BATAVIA ARRACK

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 a true Batavia Arrack. 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. Beyond these uses, Batavia Arrack is also today found in boutique European chocolates and cocktails at Bali resorts and bars across the USA.