The Complete Guide to Arak: Israel's Anise Spirit

Arak is the anise spirit of the Levant — older than ouzo, cousin to raki, and the pour that turns milky white the moment water touches it. It's also having a moment: no spirit wall at a kiddush club or Shabbos afternoon table is complete without a bottle. Here's the complete guide, from Kosher Wine Direct, home to one of the deepest arak selections in the country.

What Is Arak?

A clear, unaged spirit — traditionally grape-based — distilled with anise seed. Served the classic way (one part arak, two parts cold water, over ice), the anise oils cloud the drink milky white. That's called the louche, and it's the whole ritual.

The Styles

Traditional Israeli arak — Askalon (since 1925) and Joseph Gold (since 1824) are the classic lion-crest bottles on every Israeli table: sharp, clean anise. Craft and flavored arak — Zachlawi on the Jersey Shore soaks figs in small batches for 120+ days; their Fig Arak is the gateway bottle for people who think they don't like anise. New-wave Israeli spirits — Tubi 60, the Haifa cult citrus-herb spirit, isn't technically arak but lives on the same shelf and outsells most of it.

Is Arak Kosher for Passover?

Many araks are — grape-based arak with proper certification is a Pesach staple, which is why arak spikes every spring. Check the certification on each bottle; every listing in our arak collection states hashgacha and Passover status. For how any specific certification applies to your table, ask your rov.

How to Serve It

Cold water and ice, one-to-two ratio, alongside mezze — hummus, olives, grilled meats. Neat from the freezer works too. Zachlawi Fig over one big cube after cholent is a Shabbos afternoon institution.

Where to Buy

Kosher Wine Direct stocks the full range — Askalon, Joseph Gold, Zachlawi, Tubi 60, Miami Arak flavors and more — shipped nationwide from Brooklyn. Free shipping on every case: any 12 bottles or $150. Browse the arak collection or call (347) 533-8586.