Chilcano de Pisco

The Chilcano de Pisco is one of Peru’s classic cocktails, right up there with the Pisco Sour and Algarobbina. For many foreigners visiting Peru, it is the drink that starts their love for Pisco and is one of the easiest pisco based cocktails to make.

Ingredients:
-4 ounces ginger ale
-2 ounces pisco
-The juice of ½ of a lime (about 1 tablespoon)
-Bitters

Preparation:
1.) Fill a high ball glass with ice cubes.
2.) Pour the pisco over the ice.
3.) Add the lime juice
4.) Fill the glass with ginger ale (as an alternative, you can use club soda and fresh ginger)

The typical Chilcano uses a basic Quebranta pisco, though I like the sweetness that a Mosto Verde pisco brings. More creative recipes replace the Ginger in the traditional Chilcano with lemongrass, camu camu, mint, or coca leaves.

This week is the first annual Chilcano week in Peru (Semana del Chilcano) and dozens of restaurants and cocktail bars in Lima, Asia Beach, Cusco, Ica, and Trujillo have joined in the festivities offering 2×1 Chilcanos, 50 percent off, free appetizers, and Chilcano ice cream. Participating bars, from January 11-17, include:

Lima: Astrid y Gastón, Bravo Restobar, Cala, Pescados Capitales, Punta Sal, Picas, Antigua Taberna Queirolo, Tanta, Hanzo, Fiesta, Brujas de Cachiche, Scena, Fusión, Bar Inglés del Country Club, Huaringas, Casandina, Swissotel, Caplina, Costanera 700, Ristorante Fratello, Trattoria dei Pratti, Pisco Bar, Capitán Meléndez, Junius, Depeche Order, Quattro D, El Grifo, Mayta, Alfresco, El Bolivariano, Chala, El Rincón Que No Conoces Santos Bar, Cepas Restobar, El Dragón

Asia: Acquavit Hotel & Casino, Bubba Lounge, Play Club, Punta Sal, Depeche Order

Cusco: La Chicha, Cosa Nostra, Bar Cusco, Inka Grill, Limo, Inkanto, Pacha Papa, Zu Lounge, Bistro 470, Hotel Monasterio, Andean Wings Hotel, El Pisquerito

Ica: El Carmelo Hotel y Bodega