Best Araq?

Tripoli is under attack, and no one knows what will happen in Lebanon come the end of summer. However, summer is tourist/ araq season.

Grapes ripen in the autumn, however, summer always reminds me of copious cups of araq.

Sure, sure, araq baladi is the best. I am sure your uncle makes the best brew on top of some mountain somewhere, and only the best cousins can get their hands on the stuff. I have a big jug of the stuff sitting in my pantry.

There needs to be a corporate Lebanese araq ranking. Michael Karam wrote a book about araq, but there needs to be a practical list.

Lebanese abroad love bringing the sexy blue Massaya araq bottles and the Rif "traditional Lebanese" logo araq bottles back to Liberia, Australia, and Canada. Yet, which are the best? Does the best araq come in the best branded bottles? Can one purchase an amazing bottle of branded araq?

1. Kefraya - Kefraya's araq is creamy and smooth. Unlike other brands of araq, Kefraya's is not watery. The beverage is consistent and cool. The taste of Kefraya araq, unlike araq baladi, is consistent from year to year. The araq flavor is excellent, but it is the texture that puts Kefraya over the top and into hte number one position.

2. Le Brun - Le Brun is the Lebanese standard. Brun began producing araq in Zahle in the 19th Century, and the current owners, the Issa family, continue the tradition. Like Kefraya, Brun araq is consistent and delicious. Brun is the perfect araq to accompany a meal. Brun araq accompanies dishes well, but will hardly provide a unique araq experience.

3. Touma - This inexpensive araq brand is the best quality for the cost. The bottles are ridiculously cheap. The content is watery and provides a bit of an aftertaste, but does the job, as long as one is looking for the right amount of alcohol to kill the bacteria in kibbeh nayyeh during a Sunday afternoon lunch.

There are plenty of other araq brands:

Pricier:
Ksarak
Massaya - the blue bottle
Rif - the traditional Lebanese/ baladi logo

Mid-range:
El Beit al Araq
As Samir
Fakra
Kouroum
Wardy
Chateau Khoury (I haven't tried it, but if it is as good as the wine, then it should be in the top three)

Inexpensive:
Gantous
Litani
Hasbani


What are your favorites?