Quick answer
Arrack and ginger beer is Sri Lanka's most popular long drink: one part arrack to roughly three parts spicy ginger beer, served over plenty of ice with a squeeze of lime. Use about 50 ml of arrack to 150 ml of ginger beer in a tall glass. Sri Lankan ginger beer is made with real ginger and is noticeably hotter and less sweet than most ginger ale. An old arrack, double distilled arrack or young coconut arrack all work well. Bars sometimes list the drink as an arrack mule or arrack attack.
Key takeaways
- The standard ratio for arrack and ginger beer is one part arrack to roughly three parts ginger beer.
- Sri Lankan ginger beer is brewed with real ginger and is spicier and less sweet than ginger ale.
- A squeeze of fresh lime and plenty of ice are essential to an arrack and ginger beer.
- Mid-range arracks such as old arrack and double distilled arrack suit ginger beer better than expensive aged bottles.
- Arrack and ginger beer appears on bar menus as an arrack mule, arrack buck or arrack attack.
What arrack and ginger beer is
Arrack and ginger beer is a highball: a spirit lengthened with a fizzy mixer over ice. It belongs to the same family as the Moscow mule and the dark and stormy, with coconut arrack in the place of vodka or rum.
Arrack and ginger beer is drunk everywhere in Sri Lanka, from cricket clubs to beach shacks. The floral softness of the arrack and the heat of the ginger suit each other, and the drink is forgiving of whichever arrack is to hand.
The arrack and ginger beer recipe
The arrack and ginger beer recipe needs four ingredients and no equipment. Build it in the glass.
- →Fill a tall glass to the top with ice.
- →Add 50 ml of arrack.
- →Squeeze in a quarter of a lime and drop the wedge in.
- →Top with roughly 150 ml of cold, spicy ginger beer.
- →Stir once, gently, to keep the fizz.
Why Sri Lankan ginger beer makes the drink
Sri Lankan ginger beer is the reason the drink tastes better on the island than anywhere else. The best-known local brand, sold everywhere in small glass bottles, is made with real ginger and has a dry, peppery heat that lingers.
Ginger ale is a different thing: paler, sweeter and far milder. Outside Sri Lanka, choose a ginger beer described as fiery or made with fresh ginger, and avoid sweet, mild ones, which turn the drink into lemonade.
Which arrack to use with ginger beer
Choosing an arrack for ginger beer is a question of balance. Ginger beer is assertive, so a very light arrack disappears and a very fine one is wasted.
- →Old arrack: the classic choice, soft and nutty beneath the spice.
- →Double distilled arrack: a livelier result with more fruit.
- →Young coconut arrack: the fullest flavour, worth the small extra cost.
- →Extra special arrack: fine for a crowd, with a stronger pour.
- →Long-aged arrack: keep it for sipping.
Variations on arrack and ginger beer
Variations on arrack and ginger beer turn up on cocktail lists across Colombo, Galle and the south coast. Most add one extra element.
- →With bitters: two dashes of aromatic bitters for depth.
- →With fresh ginger: a slice muddled in the glass for more heat.
- →With kithul treacle: a teaspoon stirred in for a darker sweetness.
- →With mint: a few leaves clapped and dropped in.
- →With chilli: a thin slice of green chilli for the brave.
Where and when to drink it in Sri Lanka
The time to drink arrack and ginger beer in Sri Lanka is the hour before sunset, on a west-facing beach or a fort rampart. Every hotel bar and most licensed restaurants can make one, and the ingredients for a villa are sold in any town.
Lankan Stays & Trails can have the makings waiting in a private villa on arrival, shopped for ahead of a poya day when bottle shops are shut.
Frequently asked questions
What is arrack and ginger beer called?
It is usually just called arrack and ginger beer. Bars may list it as an arrack mule, an arrack buck or an arrack attack. Locally you may hear arrack and EGB, after the initials of the island's best-known ginger beer brand.
What is the ratio of arrack to ginger beer?
A good starting ratio is one part arrack to three parts ginger beer, or 50 ml of arrack to 150 ml of ginger beer in a tall glass full of ice. Add a squeeze of lime. Adjust towards two to one for a stronger drink.
Can I use ginger ale instead of ginger beer with arrack?
You can, but the drink will be sweeter and much milder. Ginger ale lacks the heat that makes the combination work. If it is all you have, add a slice of fresh ginger and extra lime to sharpen it.
Which arrack is best with ginger beer?
A mid-range arrack is best: old arrack, double distilled arrack or a young pure coconut arrack. They have enough flavour to show through the ginger without being so fine that mixing them is a waste. Save long-aged arrack for neat drinking.
Is Sri Lankan ginger beer alcoholic?
No. The ginger beer sold as a soft drink in Sri Lanka is non-alcoholic. It is made with real ginger and has a strong, peppery flavour. It is widely drunk on its own, with meals and as a remedy for an unsettled stomach.
How strong is an arrack and ginger beer?
Made with 50 ml of arrack at around 35 per cent and 150 ml of ginger beer over ice, the drink works out at roughly seven to nine per cent alcohol, similar to a strong beer. It tastes lighter than it is, so pace it in the heat.