Pisco is the national spirit of both Peru and Chile and in both countries the iconic cocktail is the pisco sour, which, understandably in such hot climes, tends to be served blended with crushed ice. Here in Britain and other less clement lands we tend to prefer our sours shaken – the pisco sour included. But theres so much more to be made with this wonderfully aromatic spirit.
There seem few flavours that pisco doesnt mix well with but its aromatics combine brilliantly with tropical fruit – especially pineapple. Youll see from the recipes below that with pineapple and pisco I favour adding a touch of clove spice.
When reaching for a bottle of cognac, consider also grabbing a bottle of pisco and try combining both brandies in a cocktail. Youll find calvados and pisco also mix harmoniously. Being a brandy made from grapes wine and vermouth are also obvious choices and as youll see below, I tend to favour sauvignon blanc.
Like tequila and mezcal, pisco represents bottled sunshine and theres something of the suns energy evident in its taste and vibrancy. This is most apparent in the fabulously aromatic Peruvian single varietal piscos made from the Italia grape and I particularly recommend the mosto-verde bottling by BarSol. The combined energy and aromatics of pisco cry out tiki perhaps more than even rum.
It would be remiss to proclaim the virtues of pisco cocktails without including links to our in-depth pages on the origins of both the Pisco Sour and the Pisco Punch but for those simply after pisco based cocktail recipes I recommend the following:
Andean DuskWith: Pisco, red grapes, lemon juice, sugar and champagne.We say: Dry Biscuity champagne adds sparkle to sweet red grapes while Pisco fortifies and adds complex distilled grape flavours.
Club Cocktail (my recipe)With: Pisco, cognac (on which this drink is based), maraschino liqueur, pineapple juice and Peychauds.We say: Cognac and pisco brandies with maraschino and pineapple adding fruity tropical freshness and a foamy head.
Double GrapeWith: Pisco, Byrrh Grand Quinquina and grapefruit bitters.We say: The aromatics of the distilled wine of pisco combine harmoniously with the aromatised wines sweet grapey notes.
DulchinWith: Pisco, Grand Marnier, apricot brandy, lime cordial and pomegranate syrup.We say: This dry, amber coloured, fruity cocktail carries a pisco punch.
Paddington Bear MartiniWith: Pisco, marmalade, dry gin and bianco vermouth.We say: Tangy orange marmalade with gin and pisco rounded with bianco vermouth.
Peruvian Elder SourWith: Pisco, elderflower liqueur and lime juice.We say: This tasty sour combines the aromatics of pisco and elderflower in an intriguing variation on the Margarita. Consider smoothing with fresh egg white.
Pichuncho MartiniWith: Pisco, sweet vermouth and sugar syrup.We say: Grape combines with fortified wine in a sublime after-dinner sipper.
PineconeWith: Pisco, cloves, mead, pineapple juice, Licor 43 and pine liqueur.We say: Honey and pineapple, laced with aromatic pisco and spiced with clove.
PiniWith: Pisco, cognac, white crème de cacao and sugar.We say: Use a great pisco and youll have a wonderfully complex drink.
Pisco CollinsWith: Pisco, lime juice, sugar and soda water.We say: The most aromatic and flavoursome of the Collins family.
Pisco KidWith: Pisco, white crème de cacao, sauvignon blanc wine, fino sherry and water.We say: This pisco-based spirituous stirred drink was inspired by memories of Nestles Milkybars. The sweetness of White crème de cacao is balanced by dry sherry and the acidity of Sauvignon Blanc wine adds grassy floral notes.
Pisco Punch (my recipe)With: Pisco, clove, pineapple juice, orange juice, lemon juice, sugar and champagne.We say: A tangy, balanced combination of rich flavours. The quality of pisco used is crucial to the success of a Pisco Punch.
Pisco Punch (Michelis recipe)With: Pisco, orange slices, pineapple wedges, pineapple marinade and soda water.We say: The pisco punch is very fruity and slightly on the sweet side but is so tasty that it justifies its legendary reputation.
Pisco Punch (Prossers recipe)With: Pisco, white grapes, pineapple juice and absinthe.We say: Grape juice and aromatic grape-based spirit paired with pineapple and the merest hint of absinthe.
Pisco Sour (my recipe)With: Pisco, lime juice, sugar, egg white and orange flower water.We say: Traditionally this drink is blended with crushed ice, but I prefer my Pisco Sours served straight up or on the rocks. Either way, its best served in an old-fashioned glass stored in the fridge or freezer.
Pyramid PunchWith: Pisco, cloves, elderflower liqueur, pineapple juice and pink grapefruit juice.We say: Tangy, fruity and packed with flavor. Clove spice, fragrant floral pisco and elderflower with a hint of sweet pineapple and sour grapefruit.
Suzie CocktailWith: Pisco, Suze, pineapple juice, Sauvignon Blanc wine and sugar.We say: Pisco, pineapple and Sauvignon Blanc wine are a match made in heaven, while gentian liqueur provides a complex underlying gentian bittersweet notes.
The StigWith: Pisco, calvados, elderflower liqueur and sauvignon blanc wine.We say: Whiter than white yet mysterious. As for the taste, white wine acidity balances rich elderflower with spirituous lacing from apple brandy and aromatic grapy pisco.
Velvet ThreesomeWith: Pisco, calvados, cognac. Licor 43 and dry vermouth.We say: A trio of brandies with a dash of herbal vanilla, rounded with vermouth.
Wisecrack FizzWith: Pisco, elderflower liqueur, pink grapefruit juice, lemon juice and soda water.We say: Light, balanced and refreshing. The pisco character shines through.
Add the pisco, simple syrup, lime juice, and egg white to a cocktail shaker. Add ice to fill, and shake vigorously. Alternatively, you can use a blender if you don’t have a shaker. Strain into an old-fashioned glass or sour glass and sprinkle the bitters on top of the foam.
The StigWith: Pisco, calvados, elderflower liqueur and sauvignon blanc wine.We say: Whiter than white yet mysterious. As for the taste, white wine acidity balances rich elderflower with spirituous lacing from apple brandy and aromatic grapy pisco.
Double GrapeWith: Pisco, Byrrh Grand Quinquina and grapefruit bitters.We say: The aromatics of the distilled wine of pisco combine harmoniously with the aromatised wines sweet grapey notes.
When reaching for a bottle of cognac, consider also grabbing a bottle of pisco and try combining both brandies in a cocktail. Youll find calvados and pisco also mix harmoniously. Being a brandy made from grapes wine and vermouth are also obvious choices and as youll see below, I tend to favour sauvignon blanc.
Like tequila and mezcal, pisco represents bottled sunshine and theres something of the suns energy evident in its taste and vibrancy. This is most apparent in the fabulously aromatic Peruvian single varietal piscos made from the Italia grape and I particularly recommend the mosto-verde bottling by BarSol. The combined energy and aromatics of pisco cry out tiki perhaps more than even rum.
Suzie CocktailWith: Pisco, Suze, pineapple juice, Sauvignon Blanc wine and sugar.We say: Pisco, pineapple and Sauvignon Blanc wine are a match made in heaven, while gentian liqueur provides a complex underlying gentian bittersweet notes.
The result is a delicious cocktail with a silky mouthfeel that can provide refreshment whether you’re hiking in the Andes or drinking on the beach.
Pisco is a grape-distilled spirit that was first made in the 16th century. Piscos vary in style and grape variety, with different expressions ranging in flavor from dry and earthy to floral and fruity. The Pisco Sour doesn’t call for a particular pisco, so enterprising drinkers can experiment to find which they prefer.
Chile and Peru bicker fiercely over the Pisco Sour’s origin (and that of pisco, too), but by most accounts, the drink’s genesis is tied to a United States citizen. Expat bartender Victor Morris is believed to have concocted the frothy, smooth cocktail at his Lima bar around 1915 or perhaps the early 1920s. Blending pisco, lime juice, egg white and Angostura bitters, the Pisco Sour is earthy, sweet and tart—a cocktail worth fighting over.
Spirit, citrus, sugar and egg white are the core ingredients in a good sour, including the popular Whiskey Sour. But one small difference that’s become emblematic of the Pisco Sour is its inclusion of Angostura bitters. The aromatic bitters, which are usually applied as a garnish, add color and fragrance to the cocktail. Those bitters sit on the drink’s fluffy head, a trait achieved by dry-shaking the cocktail. That means shaking it first without ice to incorporate the liquid ingredients with the egg white before shaking it again with ice to provide chill and dilution.
Old Fashioned’s New Twists | How to Drink
FAQ
What is the best way to drink Pisco?
Does pisco need to be refrigerated?
Can pisco get you drunk?
What glass do you serve a Pisco Sour in?
How do you make a cocktail with pisco?
Gather the ingredients. Add the pisco, simple syrup, lime juice, and egg white to a cocktail shaker. Add ice to fill, and shake vigorously. Alternatively, you can use a blender if you don’t have a shaker. Strain into an old-fashioned glass or sour glass and sprinkle the bitters on top of the foam. Serve immediately and enjoy.
How do you drink pisco?
Pisco is very often consumed as a cocktail, using puro or acholado. This classic drink is a sour, but it can be drunk neat, just like grappa or other brandies. To get a proper taste neat, pour the spirit into a glass that allows it to aerate so the aromas emerge, suggests Villagarcía.
How do you make pisco with bitters?
To give it a special touch, use a toothpick to swirl the bitters into the mix creating a colourful pattern. Simply fill a tall glass with ice and pour your Pisco over the top. Add in the lime juice, top up with ginger ale and stir gently before a lime wedge on the rim.
How do you make a good Pisco?
The ginger honey syrup gives it some bite with just the right amount of sweetness at the same time. As for the pisco, use Catan. It’s a Chilean brand with notes of peaches, tangerines, and honey. Shake it up with the lime and the honey, then pour it into a Nick and Nora glass if you have them.