Day 83 - When I got here in December, I was excited by the new versions of strong beers produced by Lion Brewery (Ceylon). I have fallen for Wild Apple and Ginger Blast. However today, I thought it prudent to buy a few bottles of the drink of choice for many Sri Lankans.
I'm sure I've talked about coconut arrack in my eJournal and images. This is not the arak alcoholic drink of the Mediterranean or the Middle East. This type of spirit comes from just parts of southern India, a few places in SE Asia, and is known primarily for being produced in Sri Lanka.
Who'd not like the idea of sipping on coconut flowers! Wikipedia has a good section on Ceylon Arrack. As re-inventing the wheel is a waste of time, I'll let you click this link if you wish to learn more.
The picture above shows that I have common (cheap) habits and purchased what the Sri Lankan equivalent of 'joe-average' might. These bottles are not pure products of the coconut as are the more premium bottles. These contain added neutral spirits. However, the thing that I especially noticed today is how the cost has risen.
Whereas drinking here used to be cheap, taxes and the economy have pushed the price to over $US8 per 750 ml bottle! I guess that's not bad for hard liquor. Yet before we leave, I'll pay a few bucks more for some double-distilled to take back to BC! I don't mind showing off to those friends who don't really know that I am.