View source for Aragh Sagi

{{Short description|Iranian moonshine}}
{{Infobox beverage
| name = Aragh sagi
| image = Aragh sagi.jpg
| image_size = 150px
| type = [[Spirit (drink)|Spirit]]
| abv = 45%–55%<br/> up to 90% if homemade
| proof = 90–110<br/> up to 180 if homemade
| introduced = 
| colour = Transparent
| flavour = 
| ingredients = Alcohol produced from raisins or dates
| variants = 
| related = [[Arak (drink)|Arak]], [[rakı]], [[absinthe]], [[ouzo]], [[pastis]], [[sambuca]]
| origin = Iran
| manufacturer = Meykadeh Company
| discontinued = 1979 (legal production)
| region = [[Qazvin]]
}}
'''Aragh sagi''' ({{langx|fa|عرق سگی|araq-e sagi}}, {{abbr|lit.|literally}} ''doggy [metaphor for extreme] distilled [beverage]'') is a type of Iranian [[moonshine]]. This [[distilled beverage|distilled alcoholic beverage]] usually contains around 50% [[Alcohol (drug)|alcohol]]. However, since it was produced without much [[quality control]], it may have contained more or less alcohol, at times even reaching 80%. A high-quality aragh sagi tastes similar to [[grappa]]. Some Western sources call it Persian or Iranian [[Vodka]].<ref name="OCW Persia">Entry on ''"Persia"'' in J. Robinson (ed), ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'', Third Edition, p. 512-513, Oxford University Press, 2006, {{ISBN|0-19-860990-6}}</ref><ref name="Hugh J">Hugh Johnson, ''"The Story of Wine"'', New Illustrated Edition, p. 58 & p. 131, Mitchell Beazley 2004, {{ISBN|1-84000-972-1}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last1=Fassihi |first1=Farnaz |author-link=Farnaz Fassihi |last2=Nikounazar |first2=Leily |date=2023-07-14 |title=Alcohol Poisonings Rise in Iran, Where Bootleggers Defy a Ban |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/14/world/middleeast/iran-alcohol-deaths.html |access-date=2023-09-06 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

== Etymology ==

''Aragh'' ({{wikt-lang|fa|عرق}}, "[[Arak (drink)|Arak]]") are aromatic liquids that are produced by [[distillation]] from herbs and seeds, for example [[mentha|mint]] or [[anise]]. Traditional ''Aragh Sagi'' that was made in Iran is only with Raisins, like the Premium Arak(Saggi) from CyrusProducts<ref>{{cite web | url=https://getcyrus.com/index.php/spirits/cyrus-premium-arak-detail | title=Spirits: Cyrus Premium Arak }}</ref> distilled in the Netherlands. See also below.

''Aragh Sagi'' literally means "[[dog]]gy distilled [beverage]", from ''sag'' ({{wikt-lang|fa|سگ}} "dog" in [[Persian language|Persian]] being a [[metaphor]] for ''extreme''). Back in 1960s, the Meikadeh Company produced aragh with a picture of a dog (a [[beagle]]) on the bottle label as a [[logo]], and soon public started referring to it as ''aragh sagi'' or "doggy aragh", and the name stuck.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-31 |title=The secret local drinks you need to order in 19 countries around the world |url=https://www.shortlist.com/news/secret-local-drinks-spain-sweden-india-italy-germany-europe |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Shortlist |language=en}}</ref>

==Legality==
Since the [[Iranian Revolution|Iranian revolution]] in 1979, [[Alcohol in Iran|alcohol is illegal in Iran]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rezaei |first1=Negar |last2=Ahmadi |first2=Naser |last3=Shams Beyranvand |first3=Mehran |last4=Hasan |first4=Milad |last5=Gohari |first5=Kimiya |last6=Yoosefi |first6=Moein |last7=Djalalinia |first7=Shirin |last8=Saeedi Moghaddam |first8=Sahar |last9=Modirian |first9=Mitra |last10=Pazhuheian |first10=Forough |last11=Mahdavihezaveh |first11=Alireza |last12=Moradi |first12=Ghobad |last13=Delavari |first13=Farnaz |last14=Larijani |first14=Bagher |last15=Farzadfar |first15=Farshad |date=2022-11-18 |editor-last=Bennett |editor-first=Derrick Anthony |title=Alcohol consumption and related disorders in Iran: Results from the National Surveillance of Non-Communicable Diseases' Survey (STEPs) 2016 |journal=PLOS Global Public Health |language=en |volume=2 |issue=11 |pages=e0000107 |doi=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000107 |issn=2767-3375 |doi-access=free |pmid=36962484 |pmc=10021244 }}</ref> As such, homemade Aragh sagi in Iran is produced illegally.<ref name=":0" />

== History ==
It is usually produced in homes from [[Fermentation|fermented]] raisins. Its production and possession by ordinary citizens is considered illegal in Iran (which is the case for all [[Alcohol in Iran|alcoholic beverages in Iran]]). Prior to [[1979 revolution]] in Iran, this product had been produced traditionally in several cities, such as [[Yazd]]. Since it was outlawed after 1979, it became a black market and underground business. Today, aragh sagi is widely considered a cheap alcoholic beverage that consumers choose due to lack of other available alternative options.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

==Cyrus Premium Arak==

Cyrus Premium Arak is produced by Cyrus Company<ref>{{cite web | url=https://getcyrus.com/index.php/spirits/cyrus-premium-arak-detail | title=Spirits: Cyrus Premium Arak }}</ref> in the Netherlands. Cyrus Arak Saggi is made in small batches using copper pot stills. Fermented raisins are distilled to create a clear arak with an alcohol content of 40%. Raisins are sourced from Iran and Turkey.
[[File:Premium Arak Saggi.jpg|thumb|Premium Arak]]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Distilled drinks]]
[[Category:Iranian drinks]]
[[Category:Iranian distilled drinks]]


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