Efe Raki Triple Distilled (Black) Liqueur 750ml

Efe Raki is produced by ELDA, the Turkish company that made history in 2003 when new regulations ended eight decades of state monopoly on rakı production dating back to 1931. ELDA built a dedicated factory from the ground up on the Aegean coast, becoming the first private producer to bring rakı to the Turkish market, and Efe entered domestic shelves in September 2004 before quickly expanding into export markets across Europe.

Efe Raki Black, also known as Kara Efe, represents the brand's premium tier within that lineup. It starts from 100% grape alcohol sourced from Anatolian vineyards, which is distilled three times in traditional copper pot stills alongside carefully selected aniseed, a step beyond the double distillation used by many competing rakıs. Spring water drawn from the snowmelt of the Bozdağ mountain range is used throughout production, and the extra distillation pass is intended to strip out heavier congeners for a cleaner spirit. The finished rakı is bottled at 45% ABV.

The nose offers refined licorice and soft fennel with a faint trace of grape must underneath. On the palate, the anise character is clean and polished rather than sharp, with a delicate, almost creamy texture, finishing long and smooth. Traditionally it's diluted with cold water at roughly equal parts, which turns the clear spirit a cloudy white and opens up its aromatics.