Kefraya Arak

Kefraya Arak is a 750mL Lebanese arak bottled at 53% ABV, made by Chateau Kefraya in the West Bekaa Valley exclusively from grapes and aniseed — and distilled four times, a count the château states plainly and its US importer repeats, for a finer, more elegant spirit. Arak is Lebanon's national drink, and this is one of its benchmark estate bottlings. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.

• ABV: 53%
• Size: 750mL
• Origin: Chateau Kefraya, West Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
• Base: Grapes and aniseed only
• Distillation: Four distillations, per the chateau
• Serving: Traditionally 50/50 with fresh water, over ice, with mezze

Four Distillations in the Bekaa

Chateau Kefraya is the Bustros family's terraced estate on the foothills of Mount Barouk — some 300 hectares at roughly 1,000 metres, planted first in 1951 on land the family had held for generations, and making its own wines since 1979. Its arak follows the regional tradition the château traces to the 11th century: grape spirit and aniseed, distilled and distilled again — four passes in Kefraya's case, where most of the category stops earlier — until the spirit runs fine and clean. The importer calls it the only arak distilled four times with methanol removed, a claim we repeat as the importer's own. Browse the estate's bottlings on the Chateau Kefraya vendor page and in our spirits collection.

Tasting Notes

Per the producer's and importer's descriptions: a fresh, rich aniseed character, the fineness of the anise aromas balanced by a soft, creamy mouthfeel — an arak built to taste elegant rather than merely strong, even at 53%.

How to Enjoy

The Lebanese way, per the importer: a small glass, half arak and half fresh water, ice after — watch it louche milky white — alongside mezze or as an aperitif. More Mediterranean and Levantine bottles are in our spirits collection and our liqueurs collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many times is Kefraya Arak distilled?
Four times, per Chateau Kefraya's official product page and its US importer — more than the category's usual two or three passes, and the house's stated route to a finer arak.

What is arak made from?
Grape spirit and aniseed. Kefraya's is made exclusively from grapes and aniseed — no grain base, no added flavours — in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.

How do you drink arak?
Diluted: traditionally about half arak, half cold fresh water in a small glass, with ice added after the water. It turns milky white — the louche — and is sipped slowly with mezze.

Four passes through the still, one benchmark Bekaa estate — order Kefraya Arak online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.