Make your next Sour something special with the Peruvian spirit, Pisco.
Sours are a simple kind of cocktail. If you’ve ever wanted to dip your toes into the world of mixed drinks, and you’re looking for something you can try making at home, a Sour is a great way to start. You’ve basically got three ingredients… your base spirit, lemon juice (sometimes lime, and sometimes a bit of both) and simple syrup. Shake these over ice and serve on the rocks or straight up (depending on the kind of Sour you’re making). Something like tonight’s drink, the Pisco Sour, is served without ice. Egg whites add a frothy and foamy white top, and will bring some velvety smoothness to each sip, but this is optional.
The Sour has been around for a long, long time. The first recorded instance of the drink dates all the way back to 1856, while the recipe itself made its debut in Jerry Thomas’ book The Bartender’s Guide in 1862. Within its pages were the Brandy Sour, the Gin Sour and the Rum Sour, also known as the Santa Cruz.
Today we will be making a Sour that’s just as popular as those other classics, but which comes in off a less-trodden path. A Pisco Sour still keeps the mixture of citrus and sugar, but adds the Peruvian liquor as the spirit base.
Pisco is a brandy-style spirit. While it originated in Peru, it is also made and exported from Chile as well. Distilled from grapes to make a high-proof alcohol, it has been used in a number of cocktails over the years, and not just the Sour. In 19th Century San Francisco for example, the Pisco Punch made its first appearance, and has still proven to be a popular beverage.
If drinks like the Whiskey or Bourbon Sour are some of your go-to concoctions, definitely give the Pisco Sour a whirl. Sweeter than both whiskey and bourbon, pisco will bring the tart taste of grapes but also sneak in notes of vanilla and extra citrus, which will play nicely with the lime juice. For a Sour with a difference, you can’t beat a Pisco Sour.
What is the Best Pisco to use in a pisco sour?
When it comes to choosing the best pisco for your Sour, you might be limited to what’s available. Even here in Los Angeles, I usually can’t find one bottle of it at my local grocery store, and they have a nice selection of spirits. My liquor store however carries quite a few brands, and they range from decently priced to “I can’t afford that”. My suggestion is to try and find some Caravedo Mosto Verde or Capurro. Both are delicious and high quality, and neither will break the bank.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces of pisco
- 1 ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice
- 0.75 ounce of simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- A few dashes of Angostura bitters for garnishing
Instructions
- Mix the elements. In a cocktail shaker, combine the pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white.
- Shake vigorously without ice to emulsify the egg white and get a frothy consistency.
- Incorporate the ice and shake again to chill the drink
- Strain into a chilled glass and add a few dashes of bitters as an optional garnish
Nutrition
FAQs & Tips
You can use a coupe or rocks glass for this drink, and either can be chilled in your freezer before serving. Dash some bitters on top for garnish.
You can premix and store the ingredients ahead of time, minus the egg white, and shake individual servings over ice. Dry shake with an egg white before the ice if you want the foamy top.
A proper Pisco Sour might set you back around 270 calories, and that’s mainly from the alcohol and the syrup. You can adjust the amount of simple syrup you use for a slightly lighter tipple.
Before adding the ice to your shaker, put the egg white in with the other ingredients and dry shake for only 15 seconds. Any longer and you run the risk of your shaker exploding everywhere. I speak from experience.
Pisco Sour’s got a great zing to it that pairs well with loads of dishes, especially if you’re into Peruvian food. Try it with ceviche, anticucho (Peruvian skewers), or any grilled seafood with some spice for a yummy combo.
Pisco Sour Variations
If you love a good, strong and tart Sour cocktail, you’re in the right place. Twist & Toast has a delicious roster of easy-to-follow recipes for just about any drink you can imagine, and that list keeps growing every day. Check some of these Sours out below, and see which one will become your next favorite.
Maracuyá Passionfruit Sour – Another amazing Pisco Sour, this one with the magic of passionfruit.
Gin Sour – Crisp, bright and full of delicious botanicals from the gin.
New York Sour – Red wine is added to make this Sour something special.
Amaretto Stone Sour – Orange juice and amaretto create this almond-flavored dram.
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