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Arak (عراق) (drink)
Arak (عرق) is the Levant's grape-based, anise-flavored distilled spirit, national drink of Lebanon, typically 50-63% ABV, triple-distilled with aniseed on the final run, and turning milky white with water via the anethole louche effect.
Armagnac
Armagnac is a grape brandy from Gascony, southwestern France, and the oldest French eau-de-vie, first documented in 1310. AOC since 1936 across Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze, and Haut-Armagnac, it is typically single-distilled in a continuous alambic armagnacais and has a strong vintage tradition.
Brandy
Brandy, from Dutch brandewijn (burned wine), is a spirit distilled from fermented fruit juice or wine, most often grapes; includes Cognac, Armagnac, calvados, grappa, and pisco, with legal standards on distillation strength, aging, and bottling.
Cognac
Cognac: French AOC wine eau-de-vie from Charente and Charente-Maritime, double-distilled in Charentais pot stills, oak-aged at least two years, BNIC-enforced, over 95% exported.
Grappa
Grappa is the Italian pomace brandy, a protected geographical indication distilled from fermented grape marc grown and processed only in Italy. Bottled at 37.5% vol minimum, aged styles include invecchiata and riserva.
Louis XIII (cognac)
Louis XIII is Rémy Martin's ultra-premium cognac, created in 1874 by Paul-Émile Rémy Martin: a blend of up to 1,200 Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie aged 40–100 years, bottled at 40% ABV in a Baccarat decanter, retailing from just over £3,000.
Pisco
Pisco is a grape brandy produced in Peru and Chile, each with its own denomination of origin. Key facts: Quechua etymology, 1613 Peruvian and 1733 Chilean records, differing rules on dilution and ageing, and contested international registration.
Tsipouro
Tsipouro (τσίπουρο), also called tsikoudia in Crete, is a Greek grape pomace spirit, 36-45% ABV, made plain or with anise, protected as an EU geographical indication and drunk with meze.