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Believe it or not (but believe it…) this is a word I heard for the first time from Ramzi Ghosn, CEO and Winemaker of Massaya & Co. from the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. Arak has a strong anise or licorice flavor. Thank you for helping build the largest language community on the internet. A restaurateur and food writer, Saad Fayed has published hundreds of recipes and articles about Middle Eastern cuisine. 4 cups dry red wine. They all have a strong alcohol flavor, a very present anise taste, and they crystallize or change color when mixed with other liquids. Free drinks included with your accommodation or on boat tours are often made with arak. They produce a licorice taste when crushed and that is the characteristic flavor of this alcohol. Using multiple glasses when drinking arak is also common, due to the effects of mixing with water and ice. In the next article in the series, we’ll be featuring our very own Arak cocktail, the Byblos Blush followed by Araknophobia Cocktail, with flavours of aniseed, coffee and cardamom. Those not accustomed to anise flavours of the Mediterranean may find the flavour to be divisive yet it is a delicious drink to enjoy with food or as an aperitif. Combine with 1 shot of simple syrup and 1 shot of club soda Arak.. It is sometimes spelled arak, or simply referred to as 'rack or 'rak. The spirit is mixed in small glasses with cold water and ice. This is a very strong distilled spirit that usually hosts an alcohol level of 40-60% and must be diluted with water in order to drink it well. Do not consume as part of a meal. Unlike the photo above of Arak Azoury in a clay pot, it is usually bottled and sold in glass bottles. Copper stills with a Moorish shape are the most sought after and produce the most expensive type of arak. Arak is a staple of big Sunday meals. In Sinhala, Aliya means Elephant. 3 cups water. Arak is a Middle Eastern spirit made traditionally from grapes and flavored by aniseed. It’s distilled from grape vines and left to ferment in barrels for three weeks; the easy production process is a source of pride to local villagers who boast about their home-made arak baladeh. Therefor the quality is much higher then the finest commercial Arak. Every part of Lebanon’s national drink, arak, is infused with tradition — from distilling the aniseed-tinged liquor to the ritual of mixing it at the table, when the transparent liquid suddenly turns milky white as water is added. The main mixer in this cocktail is fresh coconut water or coconut water cubes. First, the grapes are harvested, then squeezed and poured in barrels for two or three weeks (depending on the temperature) to make sure the fermentation process is complete. Affiliate Disclosure --- Work with Us and promote your brand to over 53,000 followers across several platforms. 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The Arabs of this region created the Alembic Pot Still… There are stainless steel and copper stills in different shapes. The name Arak translates to “sweat” in Arabic and refers to the sweating and the condensation of the liquid during the distillation process. Native to Lebanon originally, Arak is also the signature drink around parts of Syria, Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Jordan. When creating cocktails or mixed drinks with Arak, it's typical to use citrus such as lemon or orange since they go well with the natural anise flavor of the spirit. How to Make Arak: Arak is the oldest distilled spirit in the world. Arak (also Araq) is a distilled, colourless and unsweetened anise-flavoured spirit that originates from the Levant. If you like the taste, try these drinks with similar flavor profiles: Some of the more popular brands of arak producers include: Arak can be purchased in the United States in many Middle Eastern markets. In commercial production, the arak sits in clay jugs for a year, making it smoother, Issa said. The first step involves fermentation where crushed, fresh grapes and the must (grape skins, seeds and juice) are left to ferment with wild yeast. The aniseed is added to the distilled alcohol during the second of three distillation processes. Cover and boil for about 10 minutes, then remove cloves and cinnamon sticks and allow to cool. Variants of Arak can be found around the Mediterranean such as Raki in Turkey, Pastis in France, Ouzo in Greece and Cyprus. Since arak is usually enjoyed only with ice or water, there are not many recipes for cocktails. The only real way to avoid arak completely is to stick to beer and wine or don't drink at all. Arak goes hand in hand with these mini appetizer meals so so well that in the case of a dinner party or restaurant, the main dish is often hardly touched. Additionally, when other types of fruit are added to the production, different flavors and types of arak are produced. 1 cup arak. Commonly served in social settings and gatherings, the drink is famous for its potency and for the translucent milky-white color it turns when water is added to it. 2 small cinnamon sticks. When you drink Arak, it is necessary to dilute it with water and serve it over ice to get the best flavor and to make the drink a bit less harsh. There is a large family of alcohol beverages that is comprised of anise-based drinks. It originates from the Levant (i.e. She has been named Australian Bartender Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential List since 2013, has judged over 30 cocktail competitions, was nominated in Icons of Whisky Australia 2020, is an Australian International Spirits Competition Judge and is published in several media. After fermentation has completed, the wine is poured into the alembic (called karkeh) for the first distillation to extract the alcohol resulting in a raw spirit referred to as spirto. Arak is a clear, distilled, high proof and anise-flavoured spirit that has its origins from Levantine countries. Fresh, green aniseed is added to the mixture of spirto and water, in either the second or third distillation. This is especially important if you don't want to drink too much, because your hosts or friends will refill your glass as soon as it's empty. Arak (uh-rock or ar-ick if you're trying to have an accent) is a member of the anis drink family, and tastes (as some of you more seasoned drinkers may have guessed) like … Home-made arak usually goes straight into large containers after distillation, ready for drinking. The Aliya cocktail is a classic, as ancient as the old kings of Sri Lanka. How to Drink Arak As a potent alcoholic beverage, it is rarely enjoyed neat. 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