The late architect, intellectual and a great RAKI philosopher Aydın Boysan said this:
"It is good practice to add half as much water as the raki in the glass.
After taking the first sip, you should hold it in your mouth and take a deep breath through your teeth so that your lungs also get their share.
It is also the tradition that the oldest person at the table raises his/her
raki glass first. All others can then raise theirs."
Raki is a distilled alcoholic beverage (generally abv is 45%) that is produced only in Turkey, by second distillation of suma, mixed with ethyl alcohol of grape origin with aniseed (Pimpinella anisum) in traditional copper stills of 5000 liters or less. Therefore, raki is native to Turkey and protected by law.
Precise documentation does not exist where and by whom raki was first produced. Yet, it is widely accepted that raki was first produced in Ottoman lands. The existence of a spirit similar to raki was discovered in the Eastern Roman Empire in the 5th century. The Turks learned to make raki in the 11th century.
Traditionally, the best aniseed (Pimpinella anisum) for a geniuenly flavourful raki comes from Aegean (Çeşme, to be exact) region of Anatolia. And that is the aniseed used for EFE varieties.
Copper stills (alembics) of 5000 liters or less
Aniseed (Pimpinella anisum)
EFE is proud to have introduced many ‘firsts’:
- First private sector Raki
- First laser-printed production code for security
- First small size raki
- First fresh grape raki
- First triple-distilled raki
- First raki aged in oak barrels for 5 years
- First organic raki
- First blend raki
- First raki made with micro oxygenation technique
- First raki distilled from nano copper alembic
- First in the sector to be nominated for ISO 9001 and 22000 assurance certificate
- First raki matured in oak barrels through Solera system
Efe started working on its raki production facility in 2002 when the state monopoly on the production and sale of distilled alcoholic beverages was lifted in Turkey. In August 2004, Efe was introduced to consumers, first in Germany and then in Turkey. Within the first six months, it achieved higher than expected sales when it sold out of all its products.
In order to meet the increasing demand as a result of Efe’s growing reputation in the market, the annual production capacity was increased from 5 to nearly 14 million liters in 2005.
Please click for the full list of awards
Awards
Double Gold
SZ 3 Mese - 2021
Efe Göbek
GreatGold - 2019
Efe Gold
Gold-Medal - 2017
Efe Gold
Silver Medal - 2017
Efe Yaş Üzüm
Double Gold - 2010
SZ Original
Catavinum Gold Medal - 2021
SZ 3 Mese
Great Gold - 2021
SZ Original
Catavinum Gold Medal - 2021
EFE VARSITY
EFE VaRIETES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN BC
EFE FRESH GRAPES
EFE Fresh Grapes is the first fresh grapes raki produced in Türkiye, it is made from 100% fresh grapes. Balanced aniseed content and purity of its alcohol determines the incomparable smooth taste. Its alcohol content by volume is 45% which is reduced from 92-94.5% by adding water during the 3rd fraction of the alembic distillation, after the fermentation.
Awards:
One of the “coolest” top 14 brands selected by ‘CoolBrands Turkey’ in 2007.
Double Gold Medal in San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2010.
Alcohol : 45%
SKU#: 411286
Where to order EFE FRESH GRAPES
EFE GOLD
Efe Gold which is launched in 2015 is made from Anatolian grapes and aniseeds. It is matured for 120 days in oak barrels to inherit smooth taste, distinctive color and aromas, following 90 days of maturation in the steel tanks after the distillation. No sugar is added in the making of EFE Gold, its alcohol content by volume is 45%.
Awards:
Gold Medal in Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition in 2017.
Silver Medal in San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2017.
Alcohol: 45%
SKU #: 437076
Where to order EFE GOLD
EFE BLACK 3 DISTILLED
Efe Black is the first ‘3 distilled raki’ produced in Türkiye. It is produced with fresh and dried grapes.
After the fermentation of fresh grapes juice and liquified raisins, obtained mash is distilled in continuous columns alcohol content by volume reaches 92-94.5%. At the final 3rd fraction of the alembic distillation, alcohol content by volume is adjusted to 47% to become Triple Distilled RAKI. It is bottled after 100 days of maturation period in stainless tanks.
Alcohol: 47%
SKU #: 397169
Where to order EFE BLACK 3 DISTILLED
EFE GÖBEK RAKI
EFE GÖBEK is produced with fresh / dried grapes, aniseeds and water. Grape alcohol is transferred from storage to alembic distillation, added water to reduce its alcohol content from 94.5% to 45%, and re-distilled with aniseed in copper alembics. Balanced content of aniseed and purity of alcohol determines EFE Göbek’s incomparable smooth taste. GÖBEK (literally ‘belly’) stands for the mid /prime stage of the 5-fraction distillation process.
Awards:
San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2019,
Great Gold Medal
Alcohol: 45%
SKU#: 360046
Where to order EFE GÖBEK
