Common in
Turkey, especially under the
Yeni* label, raki is a clear, highly
alcoholic (about 90-100
proof) beverage most notable for its
aniseed flavoring that lends it a taste like that of
licorice. It is not sweet in the manner of
Jaegermeister, nor is it quite like
ouzo, but the general flavorings are somewhat similar. The pronunciation is not quite as an
English speaker would think--the I is actually undotted, which in
Turkish indicates somewhat more of an "eh" sound.
Raki is generally prized by the Turkish as something unique to their nation (though it isn't quite), and it may be pushed upon you in
shot form free of charge in a restaurant if you gain the favor of the waiters (or so is my experience). Standard methods of consumption usually include shots, which may be
room temperature or
chilled (I imagine
warm would be pleasant, though I haven't tried it this way), or in a mixture with
water and ice.
That probably sounds silly, but don't worry--no one will call you a
pansy. It's simply an altogether different drink when mixed with water. In fact, it doesn't even look the same: otherwise totally clear, when mixed with water (or to some degree with ice), raki turns
cloudy, slightly clearer than the coloration of
milk. In this form the sweetness of the
anise is more noticable, and it is rather pleasant even to those unaccustomed to hard
liquor (though for those who don't like a little
kick, it is better served with plenty of ice, even then). A little raki can go a long way, if there's ice water about, but it will still
knock you on your ass before you know it. So, you know, uh,
drink responsibly. Or don't!
* (Yeni actually means "new", in Turkish--what the hell kind of a brand name is "new"? And no, that's not just part of the packaging!)