Quick answer
Arrack and whisky are different spirits: Sri Lankan arrack is distilled from fermented coconut flower sap, while whisky is distilled from fermented grain such as malted barley, corn or rye. Whisky is aged in oak casks and is usually 40 per cent alcohol or more. Arrack is aged mainly in halmilla wood vats and is 33 to 40 per cent. Arrack is lighter, fruitier and far less oaky. In Sri Lanka imported whisky often costs two to four times as much as a good aged arrack.
Key takeaways
- Arrack is made from coconut flower sap and whisky from grain, so the two are unrelated spirits.
- Whisky gets much of its flavour from oak casks, while arrack is aged mainly in milder halmilla vats.
- Aged coconut arrack is closest in feel to a light, unpeated Speyside or Irish whiskey, without the vanilla.
- Imported whisky in Sri Lanka often costs two to four times the price of a good aged arrack because of duty.
- Whisky drinkers usually prefer pure coconut arrack aged for several years, served neat with a little water.
Arrack vs whisky: what separates them
Arrack and whisky share a colour and a glass and very little else. The differences begin with the plant and continue through the warehouse.
- →Raw material: coconut flower sap for arrack; cereal grain for whisky.
- →Preparation: none for arrack; malting, milling and mashing for whisky.
- →Fermentation: hours, with wild yeast, for arrack; two to four days for whisky.
- →Wood: halmilla vats for arrack; oak casks for whisky.
- →Minimum ageing: none fixed for arrack; three years for Scotch.
How arrack tastes to a whisky drinker
Arrack tastes lighter and more floral than whisky, with a drier finish. The cereal sweetness, vanilla and oak that define most whisky are largely absent, and there is no peat smoke.
Aged coconut arrack does share something with gentle, fruity whiskies. Honey, orchard fruit and a soft nuttiness are common to both. A drinker who enjoys light Speyside malts or Irish pot still whiskey is usually on comfortable ground.
Arrack and whisky prices in Sri Lanka
Whisky prices in Sri Lanka surprise most visitors. Import duty and excise are heavy, so a standard blended Scotch in a bottle shop often costs roughly US$40 to US$70 and a single malt well above that.
Arrack prices are far lower. A good aged coconut arrack costs roughly US$25 to US$45 a bottle, and by the glass the gap is similar. The arriving duty-free shops at Colombo airport are the cheapest source of whisky if you prefer to stay with it.
Which arrack suits which whisky drinker
Matching an arrack to a whisky habit is a matter of weight. No arrack is smoky, so peat lovers should expect a change of register.
- →Light blends with soda: try an old arrack with soda and lime.
- →Irish whiskey or light Speyside: try a mid-aged pure coconut arrack.
- →Sherried or older malts: try the oldest coconut arrack on the list.
- →Bourbon: try an arrack with oak cask influence, where available.
- →Peated Islay malts: enjoy arrack as something different, not a substitute.
Drinking arrack the way you drink whisky
Arrack can be drunk in the same way as whisky. Serve an aged coconut arrack neat in a nosing glass, add a few drops of still water and give it a minute.
Arrack is less forgiving of ice than whisky because it is lighter to begin with. One large piece is fine in the heat. A highball of arrack and soda with a twist of lime is the island's answer to a Scotch and soda.
Planning your drinks on a Sri Lanka trip
Planning for whisky on a Sri Lanka trip mostly means deciding in advance. Bring a bottle from duty free if a particular whisky matters, and treat arrack as the local discovery.
Lankan Stays & Trails can arrange an aged arrack tasting in Colombo, Galle or the hill country, where a fireside glass in Nuwara Eliya on a cool evening makes the comparison with whisky feel entirely natural.
- →Buy imported whisky at arrivals duty free, within the allowance.
- →Order arrack by the glass first, then buy a bottle of the one you like.
- →Remember that no alcohol is sold on poya days.
Frequently asked questions
Is arrack a whisky?
No. Whisky is distilled from fermented grain and aged in oak. Sri Lankan arrack is distilled from fermented coconut flower sap and aged mainly in halmilla wood. They look similar in the glass but belong to different categories of spirit.
Does arrack taste like whisky?
Not closely. Arrack is lighter, fruitier and more floral, with little of the vanilla, oak and cereal character of whisky and no smoke. Aged coconut arrack has some overlap with soft, honeyed whiskies, which is why whisky drinkers often take to it.
Is whisky expensive in Sri Lanka?
Yes. Heavy import duty and excise make whisky considerably dearer than in most source countries. A standard blended Scotch often costs roughly US$40 to US$70 in a shop. Arriving passengers can buy it more cheaply at the duty-free shops at Colombo airport.
Which arrack is closest to whisky?
The closest are pure coconut arracks aged for roughly ten years or more, and any bottling that includes oak cask maturation. They have the weight and length to be sipped neat. They remain fruitier and less woody than whisky.
Is arrack cheaper than whisky in Sri Lanka?
Yes, by a wide margin. Everyday arrack costs roughly US$10 to US$20 a bottle and good aged arrack roughly US$25 to US$45, against imported whisky at two to four times those figures. Prices change frequently with excise duty.
Can I bring my own whisky into Sri Lanka?
Arriving passengers have a duty-free allowance for spirits, which Sri Lankan customs revises from time to time. Check the current figure before you fly. Many travellers buy within the allowance at the arrivals duty-free shops in Colombo airport.