Sweet spirits in under an hour. Polykala Distillery in Athens keeps things efficient and friendly, with a short, English-speaking visit that still covers what matters: how the family makes liqueurs and what makes each flavor distinct. I especially like the small-group feel (so you get real attention) and the complimentary 100ml bottle you get to choose for yourself. One consideration: the tasting involves alcohol, so it’s not recommended for travelers with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.

You’ll meet at Kleisthenous 7, where a guide named Nina or Rena waits to get you started, then you head to the Distillery ShowRoom for the production explanation and samples. The experience is designed to be easy to manage—wheelchair and stroller accessible, near public transportation, and capped at 10 travelers—which makes it a smart pick if you want something authentic without eating your whole day.

Key things to know before you go

• A 30 to 40 minute liqueur taste that’s short enough to fit between sightseeing plans
• 100ml take-home bottle included, chosen from the liqueur lineup
• Max 10 travelers, led in English by guides such as Nina or Rena (and sometimes Anna)
• Three specific samples: Mastiha, Hazelnut, and Cherry liqueurs
• Wheelchair and stroller accessible in the showroom setting
• Mobile ticket plus a simple start-and-finish at Kleisthenous 7

A 30- to 40-Minute Liqueur Lesson in Athens

This is the kind of tour that makes sense when you’re in Athens and want a genuine food-and-drink experience without committing to a full afternoon. The timing is compact—about 30 to 40 minutes—so you can treat it like a focused stop, not a day-long project.

What makes Polykala worth your time is the balance. You’re not just given a tasting and sent on your way. You get an explanation of the distillery and how the liqueurs are made, then you taste. That structure helps you connect the flavor in your glass to the production approach, and it also helps when you’re deciding what bottle to buy.

There’s also a practical side: the tour is capped at 10 people. In a small setting, it’s easier to ask questions about ingredients, family practices, or what to choose if you prefer sweeter or more aromatic liqueurs.

Kleisthenous 7: Where Your Visit Starts and Ends

Your day begins and ends at Kleisthenous 7 (Athina 105 52). That matters more than it sounds. You’re not searching for a final meeting point after tasting. The tour returns you to the same spot, so you can plan your next stop with less stress.

The area is also described as near public transportation, which is helpful if you’re mixing this visit with other central Athens walks. Bring your confirmation, and keep your phone ready since the ticket is mobile.

Because the group is small, arriving on time helps. If your guide is waiting at the meeting point, you don’t want to force them into a last-minute scramble. I’d aim to arrive a few minutes early and take a quick breath before you start talking Greek liqueurs.

Meet Nina or Rena: The Warm Welcome That Sets the Tone

One of the best parts of the experience is how personally it starts. At Kleisthenous 7, Nina or Rena waits for you and shares context right away—about the distillery and the produced liqueurs.

This early intro is short, but it sets expectations for what’s coming next. Instead of tasting blind, you get a sense of what to pay attention to. Many visitors love this part because it feels like a real conversation, not a scripted lecture.

If Anna is the guide for your session, you can also expect a similarly engaged style. The key point for you: the guide is part storyteller, part instructor, and part helper when it’s time to pick your take-home bottle.

Inside Polykala: The ShowRoom Experience

The main portion happens at Polykala’s Distillery ShowRoom. This is where you learn how the liqueurs are made and then taste them. Since it’s a showroom setting, it’s not the type of place where you’re dealing with complicated tours, long lines, or rough transitions.

The showroom format usually means you can focus on the product and the explanation. It also means accessibility is handled well. This experience is listed as wheelchair and stroller accessible, which makes it much easier if you’re traveling with mobility needs or a child stroller.

You’ll also see the liqueur lineup as you go. That matters because the tasting isn’t only about trying three samples—it’s about helping you understand what you might actually enjoy taking home.

The Three Samples: Mastiha, Hazelnut, and Cherry

The tasting follows a clear sample menu, and I like that you know what you’re getting. Here’s what you can expect to try:

Starter: Mastiha liqueur

This is built around mastic, tied to the mastic of the island of Chios. The tasting description points to a rich aroma and an intense characteristic flavor. If you like something more aromatic—where the smell hits first—this is the one to watch.

A practical tip: when you taste mastiha-style liqueurs, give it a moment. Let the aroma come up before you decide if you like it. These are the kinds of flavors where rushing can flatten the experience.

Main: Hazelnut liqueur

Hazelnut liqueur brings warm notes of hazelnut extracts with spice and oak aromas. This one tends to feel rounder and more “comfort drink” friendly, especially if you prefer flavors that feel like dessert without going full candy-sweet.

If you’re wondering which liqueur to choose when you don’t know your preferences yet, hazelnut is often the safe middle. It’s distinctive, but it’s still approachable.

Dessert: Cherry liqueur

Cherry is the sweet-and-tart closer. The description calls out sour cherries plus pure spice aromas. This sample is ideal if you want something with more lift and a more defined finish.

For choosing a take-home bottle, I’d think of cherry as your flavor check: if you like fruit-forward spirits, this is your likely winner.

How the Liqueurs Are Made (and Why That Matters)

The tour includes an explanation of the distillery and how the liqueurs are made. Even in a short format, this is a big value piece. When you understand the basics—like what ingredients define each profile—you stop thinking of liqueurs as generic sweet drinks.

Instead, you start tasting with context. Mastiha liqueur makes more sense when you know it’s tied to a specific mastic source. Hazelnut liqueur becomes more interesting when you understand how spice and oak aromas fit into the flavor structure. Cherry liqueur feels more intentional when you know sour cherries are part of the approach.

In other words: the explanation helps you buy smarter later. You’re more likely to pick a bottle you genuinely want, not just the one with the prettiest label.

Take Home a 100ml Bottle: The Best Value Move

The headline perk here is the complimentary 100ml bottle of your choice. That’s not a small thing. In a tasting experience, the real win is usually what you can bring home and actually use. Here, you get that built in.

And because you choose the bottle, you’re not stuck with a sample-size fallback you don’t like. The three tasting flavors also give you a practical shortlist. After you taste mastiha, hazelnut, and cherry, you’ll have a good sense of whether you want something aromatic, warm and nutty, or fruit-forward.

This is where the small-group format pays off again. If you have questions—How sweet is it? Which one is most aromatic?—a guide can help you decide in the moment rather than sending you off with general advice.

Buying Bottles Without the Stress

Polykala also offers plenty of elegant bottles to buy. The setting is set up for browsing, and the sales approach is better when you’ve already learned what you’re tasting.

I like that the tasting comes first. You can walk through the bottle lineup with your own comparison points in mind. Instead of staring at shelves, you’ll likely be thinking: Do I want a bottle that matches my mastiha sample, or do I prefer the warm hazelnut side?

Also, a short tour helps here. You’re not wandering around for hours with decision fatigue. You can make choices while the tasting flavors still feel fresh.

Price and Logistics: What You’re Really Paying For

At $16.87 per person, the first thing to notice is that this isn’t just a tasting fee. You get samples plus included admission for the distillery tasting portion, and you also receive a take-home 100ml bottle.

That changes how you should think about value. If the tasting were only three small pours and nothing else, the price would be harder to justify. But with the take-home bottle included, you’re effectively turning your visit into something you can enjoy later.

Another practical point: the tour is commonly booked about 90 days in advance. That doesn’t mean you’ll definitely have trouble finding a spot, but it does mean this is a popular short stop. If your schedule is tight, book early so you’re not hunting last-minute.

Small Group Tour Timing: Quick, Focused, and Easy to Fit

The experience duration is listed as 30 to 40 minutes. That kind of schedule is ideal when:

• you want a cultural food-and-drink stop without a long commitment
• you’re traveling with kids or you have limited stamina
• you’re planning multiple neighborhoods in one day

It also helps that the group size is max 10. In this type of tasting experience, the difference between 10 and 30 can be huge. With fewer people, the guide can keep the conversation flowing and answer questions while you’re tasting.

One other detail that affects your timing: confirmation is received at booking. A mobile ticket is included, so you should double-check your ticket on your phone before you head out.

Accessibility and Who Should Skip the Tasting

This tour is listed as wheelchair and stroller accessible, which is great news if you need step-free access and smoother transitions.

But the tasting includes alcohol, and the experience specifically notes it’s not recommended for travelers with heart problems or other serious medical conditions to taste alcohol. If you’re in that category, you should consider whether you want to participate in a tasting at all, or ask in advance what options are practical for your situation.

If you’re otherwise healthy and you enjoy trying spirits, this is a clean, approachable format: three samples, guided context, and a straightforward place to buy bottles.

Tips for a Smooth Visit (Including Weather and Timing)

This experience requires good weather. Even if the showroom itself is indoors, your arrival and the short walking/transfer between points can depend on conditions. If the weather is poor, you may be offered a different date or a full refund.

Also, plan for the reality that short visits can be affected by local timing on certain days. If you’re visiting around Greek holidays, double-check your plans close to departure and keep a little flexibility. For example, on at least one occasion, late store opening due to a Greek extra bank holiday affected a scheduled start. In that situation, refunds were issued, but your best move is to stay calm and keep an eye on updates right up to your time slot.

Finally, keep your expectations aligned with the short format. This isn’t a multi-hour production tour. It’s a focused showroom lesson plus tasting. If you go in knowing it’s brief, you’ll feel like you got more value out of each minute.

Should You Book Polykala Distillery Liqueur Tasting?

If you want a short, small-group Athens experience that teaches you something and ends with a take-home bottle, I think Polykala is a strong pick. The 100ml complimentary bottle is the standout value, and the tasting menu—Mastiha, Hazelnut, Cherry—gives you a clear sense of the brand’s style without overload.

Book it if:

• you like spirits and want a guided tasting, not a random bar stop
• you prefer compact tours you can fit into a busy day
• you’re curious about mastic from Chios and want to taste it directly

Skip or reconsider if:

• you can’t participate in alcohol tastings due to medical reasons
• you hate tight time windows and need ultra-flexible scheduling (the experience is short, so being late matters)

FAQ

How long is the Polykala Distillery liqueur tasting?

It runs about 30 to 40 minutes.

What language is the tour offered in?

The experience is offered in English.

Do I get a bottle to take home?

Yes. You receive a complimentary 100ml bottle of your choice.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 10 travelers.

What liqueurs are included in the tasting?

The sample menu lists Mastiha liqueur, Hazelnut liqueur, and Cherry liqueur.

Is it wheelchair and stroller accessible?

Yes, it is wheelchair and stroller accessible.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Free cancellation is available, and refunds are also offered if canceled due to poor weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn’t met.

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