Yeni Raki Mey Icki

750 ml Alcohol/Vol: 45%

With the lifting in 2001 in Turkey of the state monopoly over drinks of high alcoholic content and the ensuing privatization in the sector, the production of raki too was opened to the private ector for the first time and, as per the revision made in the Spirits and Alcoholic Beverages Monopoly Act No. 4250, a "definition of raki" was introduced and stipulated in the law. To Article 3 of Act No. 4250 was added the defining clause that, "Raki produced in Turkey is required to be made from suma, a distilled form of grape, or from suma mixed with agriculturally-based ethyl alcohol, which is then distilled a second time in traditional 5000-liter or smaller-volume copper flasks together with aniseed, with the total alcohol content in the product being no less than 65%."

As can be seen, while the definition of raki occupies an important place in history, it has been subjected to special provisions since it is an alcoholic drink and to general provisions because it is also a food product. It is significant, however, that the definition of raki has been included within the scope of law as from 2001. In this way, the stage was set for new producers to enter the market as the transition was made from the state monopoly to the free market and the traditional raw materials and customary process of production were preserved, providing assurance for the future of raki. In 2009, the Turkish Patents Institute placed "raki" under protection by certifying the geographical designation of origin of the product.