Quick answer
Special and extra special arrack are both everyday blended arracks, made largely from neutral spirit with some coconut arrack and bottled at around 33.5 per cent alcohol. In 2026 both cost roughly US$10 to US$14 for a 750 ml bottle in licensed shops, usually within a fraction of a dollar of each other from the same house. Extra special is the more widely known and is what most people mean by gal. The difference in taste is small and varies by distiller.
Key takeaways
- Special and extra special are both everyday blended arracks at around 33.5 per cent alcohol.
- Both cost roughly US$10 to US$14 for a 750 ml bottle in 2026.
- From the same house they are usually priced within a fraction of a dollar of each other.
- Extra special is the better-known bottle and the one most people mean by gal.
- The difference in taste is small and varies by distiller.
What the names mean
The names special and extra special are trade categories rather than strict technical grades. Both describe the entry level of the arrack shelf, below old arrack, double distilled and coconut arrack. Each distiller decides how its own special and extra special differ, and some make only one of them.
Extra special is the more famous name. It is the bottle that gave everyday arrack its nickname gal, and in most bars a request for gal brings extra special. Special is sometimes a slightly lighter or simpler blend, sometimes a regional favourite, and sometimes almost the same product in different packaging.
The practical point is that neither name promises much more coconut arrack than the other. For that, the label needs to say old, double distilled or 100 per cent coconut.
Shop staff use the names loosely too. Ask for special in one store and extra special may be handed over, and the reverse. Look at the label before paying if the exact bottle matters to you.
- →Both are entry-level, everyday categories.
- →Each distiller sets its own difference.
- →Extra special is what most people mean by gal.
How their prices compare
In 2026 both special and extra special arrack cost roughly US$10 to US$14 for a full 750 ml bottle, US$5.50 to US$7.50 for a half and US$3 to US$4 for a quarter in licensed shops. From the same house, the two are usually within a fraction of a dollar of each other.
Because excise is charged by alcohol content, two bottles at the same strength carry the same tax, which keeps the prices together. Where one is cheaper, it is usually because of the house's pricing or the timing of a shop's last delivery.
In practice, price is not a reason to choose one over the other. Choose by taste or availability.
- →Full bottle: roughly US$10 to US$14 for either.
- →From the same house: a fraction of a dollar apart.
- →Same strength, same tax.
How they taste
Both styles taste light, slightly sweet and short, with a faint coconut note. Where they differ, extra special is sometimes described as a touch rounder, special as a touch drier or simpler, but this varies from house to house.
With cola or ginger beer the difference is very hard to detect. With soda water and lime it may show as a little more or less sweetness. Many regular drinkers prefer one simply out of habit.
A quarter of each from the same house, tasted side by side, is the quickest way to form your own view.
- →Both light, sweet and short.
- →Small, house-specific differences.
- →Compare quarters with soda and lime.
Which one to buy
For a villa or a group, buy whichever the shop has more of in full bottles. For a first taste, extra special is the classic gal and the better reference. If a local bar pours special as its house arrack, drink that when in the bar; it will be fresh and genuine.
If neither satisfies, move up a category rather than across. Old arrack costs only a little more and adds noticeable depth.
- →Group: whichever is in stock in full bottles.
- →First taste: extra special as the reference.
- →Want more flavour: old arrack.
Buying either one safely
Buying either style safely means a licensed shop or supermarket, an unbroken seal and an intact excise sticker. Both are popular and both are imitated, so a bottle that looks tampered with or is priced far below the shelf should be left alone.
Lankan Stays & Trails drivers can stop at licensed stores along most routes, and guides can explain the shelf so you pick the category you want.
- →Licensed shops only.
- →Check seal and sticker.
- →Be wary of unusually low prices.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between special and extra special arrack?
Both are everyday blended arracks at around 33.5 per cent alcohol, made largely from neutral spirit with some coconut arrack. Each distiller sets its own difference, often small: extra special may be slightly rounder, special slightly simpler. Extra special is the better-known bottle and the usual meaning of gal.
Is special arrack cheaper than extra special?
Usually only by a fraction of a dollar, if at all. In 2026 both cost roughly US$10 to US$14 for a 750 ml bottle in licensed shops. Excise duty is the same for both at the same strength, so prices stay close.
Is special arrack also called gal?
Some drinkers use gal for any everyday arrack, including special, but the nickname is most closely linked to extra special. In a local bar, asking for gal usually brings extra special or the house's default everyday bottle.
Is extra special better than special arrack?
Not necessarily. The names suggest a ranking, but both are entry-level everyday categories and the difference varies by distiller. For a clearly better drink, choose old, double distilled or coconut arrack rather than relying on the word extra.
Which is stronger, special or extra special arrack?
Both are usually bottled at around 33.5 per cent alcohol, though the exact figure is printed on each label and may vary slightly between houses. Neither is meaningfully stronger. Old and coconut arracks are often bottled stronger, up to around 40 per cent.
Can I use special arrack in cocktails?
For simple long drinks with soda, cola or ginger beer, special works as well as extra special. For cocktails where the spirit should be tasted, such as a sour or old fashioned, choose old or coconut arrack instead, which has much more flavour.
Do all distillers make both special and extra special arrack?
No. Some houses make both, some make only one, and the names and packaging change over time. Where a shop has only one of them, it will serve exactly the same purpose for long drinks with soda, cola or ginger beer.