Best Turkish Raki Brands That Will Change the Way You Look at Alcohol!

Every country has a hooch that identifies with itself. For instance, it is France or Italy that comes to mind when someone talks about wine. Or, when the topic is beer, Germany or Belgium are the first countries to refer to. Or else, it is definitely Russia if we are looking for a place to drink the best vodka in the world. What about Turkey? Well, Turkey, with its best Turkish raki brands, offers you a completely different alcoholic beverage experience.

With its intense taste, aroma that contains anise, and high alcohol percentage (average of %45-50), it has no similarity with its kind. In addition, Turkish raki also reflects a deep tradition of the country. Turkish people do not drink raki just for fun, but for sharing their sorrows, too. The most common topics in a raki table (in Turkey we call it ‘rakı masası’) are either politics or old loves.

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What Makes Turkish Raki Unlike?

Like we have just said, raki, Turkey’s unique alcoholic drink, also reflects a long and intense tradition. The indispensable accompaniment of locksmith tables and appetizers is always raki. In addition to its intense anise scent and high alcohol content, Turkish people frequently consume it for a special taste. At the same time, while the Balkan countries produce fruit raki, it is also very popular in other countries such as Italy, Portugal, and so on. What also makes Turkish raki so special is the unique and different glasses that we name Turkish raki glasses!

Although each brand provides basically the same production conditions, some factors such as distillation, anise density, etc. are separating those brands from each other.

Sizes of Turkish Raki

Sizes of Turkish raki vary from 20 cl. to 4.5 liters. But the most commonly used seize of Turkish raki in the market is 70 liters. Others are 20, 30, 35, 70, and 100 liters. They all have the same quality raki in a glass bottle, the only thing that changes is their price, for sure!

Turkish Raki Prices

Turkish raki prices vary from 90 Turkish liras (11$/9€) to 1.500 Turkish liras (200$/150€) depending on their age, size, and brands. But, the average Turkish raki price for 100 cl. is 250 TL, which equals 25€ or 30$. Therefore, no matter how culturally important raki is for Turkish people, it is very hard to afford to buy it due to its extravagant prices.

So, which of the best Turkish raki brands below have you already tried? Today, we compile the best Turkish raki brands and their highlights!

10- Mercan Raki

Tariş Co. is the producer of Mercan Rakı. The Turkish raki brand was out of the market for a few years. However, in recent years it has returned as a good alternative for those looking for cheap raki. The most important feature that makes it on the best Turkish raki brands list is its affordable price. However, comparing to its affordable price, we can say that it has a pleasant and comfortable drink.

9- Anadolu Boğma Raki

If we make a price comparison, Anadolu Boğma Rakı is among the best raki options. However, it contains 37% alcohol by volume, which is lower than most of the other brands. Nevertheless, even though the alcohol content is not very high, it has a bitter taste. However, a large audience cannot give up on Anadolu Boğma Rakı, which means the brand has dedicated admirers. If you are looking for a raki with a strong and intense anise scent, you can choose this product. It is also a good alternative for those looking for sugar-free raki.

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8- İzmir Rakısı

In addition to the fresh and dried grapes of the Aegean Region, Izmir Raki is produced only with the anise seeds of the region. Especially Izmir Raki Fresh Grape (green bottle) is among the best raki options. This special series, produced only from fresh grapes, has a soft and non-irritating flavor.

However, one of the most affordable raki brands in the market is İzmir Rakı. At the same time, we can say that people don’t like the blue-labeled raki of Izmir Raki very much. Despite all this, one of the best Turkish raki brands, İzmir rakısı, deserves to be on the list for its price.

7- Saki Siyah Üzüm Rakısı (Saki Black Grape Raki)

If you prefer a sweet and velvety aroma in your search for the best raki, you should definitely try Saki Black Grape Raki. The raki is prepared using only black grapes, and what producers use to produce it is with Çeşme’s most special aniseeds. It contains only fresh black grapes, anise, and drinking water. Therefore, it will be one of the best choices for those looking for sugar-free raki. Saki Black Grape Raki is distilled 10 times and aged for 10 months. In this way, a comfortable and soft drink awaits us.

We can say that it is a good alternative for those who do not like the bitter and harsh taste of raki. However, the price is a bit high and not easily available everywhere.

6- Efe Raki

Produced by Elda Icecek, Efe Raki has the distinction of being the first private sector raki in Turkey. The series that makes Efe Rakı one of the best raki brands is Sarı Zeybek. It is obtained from 100% fresh and natural grape alcohol and is aged in oak barrels for 6 months.

Producers also double distill and finish the drink with its special anise. Although Sarı Zeybek is one of the best varieties of raki, not every series of Efe Rakı is the same. Although it has a very wide product range, many of its rakis are not in the class. We can say that Efe Gold and Efe Göbek are among the best raki varieties.

5- Altınbaş Raki

Altınbaş Rakı is among the best raki brands in Turkey. The most important feature that makes it on the list of the best Turkish raki brands is that it has been in the market since 1967. What’s more, its recipe has not been changed. However, it is produced from fresh grape juice without sugar. Another outstanding feature of Altınbaş Rakı is that it has 50% alcohol content.

Despite its high alcohol content, it has a velvety and soft drink. We should also mention that it is produced by Mey İçki in Nevşehir today. Although new raki brands have increased recently, Altınbaş Rakı is still the best for many people.

Raki experts especially recommend drinking it dry. Another important point is that it contains higher anise than Kulüp Raki. It takes its place among the best raki brands with its high alcohol, intense anise scent, and soft drinking.

4- Tekirdağ Raki

The brand has been in the market since 2000. So, Tekirdağ Raki is produced with fresh grape suma. It is also a good choice for people who do not like to drink raki since it has a sweet taste. Tekirdağ Rakısı, as the name suggests, was produced in the factory in Tekirdağ. The grapes of the region give their taste.

However, the factory was closed in the past years. Today, the grapes of Tekirdağ Rakısı are obtained from different regions. Therefore, many people think that the taste has changed. The feature that makes it among the best raki brands is that it has a soft drink.

Moreover, it is possible to say that it is very successful for its price. The best Tekirdag Raki, by the way, is N0:10.

3- Beylerbeyi Raki

Beylerbeyi Rakı is the best brand of raki recently produced in Turkey. Moreover, we can recommend it to those who are looking for sugar-free raki. Beylerbeyi Raki is produced with 100% fresh grape juice and does not contain artificial substances or sugar.

In particular, Beylerbeyi Belly Raki is distilled 3 times in copper stills and bottled, offering a smooth drink. It also has a pleasant taste that does not burn the throat. However, due to the high alcohol content, it can suddenly make you drunk. In addition to belly raki, Beylerbeyi Rakı also has Mavi Rakı and Limited Edition series. Limited Edition is the largest raki in the Turkish market with a volume of 4.5 liters.

2- Yeni Rakı

When it comes to the best Turkish raki brand, many of us think of Yeni Rakı. So much so that now raki has become synonymous with Yeni Rakı. Even though there are new brands and different series, Yeni Rakı will always have a special place. Yeni Rakı, which has an intense anise scent and characteristic taste, contains 20 different grapes within its ingredient. Moreover, their anise comes only from the Western Anatolian Regions.

Moreover, thanks to its production since 1944, it is one of the oldest raki brands in Turkey. There are also productions of Yeni Rakı such as Âlâ and Yeni Seri. In general, it is possible to say that the Alâ series is more popular. Today, it is produced in partnership with Mey İçki and Diego.

1- Kulüp Raki (Club Raki)

There we are at the top of our best Turkish raki brands list. The acclaimed brand has been in the market since the 1930s. So, Club Raki is undoubtedly the best raki brand. At the same time, it succeeds in distinguishing itself from its competitors with its 50% alcohol rate. If you are drinking raki for the first time or if you are not used to this culture, it may be better to drink other rakis. However, we can say that it has a soft drink despite its high alcohol content.

However, its ideal anise density and smell distinguish the brand from other raki brands. Another striking feature of Club Rakı is its nostalgic label designed by İhsap Hulusi Görey. This label has been the same since the first production. People also mention that the raki brand that Atatürk loved the most was Club Rakı. Finally, we need to state that the production place of the famous brand Club Rakı is Nevşehir.

So, did you like the list of the best raki brands? Don’t forget to share your opinions or suggestions about raki brands and content! If you like the content, you can promote us on your social media accounts by clicking the share buttons!