Quick answer
Double distilled describes a method: the spirit has been distilled twice, giving a fuller, oilier texture. Most double distilled arracks are mid-range blends with neutral spirit. Pure coconut describes the raw material: 100 per cent coconut distillate, with no neutral spirit. Pure coconut arrack tastes more of coconut fruit and flowers and costs more, usually US$20 to US$35 against roughly US$12 to US$22. Choose double distilled for body at a lower price, pure coconut for the authentic coconut taste.
Key takeaways
- Double distilled describes the distillation method; pure coconut describes the raw material.
- Most double distilled arracks are blends containing neutral spirit.
- Pure coconut arrack contains only coconut distillate and tastes more of coconut.
- Pure coconut arrack usually costs noticeably more than double distilled.
- A few bottles are both double distilled and 100 per cent coconut.
Two different claims
Double distilled tells you how the spirit was made. Some or all of the coconut arrack in the bottle was distilled twice, often in pot stills, to concentrate flavour and texture. It says nothing about whether neutral spirit has been blended in, and most double distilled arracks are blends.
Pure coconut tells you what the spirit was made from. A bottle labelled 100 per cent coconut contains only distilled coconut toddy, with no molasses spirit. It says nothing about distillation, which could be single or double, pot or column.
Because the claims are different, they can overlap. A few bottles are both double distilled and pure coconut, and these sit near the top of the non-aged range.
- →Double distilled: a method.
- →Pure coconut: a raw material.
- →Some bottles: both.
Taste side by side
A typical double distilled blend tastes full and slightly oily, with stronger fruit and spirit warmth than old arrack and a lingering finish. The coconut is present but shares the stage with the neutral spirit's clean sweetness.
A pure coconut arrack tastes unmistakably of coconut toddy: ripe tropical fruit, flowers, a soft nuttiness and sometimes a faint savoury note. Even young, it is more complex than a blend, and with a few drops of water the aroma opens further.
Texture can be similar, since both are bottled at higher strengths than everyday arrack. The flavour profile is where they part: body and warmth for double distilled, fruit and flowers for pure coconut.
Price and value
Double distilled blends usually cost roughly US$12 to US$22 for a full bottle, close to old arrack. Pure coconut arracks usually cost roughly US$20 to US$35 young and more with age. Prices change after excise revisions.
The price gap reflects raw material cost. Each litre of coconut distillate needs roughly eight to ten litres of hand-tapped toddy, while neutral spirit is cheap to make in volume. Double distillation adds some cost, but less than an all-coconut recipe.
For mixing, double distilled offers better value. For tasting what Sri Lankan arrack really is, pure coconut is worth the extra.
- →Double distilled: roughly US$12 to US$22.
- →Pure coconut: roughly US$20 to US$35 young.
- →Gap: driven by toddy cost.
Which to use when
Double distilled arrack is a strong all-rounder for long drinks. With ginger beer it makes a punchy, flavourful glass, and it holds up in stirred cocktails such as an arrack old fashioned, where its body carries sweetener and bitters.
Pure coconut arrack is the better choice for tasting neat, for fresh cocktails such as a sour where the spirit should show, and for gifts. It is also the better bottle for a first serious tasting, because it represents the country's spirit most clearly.
Lankan Stays & Trails guides can help you buy a half bottle of each from a licensed shop and compare them neat and with soda on your first evening.
- →Double distilled: ginger beer, stirred drinks.
- →Pure coconut: neat, sours, gifts.
- →Compare: half bottle of each.
Reading the labels
Look for the exact words. Double distilled on its own means a method, and you should assume a blend. 100 per cent coconut or pure coconut means no neutral spirit. If both phrases appear, you have the fuller-bodied pure coconut version.
Check the strength too. Pure coconut arracks often sit at roughly 36 to 40 per cent, while double distilled blends often sit roughly between 34 and 38 per cent. The number helps but is not decisive.
Buy from licensed shops or duty free, with intact seals and excise stickers. Ask staff if the label is unclear; they can usually tell you which bottles are pure coconut.
- →Double distilled alone: assume a blend.
- →100 per cent coconut: no neutral spirit.
- →Both: fuller pure coconut.
The verdict
If your priority is value and versatility in long drinks, choose double distilled. If your priority is authentic coconut flavour, choose pure coconut. If you want both body and authenticity, look for a bottle that is double distilled and 100 per cent coconut.
For a gift, pure coconut wins, ideally with an age statement. For a beach villa stock-up, a double distilled arrack will please most of the group at a sensible price.
Either is a big step up from everyday arrack, and both reward a few drops of water and a moment to taste.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between double distilled and pure coconut arrack?
Double distilled describes the method: the spirit was distilled twice for a fuller texture. Pure coconut describes the raw material: only coconut distillate, with no neutral spirit. Most double distilled arracks are blends, so pure coconut arrack usually tastes more of coconut and costs more.
Is double distilled arrack made from coconut?
Partly. Double distilled arrack contains coconut distillate, but most bottles are blends that also contain neutral spirit from molasses. Only a bottle that says 100 per cent coconut or pure coconut contains no neutral spirit. A few bottles are both double distilled and pure coconut.
Which tastes better, double distilled or pure coconut?
It depends on taste. Double distilled offers body, warmth and a long finish; pure coconut offers fruit, flowers and the authentic coconut character. Most enthusiasts prefer pure coconut for sipping and double distilled for mixing. Tasting both side by side is the best way to choose.
Why does pure coconut arrack cost more?
Each litre of coconut distillate needs roughly eight to ten litres of hand-tapped toddy, while neutral spirit is cheap to make in volume. Pure coconut arrack contains only the expensive spirit, so it costs more than double distilled blends that mix the two.
Is double distilled arrack good for cocktails?
Yes, especially for stirred drinks such as an arrack old fashioned and for punchy long drinks with ginger beer. Its fuller body holds up well against sweeteners and mixers. For fresh, citrus-led cocktails where the coconut should show, pure coconut arrack is often better.
Can an arrack be both double distilled and pure coconut?
Yes. A few producers sell 100 per cent coconut arrack that has been double distilled, and the label will say both. These bottles combine authentic coconut flavour with a fuller texture and usually cost more than either a double distilled blend or a young pure coconut arrack.
Which should I take home as a gift?
A pure coconut arrack, ideally with an age statement, makes the better gift because it represents Sri Lankan arrack most authentically. A double distilled blend is better kept for drinking during your trip. Buy sealed bottles from licensed stores or duty free.