Klub Kembali - Arak Anthropology

As many of you know, I like arak. I like the taste, the culture, the history, the people who make it… pretty much all of it I find amazing and inspiring. And something worthy of learning more about and sharing with people who visit Lombok. To make this easier for us and our guests we’re jumping in with both feet!

Lombok: A Surprising New Home To The World’s Largest Arak Collection

Since we opened Klub Kembali in 2022, we have been dedicated to creating innovative craft cocktails based on Indonesian spirits. As we approach our four-year anniversary in July, we have doubled down on araks from across Indonesia, expanded our arak collection and opened our exclusive “Arak Library” — a cozy lounge offering guests over 60 different araks produced in Bali and other Indonesian islands.

We’re very excited to introduce our guests to this significant aspect of Indonesian culture through guided tastings and cocktails. The Klub Kembali Arak Library — the largest collection of araks in the world — boasts two experiences. The main lounge area with comfy sofas and a wall of artistic bottles allows guests to sample over 60 araks that have received Indonesian government approvals for food safety and taxation. The second experience, the “Mini Museum,” showcases a second, small collection of artisanal araks and infusions crafted by Indonesian farmer-producers which are not yet for sale. They’re a great example of the incredible creativity involved in arak production.

A Cultural Evolution

In the past, arak has unfortunately faced a negative reputation due to uncontrolled production. Since 2020, however, Indonesian arak has undergone increased regulation, with the Balinese government spearheading legal and safe production practices. This has inspired other provinces to adopt similar measures, fostering a vibrant and safe arak craft industry across the archipelago. From a cultural aspect, most serious producers emphasize that arak is not intended for a cheap buzz but instead, created for a traditional and mindful experience; in fact, many of the araks in our collection are still used in religious ceremonies across Bali or medicinally to alleviate various ailments.

To celebrate this rich heritage, we will host arak tastings to invite guests to sample and learn, and to spread the word. These tastings will offer a variety of “Arak Journeys” from traditional palm-sap and rice-based selections to house-aged specialty araks, unique infusions and more. Guests can also purchase favorite araks as a souvenir to bring home.

Classic Cocktails, “Arakified”

In addition to daily tastings, Klub Kembali also offers exclusive arak-based classic cocktails, adhering to time-honored cocktail legends while offering guests an easier entry-point into the unique flavors of arak. We want guests to feel familiar with what we’re serving; by changing the main spirit and balancing out complementary ingredients, we make it easier for visitors to try an arak cocktail and to expand their palate.

The Klub’s “Arakified Classic Cocktails” may not taste exactly the same as the originals, but that’s the point — they’re familiar enough to be recognizable but reimagined with a specialty arak. Our vision is that someday soon, arak will be as well-known as gin, rum, tequila, vodka or whisky. It’s another spirit with ancient roots, but it’s finally getting the attention it deserves in the hospitality scene and we’re honored to be part of this evolution. For most cultures, traditional alcoholic beverages are a source of immense local pride; I firmly believe that supporting and elevating these local products is our calling at Klub Kembali. This is our collective purpose.

Learn With Us

Even after having achieved the milestone of opening our Arak Library, we’re still at the beginning of our journey of learning. In July, we’ll embark on a trip through the Balinese countryside, where most of the palm trees for arak are grown and palm wine is produced. Think amazing photos, fascinating stories, gripping lore and, at the end, there will be a book to peruse as you sip on your favorite Indonesian arak. At the same time we are looking into distilling the first ever legally produced “Arak Lombok.” The basic ingredients and methods already exist, and we’ll be focusing on finding great, local farmers with the right raw materials to create something amazing. Stay tuned as we welcome you back!

Arak Tasting Journeys

To make arak tasting easier for Klub Kembali guests, we offer curated arak journeys with three araks per journey, woven together by a common theme. There’s a fruity journey, a spicy journey, and a few more. A question we often get is about which araks are the most expensive and highest quality. So this month we’re introducing our Top Shelf Arak Journey — take a look here, then stop in to try them for yourself! Cheers!

Ark

Ark is a refined craft spirit that showcases bold traditional flavor with remarkable balance. Bottled at 45% alcohol by volume, it carries the strength of a high-proof spirit while delivering the smooth finish of a traditional French Eau-de-Vie.

Sophia Premium Sopi

Sophia Premium Sopi is based on the traditional spirit of Nusa Tenggara Timur, called Sopi. Like Balinese Arak, Sopi is distilled from fermented palm sap. It has a rich and long history across the province, being used in celebrations, rituals and medicinal applications. Since 2020 it has been the first legal spirit of Nusa Tenggara Timur.

Karusotju 38

Distilled deep in the forests of Mount Batukaru, Bali, Karusotju is a spirit made from honey sweet potato. Four years of R&D went into creating this unique spirit. Clean, crisp and full of character, with the pristine, natural spring waters of Batukaru used to distill and filter, resulting in a very pure product. In addition to a fine spirit, the company has a great sustainability vision, from dealing with production waste to making glassware from recycled bottles.