Pisco sour: the national cocktail

A pisco sour contains only 5 main ingredients: pisco, lime juice, beaten egg white, (Angostura) herbal bitter and sugar syrup. It is key to use lime juice and not lemon juice because it contains a very different degree of acidity. The taste, however, is also influenced by the grape species that are used; pisco can be made with 8 different grape varieties. Depending on the types of grapes used and the method of preparation, pisco sometimes resembles a tequila or may lean more towards a vodka. Just as with different types of wine, discerning gourmets will distinguish all kinds of flavours in pisco, from pear to roasted almonds, from cucumber to honey. Some types of pisco are enjoyed straight up and others are perfect for a pisco sour. In addition to this ‘sour’ classic, there are countless other pisco cocktails, made with mango, cucumber or ginger.

There are many locations in Lima where they serve the perfect pisco sour. One of those is the Gran Hotel Bolivar, the famous hotel in the old city centre. Writer Ernest Hemingway is said to have knocked back a record number of pisco sours here. Staunch drinkers can still quench their thirst in style and order their cocktail in an extra large ‘cathedral glass'.