Quick answer
Arrack works in most cocktails that call for light or gold rum. Eight reliable recipes to make at home are the arrack and ginger beer, arrack with soda and lime, the arrack sour, the arrack daiquiri, the arrack mojito, arrack punch, the arrack old fashioned and an arrack negroni. Most use 50 to 60 ml of arrack and need only limes, sugar, ice and one mixer. A pure coconut arrack at around 40 per cent gives the best results in shaken and stirred drinks.
Key takeaways
- Arrack can replace light or gold rum in most cocktail recipes, often with a little extra sugar.
- Most arrack cocktails use 50 to 60 ml of arrack per drink.
- Fresh lime juice, sugar syrup, ice and ginger beer cover the majority of arrack recipes.
- Pure coconut arrack at around 40 per cent ABV is the best choice for shaken and stirred cocktails.
- Arrack's delicate flavour suits sharp, dry and spiced drinks better than heavy, creamy ones.
What you need for arrack cocktails at home
Arrack cocktails at home need very little equipment. A measure, a shaker or lidded jar, a long spoon and a strainer cover every recipe below.
- →Arrack: pure coconut arrack if possible, around 40 per cent.
- →Citrus: fresh limes, and an orange for peel.
- →Sweetener: sugar syrup made with equal parts sugar and hot water, cooled.
- →Mixers: spicy ginger beer and soda water.
- →Extras: aromatic bitters, fresh mint, nutmeg.
Two long arrack drinks
Long arrack drinks are the place to start. Both are built in the glass over ice and take a minute.
- →Arrack and ginger beer: 50 ml arrack, 150 ml ginger beer, a squeeze of lime, tall glass, lots of ice.
- →Arrack, soda and lime: 50 ml arrack, juice of half a lime, 120 to 150 ml soda water, tall glass, lots of ice.
Three shaken arrack cocktails
Shaken arrack cocktails show the spirit at its best, because lime and sugar draw out its floral side. Shake each hard with ice for ten to fifteen seconds.
- →Arrack sour: 60 ml arrack, 25 ml lime juice, 15 to 20 ml sugar syrup, optional 15 ml egg white; strain into a short glass, bitters on top.
- →Arrack daiquiri: 60 ml arrack, 25 ml lime juice, 15 ml sugar syrup; strain into a chilled stemmed glass.
- →Arrack mojito: muddle eight mint leaves with 20 ml sugar syrup and 25 ml lime juice, add 50 ml arrack and crushed ice, top with soda.
Two stirred arrack cocktails
Stirred arrack cocktails are stronger and slower, for after dinner. Use an aged arrack and stir over ice for 20 to 30 seconds.
- →Arrack old fashioned: 60 ml aged arrack, 5 ml kithul treacle or maple syrup, two dashes of bitters; strain over one large ice cube, orange peel.
- →Arrack negroni: 30 ml arrack, 30 ml sweet vermouth, 30 ml bitter red aperitif; strain over ice, orange peel.
One arrack punch for a group
Arrack punch is the recipe for a party and the oldest of them all. The proportions are one of sour, one of sweet, two of strong and four of weak.
For eight people, combine 250 ml lime juice, 250 ml sugar syrup, 500 ml arrack and a litre of cold water or weak black tea. Chill, pour over a large block of ice and grate nutmeg on top. Make it an hour or two ahead, since the flavours settle as it rests, and add the ice only when guests arrive.
Tips, swaps and what to buy next time
A few adjustments make arrack cocktails at home more reliable. Arrack is drier than rum, so taste and add a little more syrup if a drink seems sharp. Outside Sri Lanka, choose the spiciest ginger beer available.
Lankan Stays & Trails suggests buying one bottle for mixing and one aged bottle for sipping before you fly home, and can time a shop stop so the bottles go straight into your suitcase.
- →No arrack sour without fresh lime: bottled juice ruins it.
- →No kithul treacle: use dark maple syrup.
- →Only blended arrack to hand: stick to the long drinks.
Frequently asked questions
What cocktails can I make with arrack?
Arrack suits most rum cocktails. Good choices are the arrack and ginger beer, arrack soda and lime, arrack sour, daiquiri, mojito, punch, old fashioned and negroni. Sharp, dry and spiced drinks work better than creamy or very sweet ones.
Can I use arrack instead of rum in a mojito?
Yes. Replace the white rum with the same quantity of arrack, about 50 ml. The result is slightly drier and more floral. Add a touch more sugar syrup if needed, and use plenty of fresh mint and lime.
What is the easiest arrack cocktail?
The easiest is arrack and ginger beer: 50 ml of arrack over ice in a tall glass, topped with 150 ml of spicy ginger beer and a squeeze of lime. It needs no equipment and works with almost any arrack.
Which arrack should I buy for cocktails?
A pure coconut arrack at around 40 per cent alcohol is the most versatile for cocktails. It has enough flavour for sours and stirred drinks. Blended or extra special arrack is fine for highballs with ginger beer or cola.
Does arrack work in a negroni?
It does, giving a softer, more floral negroni than gin. Use equal parts arrack, sweet vermouth and bitter red aperitif, stirred over ice and served with orange peel. A young coconut arrack suits it better than a long-aged one.
How should I store arrack at home?
Store arrack upright, sealed, away from direct sunlight and heat. It does not need refrigerating and does not improve in the bottle. An opened bottle keeps its flavour for a year or more, fading only slowly as the level drops.