raki still

The raki still is located at the ground level of our establishment.

Every year from October to December, according to Greek law, tsikoudia (or raki) is produced. Raki is a product of grape-pulp (whatever is left of the grapes after the winepress) distillation after a certain period of fermentation has passed.

The "institution" of the raki still was legislated by Eleutherios Venizelos around 1920, when licenses for such distilleries were given to Cretan farmers, in order for them to be able to make tsikoudia from their production of grapes.

Quickly, following Cretan lifestyle "rules", this institution became the motive for many a joyful and pleasant night at distilleries around the island where drinking, dancing, eating and other such demonstrations of inebriated merriness lasts until the wee hours of dawn...