Greek brand Mataroa Mediterranean Dry Gin has partnered with bartender Christos Gkolfis to create a signature cocktail.

The brand tasked 12 bartenders to draw inspiration from the gin’s ingredients and create Mataroa signature cocktails.

Gkolfis is the founder, owner and bartender at bar Theosis in Syros, Greece.

He created the Chloe, which is a name inspired by ancient Greeks.

The name translates to ‘grass’ in English, and derives from the word ‘chloros’ (suggesting the colour green or a honey-yellow).

Gkolfis’ key ingredient in the Chloe is lemon peels from Egypt, which added a citrus smell and sweet-sour taste to the serve.

“[The perfect cocktail ingredients] are the selection of the right raw materials and drinks, a bit of inspiration and loads of commitment to creating something special for the senses,” explained Gkolfis.

“It’s like creating art to consume at the bar.”

Mataroa rolled out a limited edition bottle in September in collaboration with designer Themis Zouganeli.

Mataroa Gin is distilled and bottled in Greece.

Last month, the brand partnered with local airline Aegean to host 10 bars in its airport lounges.

Earlier this month, we published the Global Bar Report 2022: Europe, which explored the hospitality climate across the continent. Line, a bar located in Athens, Greece, was pegged as one of our bars to watch in 2023.

See the recipe for the Chloe below.

The Chloe

Ingredients

42.5 ml Mataroa Mediterranean Dry Gin

7.5ml Thyme liqueur

20ml Fresh lemon juice

20ml Prickly pear & thyme honey syrup

3 drops saline solution

Fresh thyme (for garnish)

Method

Add ingredients together to a shaker and shake. Double strain and pour into a coupé glass. Garnish with fresh thyme.