Yeni Raki Recipe

Time48h

Serves8

A sweet, clear brandy, aniseed in flavour.

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Ingredients

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1
Measure spirits
Combine 1.75 cups of grape brandy and 0.25 cups of neutral grain spirit or vodka (if using) in a clean, nonreactive glass jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid. This yields a spirit at the desired body and alcohol level similar to traditional raki.

2
Lightly crush seeds
Gently toast (optional) and crush the 2.5 tablespoons green anise seeds and 1 tablespoon fennel seeds in a mortar and pestle or with the back of a spoon. Crushing releases essential oils but do not pulverize to powder.
3
Combine and macerate
Add crushed anise and the 2 whole star anise pieces to the jar with the spirits. Seal tightly and let infuse at room temperature for 24–48 hours, shaking the jar gently once or twice a day. Taste after 24 hours; the target is a pronounced anise aroma and flavor without bitterness.
4
Strain
When the infusion reaches desired intensity, strain the spirit through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a paper coffee filter into a clean container to remove all solids. Discard the spent botanicals.

5
Prepare dilution
Measure 1/2 cup of cool water. Add 3 tablespoons of 1:1 simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water heated until sugar dissolves, then cooled). Stir the water and syrup together and add slowly to the strained aniseed spirit, tasting as you go. Traditional raki is slightly sweetened — the 3 tablespoons yields a subtly sweet profile; increase by 1–2 tablespoons if you prefer sweeter.
6
Rest and clarify
After adding the dilution and syrup, let the bottled raki rest in a cool, dark place for 24–72 hours. This allows flavors to marry and any small particulates to settle. If cloudiness and a milky louche effect appear when later diluted with cold water, this is normal and desirable.
7
Serve
Serve Yeni Raki chilled or at room temperature in small tulip or shot glasses. To enjoy the traditional louche, pour 1 part raki over ice into a glass, then add 1–2 parts very cold water — the spirit will turn opalescent white. Adjust water to taste. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint or a lemon twist if desired.