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Yeni Raki
About Yeni Raki
Yeni Rakı is produced by Mey İçki – a Turkey-based spirits company owned by Diageo. The name of the product means “new rakı”, and was first introduced in 1937.
If you’re not familiar with rakı, it is an Anatolian spirit that, according to the brand, dates back to approximately 2000 B.C.. It is made using a grape base fermented with yeast, and aniseed added later in the process.
This particular bottle of Yeni Rakı is distilled in small copper alembic stills that hold 5 liters or less. The fermented base includes raisins as well as the fresh grapes. It is bottled at 90 proof.
Bottle Specs
❖ ABV: 45%
❖ Distillery: Yen Rakı Distillery
❖ Aging: undisclosed
❖ Price Point: lower moderate
My Tasting notes
The Yeni Raki website includes specific instructions for drinking this spirit, which involve chilling the glass to a certain temperature, adding an equal amount of water, and adding about 2 ice cubes. I thought this was quite interesting, as the drink, while strong, is not overproof. The only other time I’ve added water for a “straight” tasting is when I reviewed St. George Absinthe, which is 120 proof.
Also similar to absinthe, the liquid turns a cloudy color when the water is added.
I took a few whiffs of the rakı and water mixture, and there was a strong licorice scent, with subtle notes of toffee in the background. The aroma overall was smooth, and reminded me of being inside a See’s Candy store.
I began to sip, and the flavor was mostly mellow, with some bitterness and an intense mouthfeel. The alcohol was a bit harsh on my tongue and throat, and there was an oily quality throughout my mouth.
Cocktail
For my cocktail, I wanted to try out one of the recipes on the official Yeni Rakı website. This recipe for the Fresh Spirit stuck out, as it seemed refreshing, and well-suited to the fall season.
Fresh Spirit
❖ juice of 1/2 a lemon
❖ fresh mint
❖ 2.5 oz green apple juice
❖ 1.5 oz rakı
- In the shaking tin, muddle the mint leaves with the lemon juice.
- Add the rest of the ingredients plus ice, and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a glass.
Inside of a cocktail, this rakı was fairly nice. There was a mellow licorice flavor in the background, with an oily mouthfeel.
Bottom Line
RATING: 3/5
At the end of the day, I enjoyed trying out this bottle of Yeni Rakı as my first ever rakı, though I can sense that the spirit as a whole is not really for me. The mouthfeel was just too harsh to be very pleasant, even after being diluted, and as a result, the flavors got a little bit lost. I can definitely see now why water is added to make it palatable.
Although the flavors were a bit more noticeable inside a cocktail, this spirit is actually not traditionally used in cocktails, so it almost feels wrong to judge the subtleness of the anise against mixers. However, if nothing else, this rakı would make a nice substitute in absinthe cocktails for folks who are sensitive to strong licorice or strong alcohol.
Unfortunately, I don’t see myself using up this bottle using the traditional water method. That said, it’s a good entry point if you enjoy similar grape and/or anise spirits and are looking to try out rakı for the first time.
As always, drink responsibly.
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