What is Arak?
Arrack or arak is a spirit from Asia. It is originally an Arabic word that means both sweat and spirit.
Like rum or cachaça, this arak is a distillate from sugar cane that is exclusively produced in Indonesia.
A drink called arak is also produced in Sri Lanka, Lebanon and India, but it is not based on sugar cane, but on coconut.
This last arak is drunk pure by the local population, but can also be used in mixed drinks with cola, cassis, etc.
Unique to Indonesian arak is that the fermentation of the molasses is supported by already partially fermented rice.
In addition, it is distilled in a unique "pot still" of Chinese origin. Arrack is the national drink of Sri Lanka and also of the southern part of India.
Arrack distilled in Sri Lanka is mainly produced for domestic use.
How much alcohol is in Arrack?
Arrack contains an average of 33.5% alcohol. Indonesian Arrack is also called Batavia Arrack and is distilled to a strength of 60 to 70% alcohol by volume.