Pomegranate Lemon Raki Cocktail

TGIF!! Right? Today I want to introduce to you one of my favorite cocktails: Pomegranate Lemon Raki Cocktail. It’s fruity and refreshing! Also, it’s the perfect way to relax a bit after a hard week.

When I started blogging, I started developing an interest not only in Mediterranean and Latin American recipes but also the history of food and how come it’s done a certain way in different regions. Below I’ll be summarizing everything I know about raki so keep on reading if you are interested in learning more about this drink from the Balkans. Otherwise, skip straight to the recipe:).

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What is Raki / Rakia?

Raki, Rakia or Rakija is a popular alcoholic drink across Balkans and Eastern Europe. It is a fruit brandy made from fermented and distilled fruits. The most common fruit is grapes but it can be also done with plums, figs, apricots, pears and other fruits. My family definitely preferred the grape raki which in Albanian is called raki rrushi. This liquor is pretty famous in Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Cyprus, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Montenegro, Hungary etc.

Each of above countries have different versions of raki, they even have infusions of raki with other ingredients like walnuts and honey. There are also differences on how the liquor is distilled and prepared and obviously most of the above countries claim that Raki was invented in their country. I’m not even going to get into that debate:).

Alcohol Content of Raki / Rakia

Raki is a strong liquor. It’s alcohol content can be as high as 50%. I’ve seen some websites citing up to 90% but I have never had one that is that strong. The strongest I’ve seen personally has been 50%. The alcohol % usually varies by brand and by type of fruit used to prepare this alcoholic drink. Raki is stronger than Ouzo (typical Greek liquour) and it varies in that it doesn’t contain anisette.

How is Raki served?

Well, most Balkan and Eastern European countries serve raki to their guests in shot glasses. In my native country of Albania raki is served in simple get togethers, weddings, funerals and to anyone visiting your house. The most simple form is in a shot glass. Usually people like to serve mezes with it (Mediterranean appetizers). You see, I haven’t lived in Albania since year 2000 so I hope I’m not mistating anything. However, for as long as I lived there no one was serving raki cocktails. Raki was served pure, you couldn’t even mix it with water.

During one of my college years, I had a roommate called Monica who is also my best friend. My mom brought us Raki from Albania and we would mix it with Sprite, ice and lemon and talk for hours till late at night in our balcony over raki cocktails. You see, my friend Monica is from Bolivia like my husband, she’s actually my sister in law. And this idea to serve raki over ice and Sprite came because of a famous Bolivian cocktail that I wrote about few weeks ago: Chuflay. Later on I decided to add pomegranate to this cocktail and play with the ingredients a little bit.

Raki Cocktail Notes & Tips

I would like to share some notes about this recipe so please read through them, especially if this is your first time preparing this drink. I call this cocktail Bloody Albanian because I use Albanian raki to make it and it is red from the pomegranate juice.

• Albanian Raki is a strong liquor so please make sure you drink responsibly. You can adjust the drink to have less alcohol if you so prefer.
• If you can’t find raki anywhere, try getting any distilled liquor from grapes (try without additional flavors at first) i.e. aguardiente, pisco, grappa, palinka etc. There are different brands of raki online but I’m hesitant to recommend until I have tried them. Usually my mom brings me a bottle of raki from Albania anytime she visits.
• I prefer a lemon-lime soda but you can use Sprite or Seven-Up.
• Recipe below is for 1 serving. However, if you are having a party you can prepare a pitcher. Add only 1-2 cups of ice to pitcher and then let the guests add more ice to their cups before serving. For a pitcher serving 8 add over ice in pitcher: 16 ozs raki, 16 ozs pomegranate juice, 1 lemon sliced (wash it before you slice it) and then fill up close to the rim with lemon lime soda. Use a mixer or long spoon to mix it all once or twice. Chill until ready to use.

Our Family History with Homemade Raki

Back in Albania we lived in a 4 story apartment building. It was pretty common for apartment buildings to have a grape vine planted on the side of the first floor and go up to the 3rd floor. The vine provided shade and fruit in each floor over the windows. Such was the case in our building. Every September one of our windows was framed in grape leaves and fruit. My mom, who is very entrepreneurial learned how to ferment and distill the grapes in our balcony and she used to make homemade raki for years.

We used to gift some and keep the rest for guests and winter punch (people swear it kills the flu back home). I remember my mom used to line up the bottles based on their alcohol content:).

If you would like to save this post for later in Pinterest, please pin the below image in your boards. Thank you:). If you have tried Raki before, please let me know in comments here or in social media where you tried it and what you thought about it.

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Other Albanian Inspired Recipes:

• Sour Cream Dip with Walnuts (perfect meze to drink with Raki too:)
• Stuffed Eggplants
• Yogurt and Lamb Bake