arak
ReferenceLebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine
Tasting Notes
Clean aniseed, grape spirit, white pepper. Crystal clear before dilution, milky-white after louche. The louche is thicker and more opaque than pastis — higher anise oil concentration. Dry and spirit-forward compared to sweeter anise spirits (sambuca, anisette). The grape base shows through — clean, fruity, slightly vinous. Finish is long, warming, anise-persistent, with a clean spirit tail. The best arak is simultaneously the strongest and most elegant anise spirit.
Brand Guide
Ksarak ($25-35, triple-distilled)
El Massaya ($28-35). Standard: Brun ($18-24). Standard: Château Musar ($20-28). Craft: Various Lebanese artisan producers ($20-35). The quality hierarchy tracks distillation quality and grape sourcing — premium arak uses specific grape varieties (Obeidi is traditional)