Quick answer
The best mixers for arrack are soda water with fresh lime, spicy ginger beer and fresh king coconut water. All three complement arrack's floral, lightly nutty flavour without burying it. Tonic water, passion fruit juice, lime juice and cold black tea also work well. Cola and lemonade are popular in Sri Lanka but cover the taste of the spirit. A good general ratio is one part arrack to three parts mixer, over plenty of ice, with a squeeze of lime in almost every case.
Key takeaways
- Soda with lime, ginger beer and king coconut water are the three best everyday mixers for arrack.
- A ratio of one part arrack to three parts mixer over ice suits most long arrack drinks.
- Fresh lime improves nearly every arrack drink and is sold cheaply in every Sri Lankan market.
- Cola is the most common mixer for inexpensive arrack in Sri Lanka but hides the flavour of better bottles.
- Soda, ginger beer and tonic are sold in small glass bottles and cans in almost every Sri Lankan grocery.
What makes a good mixer for arrack
A good mixer for arrack respects how delicate the spirit is. Arrack is lighter and more floral than whisky or dark rum, so strong, sweet mixers swamp it quickly.
- →Dryness: less sugar lets the arrack show.
- →Acidity: citrus lifts its floral notes.
- →Spice: ginger and cinnamon echo its warmth.
- →Cold and fizz: both suit the climate and the drink.
The best mixers for arrack
The best mixers for arrack are the ones Sri Lankans have settled on over generations. Each gives a different kind of drink.
- →Soda water and lime: dry, clean and the most traditional.
- →Ginger beer: spicy and a little sweet, the island's favourite highball.
- →King coconut water: soft, lightly sweet and ideal on the beach.
- →Plain cold water: the old way, and the best test of a good arrack.
Other mixers that work well
Other mixers that work well with arrack are mostly tart or lightly bitter. They are worth trying once the classics are familiar.
- →Tonic water: gentle bitterness and sweetness; add lime.
- →Fresh lime juice with sugar and soda: in effect a long arrack sour.
- →Passion fruit juice: sharp and fragrant; use a small amount with soda.
- →Cold black Ceylon tea with lime: a simple arrack iced tea.
- →Fresh pineapple juice: sweet and tropical; lengthen with soda.
- →Wood apple juice: thick, sour-sweet and unmistakably Sri Lankan.
Mixers that bury arrack
Some mixers bury arrack entirely. They are not wrong, and arrack with cola is probably the most-poured drink in the country, but they are best kept for the cheapest bottles.
Cola, sweet lemonade, cream soda and energy drinks are the main culprits. Each is sweet and strongly flavoured, and after the second sip the arrack contributes only alcohol. Thick fruit nectars and milky mixers have the same effect.
Matching the mixer to the arrack
Matching the mixer to the arrack avoids both waste and disappointment. As a rule, the better the bottle, the plainer the mixer should be.
- →Extra special arrack: cola, ginger beer or king coconut water.
- →Old arrack: soda and lime, ginger beer or water.
- →Pure coconut arrack: soda and lime, tonic, or a sour.
- →Aged coconut arrack: a few drops of water, or nothing.
Shopping for mixers in Sri Lanka
Shopping for mixers in Sri Lanka is easy. Soda, ginger beer and tonic are sold in every supermarket and most village shops, limes in every market, and king coconuts at roadside stalls for very little. Glass bottles of soda and ginger beer carry a small deposit, which the shop refunds when the empties come back. Ice is the one thing worth planning: ask the villa or hotel to make extra, since bagged ice is not always easy to find outside the towns.
Lankan Stays & Trails drivers are happy to stop for mixers and limes on the way to a villa or beach hotel, and will suggest stocking up on arrack the day before a poya, when bottle shops and bars are closed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best mixer for arrack?
Soda water with fresh lime and spicy ginger beer are the two best mixers. Soda and lime is dry and lets the arrack show, while ginger beer adds spice and sweetness. Fresh king coconut water is a close third, especially on the beach.
Can you mix arrack with Coke?
Yes, and many Sri Lankans do, particularly with inexpensive extra special arrack. Cola is sweet and strongly flavoured, so it hides the taste of the spirit. It is a waste of a good coconut arrack but a perfectly reasonable use of a cheap one.
Is arrack good with tonic?
Yes. Tonic water's light bitterness works well with the floral character of coconut arrack. Use one part arrack to three parts tonic over ice with a wedge of lime. Choose a drier tonic if you can, since sweet ones flatten the drink.
What juice goes with arrack?
Tart juices suit arrack best: lime, passion fruit and pineapple are the usual choices in Sri Lanka. Use them in small amounts and lengthen with soda so the drink does not become too sweet. Orange juice works but adds little.
How much mixer should I add to arrack?
One part arrack to three parts mixer is a reliable starting point, for example 50 ml of arrack to 150 ml of mixer in a tall glass full of ice. With soda or water, two parts is enough if you prefer a stronger drink.
Can you buy mixers easily in Sri Lanka?
Yes. Soda water, ginger beer, tonic, cola and lemonade are sold in supermarkets, grocery shops and many roadside kiosks across the island, including on poya days when alcohol is not sold. Fresh limes and king coconuts are available almost everywhere.