El Massaya - Arak (750ml)
Price: $34.99
| Producer | El Massaya |
| Country | Lebanon |
| Region | Bekaa Valley |
| Style | Liqueur |
| Sku | 520650 |
| Size | 750ml |
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Welcome to the world of El Massaya Arak, a Lebanese treasure that combines tradition, craftsmanship, and a beguiling aniseed flavor.
Arak is the ideal aperitif, cleansing the palate and aiding digestion, setting the stage for a delightful culinary journey. In Lebanon, it often serves as the perfect accompaniment to a classic selection of mezze, a variety of dishes with contrasting aromas that kickstart many lunch or dinner gatherings.
El Massaya Arak invites you to savor the spirit in your own unique way. The traditional approach suggests diluting the spirit with water and ice, admiring its transformation into an aromatic cloudy white elixir. However, the Massaya way offers a different perspective.
For a refreshing and delightful experience, pour two fingers of Arak into a clean long drinking glass, fill it with ice, and give it a gentle shake. As the ice melts, you'll savor a very refreshing, tasty, and smooth Arak.
The Art of Arak Making
El Massaya takes pride in crafting Arak of the highest quality. It begins with the careful selection of plump Obeïdi grapes, a variety extensively grown in the Beqaa Valley. These grapes, hand-harvested in September, are meticulously crushed and pressed to obtain the finest Obeïdi juice.
The Arak-making process involves several steps:
1. Fermentation: Obeïdi grapes are transformed into wine, reaching an alcohol content of 13%.
2. Distillation: The wine is distilled in Moorish-lid stills to produce "brouilli," a low-grade alcohol at around 45%.
3. Second Distillation: The brouilli undergoes a second distillation in Moorish-lid stills to create a medium-grade alcohol at approximately 65%.
4. Aniseed Magic: The second distillate is macerated with green aniseed grown in Hiné and distilled, resulting in a low-grade Arak with an alcohol content of about 70%.
But El Massaya Arak's journey is not over yet. It is carefully transferred to aging vessels, special jars commissioned from Beit Chabib. In these vessels, the liquid undergoes a transformation, shedding the low-density alcohol, known as the "angel's share," that prevents Arak from achieving the desired smoothness and silkiness.
Only when El Massaya Arak has properly rested, matured, and is diluted to 50%, does it earn the right to be bottled in its distinctive blue bottle, representing the pinnacle of Arak craftsmanship.
