Arak Touma
Arak Touma is a 750mL Lebanese arak bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof), made at Château St. Thomas (Clos St. Thomas) in Kab-elias, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, where the Touma family has produced wine and arak since 1888. The grape distillate is distilled four times with whole aniseed — never star anise, oils or extracts — and rested at least six months in earthenware jars before bottling, completely unsweetened. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 50% (100 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Origin: Kab-elias, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon — Château St. Thomas (Clos St. Thomas)
- Method: Grape distillate distilled four times with whole aniseed only
- Resting: At least 6 months in earthenware jars
- House: Touma family producing wine and arak since 1888
The King of Arak, from Kab-elias
US listings carry this bottle under its own epithet — "King of Arak" — and the house behind it has the years to argue the point: the Touma family has been producing wine and arak at Kab-elias in the Bekaa Valley since 1888, a history corroborated independently by Decanter and by UK importer Amathus, which dates the family's winery and distillery founding in Kabelias to 1888. The modern estate, Château St. Thomas — named for the chapel of St. Thomas standing in the vineyards — makes its arak the slow way: fermented grape distillate run through four distillations with whole aniseed only, then given at least six months in earthenware jars to marry and mellow. Importer-derived notes describe a clean, pronounced anise character, complex for an anise spirit, that louches milky white with water — the "milk of the lions." See the estate's listing on the Arak Touma vendor page and more Bekaa bottlings in our spirits collection.
Tasting Notes
No standalone producer tasting sheet was found; importer-derived descriptors in circulation describe clean, pronounced anise over the grape distillate, with a complexity unusual for an anise liqueur and the classic milky louche on dilution. The arak is completely unsweetened — everything in the glass is grape, aniseed and time in the jar.
How to Enjoy
Pour one part arak to two parts cold water, then add ice and watch it cloud, and serve with mezze — the Bekaa table serve. More Lebanese spirits are in our spirits collection and our liqueurs collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times is Arak Touma distilled?
Four times — one more than the triple distillation typical of arak. The importer-derived description is consistent on this point, and the distillations are followed by at least six months resting in earthenware jars.
Where is Arak Touma made?
At Château St. Thomas (Clos St. Thomas) in Kab-elias, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, where the Touma family has produced wine and arak since 1888.
Does Arak Touma use real aniseed?
Yes — whole aniseed only, per importer-derived copy; never star anise, anise oils or extracts, and the finished arak is completely unsweetened.
Four distillations and six months in earthenware, from an 1888 family estate — order Arak Touma online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
