Quick answer
Sri Lankan arrack is sold abroad mainly through specialist spirits retailers, online drinks shops and, in cities with Sri Lankan communities, licensed South Asian grocers. Availability is best in the United Kingdom, parts of western Europe, Australia and a number of states in the United States. The label most widely exported is a 40 per cent pure coconut arrack sold as Ceylon Arrack. Expect to pay roughly US$35 to US$60 a bottle, two to three times the Sri Lankan price. If none is available, a light aged rum is the closest substitute.
Key takeaways
- Specialist spirits shops and online drinks retailers are the main sources of Sri Lankan arrack outside the island.
- Arrack is easiest to find in the United Kingdom, Australia, parts of western Europe and some US states.
- The most widely exported bottle is a 40 per cent pure coconut arrack labelled Ceylon Arrack.
- Arrack abroad typically costs roughly US$35 to US$60 a bottle, two to three times the price in Sri Lanka.
- Batavia arrack and Levantine arak are different spirits and are not substitutes for Sri Lankan arrack.
Where Sri Lankan arrack is sold abroad
Sri Lankan arrack is sold abroad through a small number of importers, so it appears in specialist channels and not in ordinary supermarkets. Three kinds of retailer account for nearly all of it.
- →Specialist spirits shops: independent retailers with a rum and world-spirits section.
- →Online drinks retailers: the widest reach, delivering nationally where the law allows.
- →Licensed Sri Lankan and South Asian grocers: in cities with a Sri Lankan community.
- →Cocktail bars: not a shop, but a place to taste and to ask who supplies them.
Availability by region
Availability of arrack varies by region and changes as importers come and go. This is a general picture, not a stockist list.
- →United Kingdom: the best availability, with several online retailers and London shops.
- →Western Europe: found in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland through specialists.
- →Australia: stocked by some large liquor chains and independents, especially in Melbourne and Sydney.
- →United States: distributed in a number of states; availability depends on state liquor rules.
- →Canada: limited, through provincial liquor boards in some provinces.
- →Middle East and Asia: mainly airport duty free.
How to search for arrack
Searching for arrack needs the right words, because the name is shared with other spirits. Search for Ceylon arrack or Sri Lankan coconut arrack, and check that the description mentions coconut flower sap.
Arrack in a shop's listings is often filed under rum or under world spirits, since many retailers have no arrack category. Ask staff directly. If a bar near you uses arrack in cocktails, the bartender will usually know the local supplier.
Spirits not to confuse it with
Several spirits share a similar name with Sri Lankan arrack, and buying the wrong one is an easy mistake online.
- →Batavia arrack: Indonesian, from sugarcane and red rice, pungent and around 50 per cent.
- →Arak: Levantine, from grapes and aniseed, clear and strong.
- →Raki and ouzo: aniseed spirits from Turkey and Greece.
- →Coconut rum: sweetened, flavoured rum, unrelated to arrack.
What arrack costs abroad
Arrack abroad costs considerably more than on the island. Shipping, import duty, local alcohol tax and several margins are added to a bottle that sells for roughly US$20 to US$30 at home.
A 700 or 750 ml bottle of pure coconut arrack typically retails for the equivalent of roughly US$35 to US$60 overseas. Aged expressions, where they are imported at all, cost more. That gap is the best argument for carrying your allowance back from Sri Lanka.
Substitutes, and stocking up next time
Substitutes for Sri Lankan arrack are imperfect but workable in mixed drinks. A light, lightly aged rum is closest. For sipping, there is no real stand-in.
Lankan Stays & Trails can plan a shop stop at the end of your next trip so you leave with the bottles you actually want, within your customs allowance.
- →For highballs: a gold rum with ginger beer and lime.
- →For sours: a light aged rum with a dash of brandy.
- →For punch: gold rum, or Batavia arrack for a historic version.
- →For neat sipping: wait, and buy an aged arrack in Sri Lanka.
Frequently asked questions
Can you buy Sri Lankan arrack outside Sri Lanka?
Yes, in limited channels. Specialist spirits shops, online drinks retailers and some licensed Sri Lankan grocers stock it, mainly in the United Kingdom, western Europe, Australia and parts of the United States. Ordinary supermarkets rarely carry it.
Where can I buy arrack in the UK?
In the United Kingdom, arrack is sold by several online spirits retailers that deliver nationally, by specialist shops in London and other cities, and by some Sri Lankan grocers with a licence. Search for Ceylon arrack to avoid confusion with Batavia arrack.
Is arrack available in the USA?
Arrack is distributed in a number of US states and sold by specialist liquor stores and some online retailers. Availability depends on state alcohol laws and local distributors, so it is easy to find in some cities and absent in others.
Why is arrack so expensive abroad?
The price abroad includes international shipping, import duty, local alcohol taxes and the margins of importer, distributor and retailer. Volumes are small, which keeps costs high. A bottle typically sells for two to three times its Sri Lankan price.
What is a good substitute for arrack?
A light, lightly aged or gold rum is the closest substitute in cocktails and long drinks. Some bartenders add a small amount of brandy to mimic arrack's fruitiness. Aniseed arak and Indonesian Batavia arrack are different spirits and do not substitute.
Is Ceylon arrack the same as Sri Lankan arrack?
Yes. Ceylon is the former name of Sri Lanka, and Ceylon arrack simply means arrack from the island. It is also the brand name of a widely exported pure coconut arrack, which is why the phrase appears on bar menus abroad.