Arak Sour

Arak Sour is a bright, refreshing cocktail with zesty lemon, gentle sweetness, and the unmistakable floral-anise character of Lebanese arak. Shaken ice-cold, it becomes silky, cloudy, and intensely aromatic, making it an elegant aperitif or mezze companion.

Nutrition · per serving

168kcal

0.1gProtein

10.4gCarbs

0gFat

0.1gFiber

2 servings

Ingredients

6 items

Cocktail base

arak120 ml

fresh lemon juice60 ml

simple syrup40 ml

cold water30 ml

To shake and serve

ice cubes200 g

lemon slice2 slices

Tips

•If you prefer a drier sour, reduce the simple syrup to 30 ml total.
•Arak turns milky when diluted with water or citrus; this is traditional and caused by the essential oils from anise.
•For the cleanest flavor, use freshly squeezed lemon juice rather than bottled juice.
•A chilled glass keeps the drink crisp without excessive dilution.

Steps

1
Chill 2 small coupe or rocks glasses if possible. Juice the lemon if not already done, and measure all ingredients accurately; this drink is best when the balance of sweet, sour, and anise is precise.
60 ml fresh lemon juice
2
Fill a cocktail shaker with most of the ice cubes. Add the arak, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and cold water.
200 g ice cubes120 ml arak60 ml fresh lemon juice40 ml simple syrup30 ml cold water
3
Shake hard for 12-15 seconds until the shaker feels very cold. Proper shaking both chills the drink and lightly aerates the citrus, giving a smoother texture.
4
Strain into the chilled glasses. If serving on the rocks, divide a few fresh ice cubes between the glasses first, then strain over them.
5
Garnish each drink with a lemon slice and serve immediately. The drink should taste bright and tart up front, with a sweet finish and the signature cloudy anise note from the arak.
2 slices lemon slice

Origin & History

Arak is the classic Levantine anise spirit, especially associated with Lebanon, where it is traditionally mixed with water alongside mezze. The sour-style serve is a more modern cocktail adaptation that combines arak's distinctive licorice aroma with the familiar citrus-sugar balance of a classic sour.

lebanese cocktail arak vegan classic beginner shaken

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Steps

Chill 2 small coupe or rocks glasses if possible. Juice the lemon if not already done, and measure all ingredients accurately; this drink is best when the balance of sweet, sour, and anise is precise.

60 ml fresh lemon juice

Fill a cocktail shaker with most of the ice cubes. Add the arak, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and cold water.

200 g ice cubes120 ml arak60 ml fresh lemon juice40 ml simple syrup30 ml cold water

Shake hard for 12-15 seconds until the shaker feels very cold. Proper shaking both chills the drink and lightly aerates the citrus, giving a smoother texture.

Strain into the chilled glasses. If serving on the rocks, divide a few fresh ice cubes between the glasses first, then strain over them.

Garnish each drink with a lemon slice and serve immediately. The drink should taste bright and tart up front, with a sweet finish and the signature cloudy anise note from the arak.

2 slices lemon slice

Origin & History