Quick answer
Arrack tastes floral, lightly sweet and gently nutty, somewhere between a light rum and a young brandy. It does not taste strongly of coconut, because it is made from the sap of the coconut flower, not from the nut. Young arrack has notes of citrus peel, blossom and a little yeast. Aged arrack adds honey, dried fruit, toasted coconut and mild wood spice. The finish is dry and fairly short. Everyday blended arrack is lighter and sweeter, with less depth.
Key takeaways
- Arrack tastes floral and lightly nutty, between a light rum and a young brandy, with a dry finish.
- Arrack does not taste like coconut cream or coconut rum, because it is made from flower sap, not the nut.
- Young coconut arrack shows citrus peel, blossom and a faint yeasty note from the toddy.
- Arrack aged several years in halmilla wood gains honey, dried fruit and gentle spice without heavy vanilla.
- Blended and extra special arracks are lighter and a touch sweeter than pure coconut arrack.
What arrack tastes like overall
Arrack tastes soft and aromatic. The usual comparison is a light rum crossed with an unaged brandy, and that is fair as far as it goes: it has the easy sweetness of the first and the fruit of the second.
Arrack also has a note of its own that drinkers struggle to name. It is often described as coconut blossom, palm sugar or fresh sap. It is the taste of the toddy the spirit is distilled from, and it is the thing that makes arrack recognisable.
Does arrack taste like coconut
Arrack does not taste like coconut in the way most people expect. The white flesh and milk of the nut, with their creamy, fatty flavour, play no part in making it.
Arrack is made from the sap of the flower, which is closer in flavour to a delicate palm sugar syrup. After fermentation and distillation, what remains is a faint, dry nuttiness. Anyone hoping for a tropical liqueur will be surprised; anyone wary of one will be relieved.
How arrack tastes by style
Arrack's taste changes considerably with the style of bottle. The differences come from how much coconut distillate it contains and how long it has spent in wood.
- →Extra special arrack: light, slightly sweet, faint caramel, short finish.
- →Old arrack: rounder, nutty, mild caramel and blossom.
- →Young pure coconut arrack: floral, citrus peel, fresh sap, a touch of yeast.
- →Aged coconut arrack: honey, dried apricot, toasted coconut, gentle spice.
- →Palmyrah arrack: drier, earthier and more rustic.
Nose, palate and finish
Tasting arrack in three steps, as you would a whisky, brings out more than a quick swallow does.
- →Nose: blossom, light honey, citrus and sometimes ripe banana or pear.
- →Palate: soft entry, mild sweetness, nuttiness, very little burn in aged examples.
- →Finish: dry, clean and fairly short, with a faint woody spice.
- →With water: the floral notes open and the sweetness becomes clearer.
How mixers change the taste of arrack
Mixers change the taste of arrack more than they change heavier spirits, because arrack is delicate. Choosing the right one decides whether you taste it at all.
- →Soda and lime: keeps the floral notes and adds freshness.
- →Ginger beer: adds spice and sweetness; the arrack shows as warmth beneath.
- →King coconut water: softens everything and adds a gentle sweetness.
- →Cola: covers the arrack almost completely.
The best way to taste arrack for the first time
Tasting arrack for the first time works best as a small comparison. Ask a hotel bar for a pure coconut arrack and an aged one, neat, with water and soda on the side, and try each plain before diluting it. Tasting in the evening, indoors or in a breeze, helps: in the full heat of the afternoon any spirit smells mainly of alcohol, and arrack's lighter notes are the first thing to be lost. Eat something first, and keep the pours small.
Lankan Stays & Trails can arrange a guided first tasting in Colombo, Galle or at a beach hotel, so that the rest of the trip's orders are made knowing what you like.
Frequently asked questions
Does arrack taste like coconut?
Not really. Arrack is made from the sap of the coconut flower, not from coconut flesh or milk. It has a faint, dry nuttiness and a floral note, but none of the creamy, sweet coconut flavour found in coconut rum or desserts.
Is arrack sweet?
Arrack is only lightly sweet. Pure coconut arrack is fairly dry, with a honeyed impression on the nose more than sugar on the tongue. Blended and extra special arracks can taste a little sweeter. It is less sweet than most dark or spiced rum.
Is arrack smooth?
Aged pure coconut arrack is notably smooth and easy to sip neat. Young and blended arracks have more bite when drunk plain, which is why they are usually served long with soda, water or ginger beer over plenty of ice.
What is arrack similar to?
Arrack is most similar to a light or gold rum, with something of a young brandy in its fruitiness. Aged arrack can recall a light, honeyed whisky or cognac. It is not similar to aniseed spirits such as arak or raki.
Does arrack smell strong?
Good arrack smells gentle: floral, lightly honeyed and a little fruity. Cheaper styles can smell sharper, with more raw alcohol. The yeasty, sour smell of toddy, from which arrack is distilled, does not carry through to the finished spirit.
Will I like arrack if I do not like rum?
Possibly. Arrack is drier and more floral than most rum, without the heavy molasses sweetness some people dislike. Try an aged coconut arrack neat, then with soda and lime. If you enjoy brandy or light whisky, there is a good chance you will like it.