review: Arak Abu Nu’as

• Category: arak (on the basis of grapes)
• Alcohol: 45%
• Origin: Iraq
• Manufacturer: unknown
• Bought at: Baghdad, Iraq (thanks Bob!)

This bottle was bought in Baghdad probably a long time ago (possibly even in the eighties). It is made of fermented grape pulp, just as Lebanese and Syrian arak, but unlike many other Iraqi brands of arak which are based on fermented dates. Abu Nuwas was a medieval Arabic poet renowned for his poetry involving wine and homo-eroticism. He also figures on the label, enjoying music and a glass of (presumably) arak. For more information on Abu Nuwas, see his Wikipedia page. The drink itself is not very good; it results in quite bad hangovers. 5/10.

External link: Wikipedia: Abu Nuwas