Arak Abou Akl (75cl, 50%)

Arak Abou Akl is a Lebanese arak made in Mtein from fermented grapes and aniseed, bottled in 75cl at 50% ABV. It comes from a family distillery whose trademark dates to 1935. The house credits its founder, Moussa Abi Akl, with starting to ferment grapes and make arak in Mtein in the late 1920s. The name Abou Akl comes from his village nickname, and the arak is distilled three times. The traditional way to serve it is with about two parts cold water to one part arak, then ice, alongside a table of mezze.