It is distilled from sugarcane and fermented red rice, using chinese pot stills and characteristic teak vats. Reviews, Ratings & Our Rules of Engagement. Terms of Service apply. These nimble acrobats are called Toddy Tappers because when they cut the bud from a flower stem they have to tap it to encourage the sap flow to start. With the growth in arak production and popularity, more deaths from methanol poisoning were reported. Category: SpiritsSub category: Arrackalc./vol: 48, Category: SpiritsSub category: Arrackalc./vol: 50, Showing Arrack is typically combined with well-liked mixers such as cola, soda water, and lime liquid. [28] Each morning at dawn, men known as toddy tappers move among the tops of coconut trees using connecting ropes not unlike tightropes. In his Jakartian Peardition, it does the latter, providing a foundation for pear brandy and sherry, whose warmth is complemented by spicy cinnamon syrup and tart citrus, effectively turning a bright, summery drink into something warm and fortifying. In 1838, Samuel Morewood's work on the histories of liquors was published. Indeed, arrack is a Hindi catch-all term for distilled spirits in the same manner as 'liquor' in English. The fermented molasses and rice mixture is then distilled in pot stills. Coconut arrack is traditionally consumed by itself or with ginger beer, a popular soda in Sri Lanka. Some of the aromas are hard to place because of the uniqueness of this spirit. Its not uncommon to find history repeating itself in the drinks world: Early modern cocktails are ripe for revival, disco is back, and many of the worlds oldest and most storied spirits are making a comeback. Other early arrack was distilled from molasses and water, using dried cakes of red rice and botanicals that contain yeast and other fungi to trigger the fermentation process (this technique can be traced back thousands of years to China and even predates the birth of distillation). The two are Batavia Arrack van Oosten and By the Dutch Batavia Arrack. By the Dutch Batavia Arrack is a 48% abv distillate based on sugar-cane molasses produced on the island of Java, Indonesia with . No punch was made without a true Batavia Arrack. 105507750-1. 2 This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and It is also important in that Arrack should not be confused with the middle eastern spirit called ;Arak, which is an anise flavoured distillate, more similar to ouzo. [11] Still commonly available in Northern Europe and Southern Asia, Batavia Arrack can be difficult to find in the United States. These store your preferences such as selecting to view cocktail recipes in ounces rather than millilitres. (The Dutch East India Company took over Java and its capital Jayakarta in 1619 and renamed the city Batavia. Made from fresh sugar cane juice and fermented red rice, and bottled at elevated proof without aging, Batavia Arrack van Oosten combines smoky . Then let it cool. If you cant travel to Indonesia, Batavia Arrack is starting to become widely available so keep an eye out. Garnish with lime wheel. According to the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre's 2008 report on alcohol in Sri Lanka, the types of arrack are:[30]. Each tree is 'tapped' daily. Batavia Arrack is found in everything from European chocolates to cocktail bars in Bali. In a separate nonreactive container, combine the whole milk and crushed graham crackers, steep in the refrigerator for 1 day, then strain out the solids. Dec 20, 2020 | cocktails, cocktails at home, Indonesia, Netherlands, recipe. Facebook ; Twitter Much Bali arrack is distilled illegally around the village of Sidemen, to alc./vols from 20%-50%, and sold in water bottles. Our "Batavia Arrack" is a distillate based on 100% sugar-cane molasses, produced exclusively on the island of Java, Indonesia, dated back to the 17th century. As Bravo puts it: This is only recommended if you can endure the hangovers.. Just like vodka, Indonesian arrack (spelt arak in the national language, Bahasa Indonesia) can be made from pretty much anything - from rice or molasses to palm nectar and pineapple waste. No punch was made without a true Batavia Arrack. This cocktail also highlights how well the Batavia Arrack goes with the flavors of amari, using both sweet vermouth and Campari. Of interest is the White Label Arrack which is a crystal clear coconut distillate, which would be equivalent to white rum. 1 quart of boiling water. But if you can't or don't want to buy that bottle of Batavia Arrack, fear not. It is also available in France and Germany. The now-famous Dutch rum brokers were primarily large traders of Batavia Arrack. Ceylon Arrack, by contrast, is a more refined and subtle spirit. Indonesia is a major producer of arrack; Indonesian arrack is occasionally labeled as "Batavia Arrack," in a reference to the previous name for Jakarta, capital of Indonesia. Remove the lemons without squeezing them. Cut the lemons into thin slices, and steep them in the Arrack for six hours. Mint sprig. This neat categorisation by country is confused by the fact that arrack can also be made from sugar palm juice in Western Indonesia and that palm sap-based arrack is also traditionally made in the Philippines and in Goa, southern India, although these are not exported. Arrack is a distilled alcoholic drink typically produced in India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, made from the fermented sap of coconut flowers or sugarcane, and also with grain (e.g. It was like understanding that obscure band your too-cool friends are obsessed with. Pour the infused cachaa through a strainer lined with cheesecloth. With that principle in mind, Bennett created the Seven Seas Swizzle, which combines the spirit with bittersweet green teainfused cane syrup and bright lime, for a riff on the Queens Park Swizzle (one of Bennetts favorite cocktails). One of the longest established arrack companies in Indonesia is the Batavia Arak Company (Dutch Batavia-Arak Maatschappij), which was already in business by 1872, became a limited liability company in 1901, and was still operating in the early 1950s. In 1796, the French scholar, political and rum connoisseur Joseph-Francois Charpentier de Cossigny wrote that " l'araque de Batavia is of better quality than Jamaica rum, a fact that even the English must concede ". The specialists of E&A Scheer can provide you with suitable advice on the use of Batavia Arrack in various markets. Batavia was the name of the capital city of the Dutch East Indies, and corresponds to the present day city of Jakarta. And, at the risk of offending hardcore Swedish Punsch enthusiasts, it's just not something most people will use that often. It was sweet without being too sweet and had surprising savory and spicy notes. Traditionally, Bativia Arrack uses a fermentation process includes the addition of local (red) rice. Take 2 wine-glasses of Batavia Arrack (old). [3] It is also claimed to have been distilled in India in 800 BC, but while palm wine and fermented sugar-cane drinks were being made around this time period not all believe that formal distillation was taking place.[5]. Batavia arrack is made from molasses - a by-product of sugar processing - on the Indonesian island of Java. Notes: Swedish punch is traditionally made with gold rum and Batavia Arrack, a southeastern Asian liquor made from sugar cane and red rice. Contact Customer Care The name 'Batavia' comes from the Dutch colonial name for Indonesia's capital, today called Jakarta, on the island of Java, where Batavia arracks continue to be made. The word from Truffles on the Rocks: Oh this is something else! The Toddy Tappers (the name of the people who climb the palm trees and collect the sap) gather the sap and place it in barrels, which are sent to central collection points and graded. The white sap that is collected is extremely high in natural yeast, so it starts to ferment soon after it is collected. Patrick Williams, of the restaurant group Angevin & Co., says, It is closest to rhum agricole in comparison, but with a malty finish, making it a suitable, though slightly unexpected, substitute in classic drinks. Batavia Arrack was first imported to Gothenburg, Sweden from Java in 1733 by Swedish East India Company as part of the hugely profitable spice trade and it's no coincidence that spices such as nutmeg also feature prominently in punches. Arrak is considered by some parts of the world as an ancestor of rum. Caer Maiko, co-creator of the Austin-based pop-up Daijoubu, likewise combines the spirit with a blend of citrus (lemon, pomelo, mandarin, yuzu) in her Adios Motherfucker riff, beverage director Nick Bennett, a big fan of the spirit, shares the rum sentiment: The first time I ever really came across Batavia arrack was while I tended bar at the (now-defunct) rum-based bar El Cobre, he says. SKU. Add the tea and stir until the sugar dissolves completely, 2 to 3 minutes. Some of the arrack brand produced by Batavia Arak Company were KWT (produced in the Bandengan (Kampung Baru) area of old Jakarta) and OGL. It is a taste that has traveled the world from the Dutch East Indies, unique for its ability to both add depth and lift the aromas of citrus and chocolate. Within a few hours after collection, the toddy is poured into large wooden vats, called "wash backs", made from the wood of teak or Berrya cordifolia. The most likely explanation is that the so-called Dutch arrack originated from the East, and was imported to this country via the Dutch ports and that the reference to the European Batavia is a red herring. Made from sugar cane and fermented red rice, and bottled at elevated proof without aging, Batavia Arrack van Oosten combines smoky fruitiness with a vegetal funk that soaks up tea, lemon, and sugar in the punch bowl . Terms of Use By the late 1800s, though, new import taxes and the increasing popularity of rum nudged Batavia arrack out of fashion, and by the time World War II broke out, almost all production of Batavia arrack in Indonesia halted while the region fell under siege. Our free to use website requires cookies to properly function, as most websites do. : 48% ABV Region: Java Island Origin: Indonesia Because Batavia Arrack is hard to find, I've substituted cachaa, a Brazilian spirit made with fermented and distilled sugarcane juice. The Batavia Arrack has been stored and shipped to Amsterdam. But the traditional way to drink Swedish Punsch is warmed and served alongside pea soup. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION. It has hints of Cognac and rum character and a wealth of delicate floral notes. For example, many recipes for this drink call for a cinnamon simple syrup, which I didnt have. I use Batavia arrack like a spice, Bravo says. Arak (or rice wine) was a popular alcoholic beverage during the colonial era. The name Naga is that of the mythical creature of Asia, Serpent guardian of the treasures of the earth and symbol of prosperity, fertility and protector Of the treasures of nature. Batavia-Arrack van Oosten is a more recently available brand.[12]. simple syrupTalisker 10 year rinse (or other smoky Scotch) Combine Batavia Arrack, lime juice, and simple syrup in a shaker. A highball is one of the six classic cocktail recipes that are the base of every other drink. This makes a fine liqueur which should be thoroughly iced before serving. Help 1000 Corks by bookmarking and sharing it: To add it to your blog or web page cut and paste the code below: By The Dutch Batavia Arrack 96pf Special Order, Batavia Arrack van Oosten | Astor Wines & Spirits, Shipping info for Peppino's Liquors & Wines, Shipping info for Petrocks Wine and Liquors, Shipping info for Gordon's Wines and Liquors, 2023 Van Oosten - Batavia-Arrack function vrfemail(email) { var memail = document.ems.memail; if (memail.value=="") { alert("Please enter your email address"); memail.focus(); retu, Shipping info for Georgio's Liquors Waltham, Shipping info for Georgio's Liquors Billerica, Shipping info for Schneider's of Capitol Hill, Shipping info for Connecticut Avenue Wine & Liquor, Batavia Arrack van Oosten Sugarcane Spirit. Something in my palate and brain just clicked, Bravo says, describing the flavor notes as vegetal leather, fermented apricot and that fuel-soaked clove taste., Though on its own, the spirit skews divisive, when used in conjunction with other flavors it can be transformative. In it he lists a number of drinks that use arrack in cocktails, including Royal Punch and Arrack Punch, which is similar to Swedish Punch. COUNTRY. Prohibition did more than inspire an HBO gangster drama about how Steve Buscemi is rich and sleeps with showgirls while people get shot. If you want to order from Europe at a higher price (or if you have a foreign friend willing to grab some for you), there's also Carlshamns Flaggpunsch, Cederlunds Caloric, and Facile Punsch. But used strategicallywhether in punches, as a rum replacement or as an unexpected seasoner akin to aromatic bittersit can be a powerful tool in the cocktail-makers arsenal, albeit one with repercussions. Batavia Arrack is a distillate based on 100% sugar-cane molasses (rum), produced exclusively on the island of Java, Indonesia, dated back to the 17th century. Premium aged, after distillation, is aged in halmilla vats for up to 15 years to mature and mellow the raw spirit before blending. Trade routes were responsible for the spirit traveling to the west where it became the premier ingredient for punches during the . that sounds so my style. Premium clear brands include Double Distilled and Blue Label. 15ml lime juice. A spiced take take on the Daiquiri calls on Batavia arrack and pear brandy. I use their books, Modern Classic Cocktails and Cocktail Codex, all the time. It is, essentially, a funky Indonesian ancestor to rum.. Take 1 quart of old Batavia Arrack. Writer, author of Fix the Pumps, chemist, beekeper and general do-er-of-things, Darcy can generally be found looking for new and interesting things to do, usually over a cocktail. You can enter any of the following (includes examples): To star this wine, you need to login with Facebook first. Add all ingredients (except orange peel) to a mixing glass/tin with ice. From the late 17th to 19th century, in an age when Punch was a celebration of all things then exotic citrus, sugar, and spice, no Punch was without. Simone Clarke. Kronen Swedish Punsch is now available in the States for about $35, but this is a recent development. Get the info you need to set up the home bar of your dreams, or at least to make yourself some tasty, good-looking sips! SPIRITS TYPE. Overall I think that everything is . In Finland, arrack (or rum) usually serves as one of the ingredients in the making one of the Finnish traditional pastries, Runeberg tortes. It is a pot . Indonesia- Batavia Arrack is a distillate based on 100% sugar-cane molasses, produced exclusively on the island of Java, Indonesia, dated back to the 17th century. Once the fermentation is, 1 Sweeten to taste with loaf-sugar dissolved in hot water. If you love a Manhattan, this drink is for you. That complexity came from the Swedish Punsch. So, it will always be associated with rum in my head, which isnt too far from the truth. Arrack can also be mixed with fruit juices or with other types of liquor. 1 pound of loaf-sugar. I was expecting a lot more flavor of arrack. The first step results in "low wine", a liquid with an alcohol content between 20 and 40%. and agree to receive news and updates from PUNCH and Vox Media. It's so old it even predates rum. Published by on June 29, 2022. Unlike arak, the word arrack has been considered by some experts to be derived from areca nut, a palm seed originating in India from the areca tree and used as the basis for many varieties of arrack. Combine the juice, lime bodies, and sugar in a 5-quart container. Copyright odd firm of sin 2023. 1 pound of loaf-sugar. Hello world! A production of The Penguin and The Python. Let cool. [11] It is considered the "rum" of Indonesia because, like rum, it is distilled from sugarcane. This molasses wine is then distilled in traditional Chinese stills to 65% before being stored in terracotta vases. It pairs excellently with fortified wines like sherry. Fill a tall glass with pebble or crushed ice. It is used as a flavouring in several types pastries and sweets as well. It is, essentially, a funky Indonesian ancestor to rum.. The traditional way to serve Swedish Punsch is to warm it and pair it with a bowl of pea soup. There are many different ways to drink arrack. Something in my palate and brain just clicked, Bravo says, describing the flavor notes as vegetal leather, fermented apricot and that fuel-soaked clove taste., Though on its own, the spirit skews divisive, when used in conjunction with other flavors it can be transformative. Sipping something neat can also be helpful. Italian Buck (Amaro and Ginger Beer Highball) Recipe, DIY Cocktails: A Simple Guide to Creating Your Own Signature Drinks. Balinese arrack, spelt arak, is distilled from tuak, the fermented sap of the palm (AKA palm wine,) which is harvested by cutting the undeveloped flower bud. Genuine arrack is made from palm sap and is closer in flavour to rum. Trade routes brought the spirit to the Western world, where Batavia arrack enjoyed great popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries, establishing itself as an essential ingredient in. Strabo reports Indians made a beverage from rice which is known as Arak. Mix the infusion with the tea syrup. To clarify the punch, slowly pour the lemon . . 1 1/2 oz. Caer Maiko, co-creator of the Austin-based pop-up Daijoubu, likewise combines the spirit with a blend of citrus (lemon, pomelo, mandarin, yuzu) in her Adios Motherfucker riff, Hello Motherf*cker. Within Indonesia itself, the term arak is still widely used to describe arrack. The Dutch and Batavia Arrack. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Distilled alcoholic drink typically produced in South and Southeast Asia, For the Levantine unsweetened distilled spirit, see, "Archaeology of Indo-Gulf Relations in the Early Historic Period: The Ceramic Evidence, in H.P Ray (ed.) Batavia arrack is a funky Southeast Asian spirit based on sugarcane and rice, and named for Java's seventeenth century Dutch-colonized capital, Batavia. Once you find a bottle, you can start to experiment with this very special spirit. From the late 17th to 19th century, punch was a celebration of all things exotic and imported. If the cocktail has a lot of character, Batavia arrack can provide a heavier underlying palate.. 24 Raffles Cocktail The natural fermentation process is allowed to continue in the washbacks until the alcohol content reaches 5-7% and deemed ready for distillation. Batavia Arrack is distilled in Indonesia. "It's one of the oldest spirits out there, but it's effectively a new spirit for people Stateside," says Seed. If the cocktail has a lot of character, Batavia arrack can provide a heavier underlying palate.. The origins of arrack are unknown but it is considered one of the oldest distilled spirits in the world. From nose via palate to the finish, which is medium long mostly depending on on the alcohol content, I can recognize fruits, bananas and some notes of spices and arrack. Japanese Punch Combine in a warm mug: 1 sugar cube, to taste 0.5 oz lime juice 0.75 oz Batavia Arrack van Oosten 0.75 oz brandy 3 oz hot tea Stir. Indonesian arak containing methanol has caused both local and tourist deaths from methanol toxicity. Watch how to make this recipe. Gold rum doesn't add much flavor, and many traditional recipes omit it, so I skipped it to make the recipe simpler. Fermented from pressed sugar cane juice for a distinctive style. I found that cachaa is a truly satisfying replacement for the traditional arrack-rum mixtureand cachaa's a lot easier to track down. sales tax Bottle (750ml) Batavia-Arrack van Osten B-21 FL: Tarpon Springs Most orders ship within 24 hours More shipping info Go to shop $ 34.98 #cocktails #drinks #cocktailbars, 7 of the Best Bars in Berlin for a Delicious Cocktail, 11 of the Best Restaurants and Bars in Chattanooga for a Cocktail, 5 Cranberry Gin Cocktails That Will Make Spirits Bright, The Ultimate Guide to All the Kansas City Distilleries. Since 1972 it has been Jakarta). Williams uses it in his riff on the. It succeeds greatly in small amounts if the cocktail is subtle. Dissolve the sugar in the water, and add it while hot to the Arrack. 1 oz Batavia arrack 1 oz demerara rum (Lemon Hart) 1 oz lime juice dash Angostura I served it over rocks in a tiki mug with a big straw. With that principle in mind, Bennett created the Seven Seas Swizzle, which combines the spirit with bittersweet green teainfused cane syrup and bright lime, for a riff on the Queens Park Swizzle (one of Bennetts favorite cocktails). This arrack also benefits from some sparkling water. [3] Genoese merchants made the spirit as a byproduct of their sugar cane production in the Canary Islands. $ 29.99. It can also be enjoyed on its own. Even though we haven't seen a credible citation or source of any old . Arrack is a hard liquor popular in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. This sets it apart from traditional Rum, and some jurisdictions refuse to allow Bativia Arrack to be labeled as rum even though the spirit is derived from sugar-cane. Originally, Swedish Punsch was a DIY endeavorpunch is just mixing a bunch of ingredients together, after all. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Get fresh recipes, cooking tips, deal alerts, and more! Distillation takes place in a column still with copper plates and the resulting distillate is aged in Sri Lankan Halmilla wood vats. Express the orange oil from the peel over the drink and twist to serve. The liquor ranges in alcohol content, from 33-50% ABV. My first experiment was to sub it for the two ounces of rum in the classic 1944 Mai Tai recipe: 2 oz By the Dutch Batavia Arrack 1 oz lime juice 0.5 oz orange curacao (e.g. So, it will always be associated with rum in my head, which isnt too far from the truth. It can trace its roots back to the 17th Century. Due to its concentrated sugar and yeast content, the captured liquid naturally and immediately ferments into a mildly alcoholic drink called "toddy", tuak, or occasionally "palm wine". In Indonesia, the local language, Bahasa, spells it arak. Lemons and limes are also matter of palate, but two lemons are enough for the above quantity ; put then an equal quantity of wateri.e., not five but six glasses to allow for the lemon juice, and you have three very pretty tumblers of punch. It is distilled to approx. Easier to find substitutes for Batavia Arrack may be Banks 5 Island Rum (which actually contains some Batavia Arrack) or Cachaca Brazilian Rum. The Batavia Arrack is laid down in large oak casks in Amsterdam. Next >. It's the "Rum of Indonesia". Its not uncommon to find history repeating itself in the drinks world: is back, and many of the worlds oldest and most storied spirits are making a comeback. His death was so avoidable", "Family blames local drink for teacher's holiday death", "Poisoned nurse back home in Newcastle - ABC (none) - Australian Broadcasting Corporation", "Filipinos are the world's biggest consumers of gin, but", "Colonization and Alcoholic Beverages of Early Visayans from Samar and Leyte", The Philippine Islands, 14931898 (Volume XXXIII, 15191522), "Distilleries Company - 'One of the World's Greatest Privatisation Stories', "The Alcohol and Drug information Centre", A philosophical and statistical history of the inventions and customs of ancient and modern nations in the manufacture and use of inebriating liquors, History of alcoholic drinks in ancient India, Consumption of alcohol vs other drinks in India, Global comparison of Per capital consumption, List of countries by beer consumption per capita, Association Against the Prohibition Amendment, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Medicinal Liquor Prescriptions Act of 1933, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arrack&oldid=1135775356, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from August 2020, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. [3] Today punsch is drunk warm as an accompaniment to yellow split pea soup, or chilled as an after dinner drink accompanied with coffee (especially during dinner parties at student nations). It worked pretty well in that and daiquiris. This molasses wine is then distilled in traditional Chinese stills to 65% before being stored in terracotta vases. The other thing that makes Arrack important is that it is used to make Swedish Punch, which is made from arrack, sugar and citrus fruit, and is used in a lot of classic cocktails. Tags arak arrack batavia arrack Cheat Sheet featured. By themselves, their existence seems erroneous: How could something that tastes like that be useful in any way? says Guillermo Bravo, a Chicago-based beverage director. From the late 17th to 19th century, "punch" was a celebration of all things exotic and imported. It is, essentially, a funky Indonesian ancestor to rum., With that principle in mind, Bennett created the, , which combines the spirit with bittersweet green teainfused cane syrup and bright lime, for a riff on the, Meet This Years Most Imaginative Bartender. 6. Arrack is often combined with popular mixers such as cola, soda water, and lime juice. Funky Batavia arrack complemented by grapefruit syrup, fresh lime and maraschino liqueur. Combine the juice, lime bodies and sugar in a 5-quart container. Since then, I got around to trying Batavia-Arrack, and would describe it to be like funky white rum with some red bean/rice/notes. [2] It is not to be confused with the anise-flavored distilled spirit called arak or araq. In the spirit of these classics is the Modern Cocktail No. 12 The Batavia Arak Company also exported arack to the Netherlands and had an office in Amsterdam. It is a pot still distillation. [4] Arrack predates all "New World" spirits, as it is a parent to aguardiente (which was, in turn, the parent of rum, rhum agricole, and ron). Batavia arrack remains, undoubtedly, a more divisive spirit than others that are simply misunderstood, forgotten or pigeonholed. Ginger beer, to top. If your liquor store is the type to carry obscure ingredients, you can pick it up locally. All rights reserved. After a few failed encounters with the spirit, Bravo was lured into taking shots of the stuff at a Tiki Tuesday event at Featherweight in Brooklyn, where, whether from maturity or simply the charm of time and place, he finally got it. Made from tart Marasca cherries and crushed cherry pits, it is one . Use It! Making booze illegal changed the way America drank, banishing a lot of popular ingredients to obscurity. For the drink. $ 29.99. [29] The second step results in the final distillate with an alcohol content of 60 to 90%. It was the first distilled spirit consumed in the continental US, in the colonies of New Sweden and New Netherland,[6] but is now mostly confused with the more common and similar spelled anise-flavored spirit arak. Klaproth says that the Ossetians, (anciently Alans,) a Caucasian people, applied the word " Arak" to denote all distilled liquors, a decided confirmation of the foregoing observations and opinions.[35]. Sri Lanka (known until 1972 as Ceylon) is the main exporter of palm sap-based Arrack. Found in units of GALLON. In its most basic form, Batavia Arrack is similar to Rum. The tub, which by itself is also a popular beverage, is further distilled to produce lambang (or laksoy, if made from nipa palm sap). That didn't exactly catch on here in the States, but you can sip punsch straightover ice or warmed (add a little lemon juice or a few lemon slices, if you like things tart like I do). More Info: Van Oosten - Batavia-Arrack (750ml) The Wine and Cheese Place Clayton, MO - 314-962-8150 United States.