Getting products ready…
Raki is a traditional spirit made by redistilling grape suma with aniseed in copper pot stills; it's at least 40% ABV and turns white with water. Alongside göbek, fresh-grape and oak-rested rakis, our shelf also has Cypriot zivania and Greek ouzo, and we bring your chosen bottle to your door in North Cyprus.
Product list
Showing 9 of 64 products
How is raki made?
Raki starts with suma: grapes are fermented and distilled into a grape spirit. This suma is then distilled a second time with aniseed in traditional copper pot stills. Under the Turkish Food Codex, at least 65% of the total alcohol going into the copper still must be suma, the still may not exceed 5,000 litres, the product must rest for at least a month before bottling and it must be at least 40% ABV. Raki made in Turkey under these rules is protected by a geographical indication as Türk Rakısı (Turkish Raki).
Terms on the label
- Göbek: during distillation the first and last parts are separated; the most balanced middle part is called göbek (the heart).
- Yaş üzüm (fresh grape): rakis whose suma is made from fresh grapes carry this wording. As fresh grapes aren't available all year, other production also uses suma made from raisins.
- Oak-rested: some editions rest in oak casks before bottling, which gives the raki a light colour and woody notes.
Zivania and ouzo: the neighbours on the shelf
Zivania is a clear spirit unique to Cyprus, made by distilling grape pomace and local dry wines; unlike raki, it contains no aniseed. In the European Union, only spirit made in Cyprus may use the name. On the island it's usually drunk ice-cold with nuts and meze. Ouzo is an aniseed spirit specific to Greece and Cyprus and, like raki, turns cloudy when water is added.
How to serve raki
Traditionally, raki is poured first into a tall, slim raki glass, then cold water is added; how much water is entirely up to you. If you want ice, it usually goes in last. Keeping a separate glass of cold water alongside is part of the raki table ritual. White cheese, melon, olive oil meze, fish and seafood are raki's classic companions. A raki table is an unhurried tradition built around conversation and shared meze; chilling the bottle in the fridge before bringing it to the table is a common choice too.
Highlights from our shelves
- For a classic start: Yeni Rakı.
- A heart-cut raki: Tekirdağ Rakısı Göbek.
- Made with fresh-grape suma: Efe Rakı Yaş Üzüm.
- Rested in three different oak casks: Sarı Zeybek 3 Meşe.
- The unflavoured Cypriot spirit Loel Zivania and the Greek ouzo Ouzo 12.
For after dinner, have a look at our cognac and brandy shelf, and for dessert, our liqueur shelf; the whole range is in the Raki, Brandy & Liqueurs category.
Frequently asked questions
How do you drink raki?
Raki is usually drunk from a tall, slim raki glass: raki first, then cold water, which turns the drink milky white. How much water is a personal choice. If you want ice, it usually goes in last. Meze, white cheese, melon and fish are raki's traditional table companions.
Why does raki turn white with water?
Anethole, the aromatic oil from aniseed, is dissolved in the high-strength spirit. When water is added and the alcohol level drops, the oil separates into tiny droplets that scatter light and make the drink look cloudy and milky white. The same happens with ouzo.
What's the difference between fresh-grape raki and regular raki?
In fresh-grape (yaş üzüm) raki, the suma is made only from fresh grapes. Other rakis may also use suma made from raisins, as fresh grapes aren't available all year. Fresh-grape rakis are generally described as fresher and fruitier, those made with raisin suma as having a fuller aroma profile.
What does göbek raki mean?
During distillation, the first and last parts coming off the still are separated; the middle part, considered to have the most balanced aroma, is called göbek (the heart). Rakis with göbek on the label emphasise that they're made from this middle cut.
What's the difference between zivania and raki?
Zivania is a clear spirit unique to Cyprus, made by distilling grape pomace and local dry wines, and contains no aniseed, so it doesn't turn white with water. Raki is made by redistilling suma with aniseed. Spirit sold as zivania can only be made in Cyprus.
Be the first to hear about offers and new arrivals — sign up to the Jastin newsletter.