting which has been around for hundreds of years BC.
The harvesting and distillation process make Mastiha a very unique product that has a delicious, rich taste; a truly drinking delicacy with digestive benefits. In a truly mysterious way, the Mastiha tree only grows
on the island of Chios. Only there do the mastic trees "cry" teardrops of resin during the harvest period.
Mastiha now enjoys the "Protected Designation of Origin" status on the island of Chios. Its stamp of approval is proudly featured on every FOS bottle, and attests to the purity of its content that we so proudly refer to as "liquid gold" or "ambrosia".
Mastiha has been used for thousands of years by all civilizations, the Greeks, the Romans, the Ottomans, and many others. From this small Mediterranean island, Mastiha has travelled and conquered the world. In 5th century BC, Hippocrates recommended Mastiha as an excellent digestive, and as a refreshing breathalyzer among other medicinal applications. During the Roman years it is said the wine was spiced with Mastiha.
During the Byzantine years, Chios becomes famous, and Mastiha is known as a luxury item, and emperors favorite drink. It travels accross Europe, and reaches all the big markets from east to west, Constantinople, Damascus, Alexandria, Rome, Paris, London, Florence.
Under the Ottoman Empire, the island of Chios was granted special privileges for the uniqueness of Mastiha. It is said that the Sultan was indulging his Harem with Mastiha.
Every bottle of FOS uses the same distillation and harvesting heritage that has been used for thousands of years, and enjoyed by royalty, emperors, philosophers, sultans, ancient Greeks, and the gods of Olympus.
Production Process
The production of Mastiha consists of 3 distinct phases
Phase 1: The harvesting period, the Crying Tree harvesting takes place once a year, usually at the beginning of the summer period. Experienced workers deeply rooted in tradition undertake this tenuous and delicate process. The Mastiha trees get pricked and delicately sliced at the surface. It takes several weeks to collect the crying Mastiha resin that falls from those openings in the tree.
Phase 2: the cleaning. Once collected, Mastiha is carefully collected in wooden coffins, covered with cloth, and then sent to a cool warehouse, where women of the villages pick the best quality Mastiha by hand and clean them meticulously.
Phase 3: Distillation, blending, and bottling. Mastiha is mixed with fine quality alcohol and is put in large bronze tanks. The mix is heated carefully by wood fire. The aroma of the extract is unforgettable to any visitor of a Mastiha Distillery. It is then blended with other ingredients, masterfully crafted by family tradition, and flair of the producer of FOS, that is a third generation Mastiha producer. It will be inspected, tested, and bottled in a beautiful bottle, with a distinctive logo that symbolizes Greek culture at its best.
A historically rich product is now yours!
Its taste and aroma will captivate you!
We are thrilled to bring you “FOS Mastiha”. It has been prepared with "Frontida ke Agapi", the Greek words for Love and Care.
This is where the idea of Ambrosia Group was born. It derives from our strong common passion of fine taste and an eternal love for Greek Cuisine.
We are thrilled to offer our flagship brand, FOS. The flavor and aroma of FOS Mastiha are a delight. Our mixologists offer the following suggestions for your pure enjoyment.
Click
on any ice cube below to see our
cocktail recipes
We will never offer a product to our valued customers that we would not consume ourselves. We have carefully formulated FOS Mastiha Spirit, FOS Ouzo, and FOS Sparkling Water, using the absolute best ingredients, tradition, love, and care.
We focus on quality versus quantity. We cater to the discerning consumer . We have a very rigorous selection process. Our team of experts that is permanently based in Greece is constantly traveling and searching for unique products in the four corners of our beautiful country. Our expert sommeliers on both sides of the Atlantic will then refine the search process, and they must unanimously agree on the selection before Ambrosia Group makes the decision to include it in its exclusive portfolio of wines and spirits. We aim to have exclusive distribution of our products. We get to know our wineries intimately, and our spirits are specifically formulated to our taste. We are highly focused on taste trends, as well as awakening the consumers' senses to new grape varieties, or grape varieties that are extremely rare, sometimes almost extinct .
Heaven is a place on earth, possibly Greece. We invite you to explore our unique selections. They tell a story that is deeply rooted in our vast heritage. After all, in Greek mythology, Ambrosia is the food and drink of the Gods.
Gia mas !
We are a passionate team of well-travelled individuals, Foodies, creative chefs, and successful business people in our own respective fields. We have a very deep appreciation for food and wine, as well as fine spirits. Having lived in 3 continents & having travelled to over 100 countries around the world we have always concluded that Greece has a beautiful story to tell the world through its food, wines, and spirits.
This is how Ambrosia Group was conceived. Our strong common passion for fine taste and eternal love for Greece. We trust that our flagship brand FOS will make you discover some of the best flavours of Greece in a bottle
Managing Partners
George J Zeritis
gjzeritis@me.com
http://diana-holdings.com
Phone:+1 305 587 1644
Pierre Economacos
economacos@me.com
Phone:+1 786 281 1500
Ambrosia Group
Associates-Advisors
Jean Paul Schumann
Sommelier/Advisor
jpschumann@mack-schuehle.com
http://mack-schuehle.com
George Touratzis
Sommelier/Advisor
http://touratzis-umami.com
Manal Al Jassim
Creative Director
www.manalaljassim.com
Charles Ommanney
Photographer/Credits
http://www.charlesommanney.com
Want to work with us or just want to say hello? Don't hesitate to get in touch!
Feel free to ask if you have any question regarding our services or if you just want to say Hello, we would love to hear from you.
Pierre Economacos
Managing Partner
Phone: + 1 786 281 1500
Email: economacos@me.com
George J Zeritis
Managing Partner
Phone: + 1 305 587 1644
Email: gjzeritis@me.com
http://www.diana-holdings.com
Phone: + 305 587 1644
Email:contactus@ambrgrp.com
16. CHIOS COFFEE
Use a martini glass if served cold
Add 1 oz.
mastiha
Add 1 oz. vanilla vodka
Add 1 oz. citrus vodka
Add 1 oz. espresso coffee cold
FOS Mastiha
Garnish with 3 coffee
beans
Created by Philip Khandehrish, Head Bartender,
Setai Hotel Miami Beach