Tsilili 5 Year Dark Cave Aged Tsipouro
Tsilili 5 Year Dark Cave Aged Tsipouro is an oak-aged Greek grape brandy — 750mL at 41% ABV (82 proof), aged 5 to 12 years in French and American oak, the first tsipouro ever given the barrel treatment — and you can order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 41% (82 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Aging: 5–12 years in French and American oak casks (new, ex-red-wine, and ex-Vinsanto barrels), plus 6–12 months bottle aging
- Producer: TSILILIS K. S.A., Raxa, Trikala — founded 1989, by the Meteora rocks and the prehistoric Theopetra Cave
- Classification: Tsipouro with Thessaly Geographical Indication
The Tsipouro That Changed Greek Spirits
For most of its history, tsipouro was clear and unaged — then the Tsililis family spent a year of research proving it could take oak. Their Dark Cave bottling became, in the producer's words, the first tsipouro ever aged in oak casks, and it changed how Greece thought about its own spirit. The heart of the distillate rests in underground cellars — the "dark cave" — in a mix of new oak, ex-red-wine barrels and barrels that held sweet Santorinian Vinsanto, for five to twelve years, before blending and bottle aging. The result sits in a category of its own: described by tasters as "robust like a malt whisky, aromatic like a cognac; yet with a warmth found in aged rums." Named one of the 14 best spirits in the world at the 2014 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. Explore the brandy shelf or everything from Tsilili.
Tasting Notes
Bright dark amber. Dried fruits — raisins, prunes, bergamot peel — with vanilla, chocolate and nutmeg spice; robust yet supple body, honeyed sweetness balanced against fine wood tannin, and a long, aromatic finish of sultana, old leather and nuts.
How to Enjoy
Serve at 10–16°C, neat or with a single ice cube, as a contemplative after-dinner pour. The brand also works it into luxurious cocktails.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Dark Cave" mean?
The distillate ages in underground cellars with controlled temperature and humidity — the "dark cave" of the name — for five to twelve years.
Is aged tsipouro different from regular tsipouro?
Yes. Classic tsipouro is bottled unaged and clear; this expression is the oak-aged style — a blend of Muscat of Hamburg, Roditis and other varieties matured like a fine brandy.
What is the ABV of Tsilili Dark Cave Aged Tsipouro?
41% ABV (82 proof).
Did this win any awards?
It was named one of the 14 best spirits in the world at the 2014 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.
A world-class Greek spirit in a class of its own — order Tsilili 5 Year Dark Cave Aged Tsipouro online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.