Quick answer
To read a Sri Lankan arrack label, check six things: the category wording, the strength, any age statement, the bottle size, the producer and the excise security sticker. The category line says whether the bottle is 100 per cent coconut arrack, a blended arrack or a special arrack containing neutral spirit. Strength is given as a percentage by volume, usually 33 to 40. Words such as old, special and reserve are style names, not ages. A government excise sticker on the cap or neck shows duty has been paid.
Key takeaways
- The category line on an arrack label, such as 100 per cent coconut arrack or special arrack, is the single most useful piece of information.
- Alcohol strength on Sri Lankan arrack labels is shown as a percentage by volume, usually between 33 and 40.
- Old, special, extra special and reserve are style names on arrack labels and do not guarantee an age.
- Legal bottles of arrack in Sri Lanka carry an excise security sticker, and a missing or damaged one is a reason not to buy.
- Standard arrack bottle sizes are 750 ml, 375 ml and 180 ml.
Six things to read on a Sri Lankan arrack label
A Sri Lankan arrack label gives six pieces of practical information, some on the front and some on the back or the cap. Reading them in order takes less than a minute.
- →Category: coconut arrack, blended arrack or special arrack.
- →Strength: percentage of alcohol by volume.
- →Age: a number of years, if any is claimed.
- →Volume: 750, 375 or 180 ml.
- →Producer: the distillery and its address.
- →Excise sticker: proof of duty paid and a guard against counterfeits.
The category line: coconut, blended or special
The category line is where a Sri Lankan arrack label tells the truth about its contents. It is often in small capitals beneath the brand name or on the back label.
A bottle marked 100 per cent coconut arrack, or pure coconut arrack, holds only distilled coconut toddy. Blended arrack contains coconut arrack plus neutral spirit. Special and extra special arrack are mostly neutral spirit with coconut arrack and sometimes permitted flavouring. All are legal and honest products at different prices.
Strength and age on an arrack label
Strength on an arrack label appears as a percentage followed by v/v or ABV. Everyday bottles cluster around 33 to 34 per cent and better bottles around 36 to 40. Older bottles sometimes also show a proof figure, which can be ignored.
Age on an arrack label is reliable only when it is a number. A bottle stating a number of years has spent that long in wood. A bottle named old or very special old is using a traditional style name, and the spirit inside may be a blend of ages.
What the style names on arrack labels mean
Style names on Sri Lankan arrack labels follow loose conventions shared between distillers. They indicate where a bottle sits in the range more than how it was made.
- →Special and extra special: the entry level, for mixing.
- →Old: a middle-tier blended arrack with some time in wood.
- →Double distilled: a fuller style with more pot still character.
- →Reserve, premium and vintage: upper tier, usually pure coconut arrack.
- →Halmilla: a reference to the traditional vat wood used for ageing.
Checking that a bottle of arrack is genuine
Checking that a bottle of arrack is genuine matters, because counterfeit and refilled bottles do circulate, mostly in informal outlets. Licensed wine stores, supermarkets and hotel shops are safe sources.
- →Look for the government excise security sticker across the cap or on the neck.
- →Check that the cap seal is unbroken and the fill level is normal.
- →Compare the printed price with the price asked; a large discount is a warning.
- →Avoid bottles sold from car boots, beach stalls or by touts.
Using the label to choose in a Sri Lankan shop
Using the label in a Sri Lankan bottle shop means asking for the bottle to be handed across the counter, since most shops keep stock behind a grille. Staff expect this, and turning a bottle round to read the back is normal.
Lankan Stays & Trails drivers and guides know which licensed shops along each route carry a proper range, and can help with the reading and the queue if it is your first time buying spirits on the island.
Frequently asked questions
How can you tell if arrack is pure coconut arrack?
Read the category line. A pure bottle states 100 per cent coconut arrack or pure coconut arrack on the front or back label. If the label says blended, special or extra special arrack, it contains neutral spirit alongside the coconut distillate.
What does extra special mean on arrack?
Extra special is a category name for the island's entry-level arrack, made mostly from neutral spirit with a proportion of coconut arrack. Despite the name it is the cheapest style, intended for mixing with soda, cola or ginger beer.
What does old arrack mean on the label?
Old arrack is a traditional style name for a middle-tier blended arrack that has usually spent some time in wood. It does not specify an age. Bottles with a stated number of years, or sold as premium aged, give firmer information.
How do I know if a bottle of arrack is fake?
Buy only from licensed shops, check for the government excise security sticker on the cap or neck, make sure the seal is intact and be suspicious of prices well below the printed one. Counterfeits are mostly found in unlicensed, informal outlets.
What is the excise sticker on Sri Lankan liquor bottles?
The excise sticker is a government-issued security label applied to legally produced or imported liquor bottles in Sri Lanka. It shows that excise duty has been paid and helps buyers and inspectors identify counterfeit or smuggled products.
Is the price printed on arrack bottles?
Yes, bottles sold in Sri Lanka generally carry a maximum retail price. Licensed shops should charge that price or less. Hotels and bars selling by the glass set their own prices and add service charge and taxes on top.