Archive for August, 2007
Pisco and Wines of Peru
As you all know, I just came back from a fantastic trip to Peru. Along the way I got to try some of the local booze including Cusqueña beer, Tacama wine, and the popular cocktail Pisco Sour.
When I got back, I looked up the Tacama winery and found that it’s in the Valley of Ica, which if I understand correctly, is right around where the recent earthquake hit hardest. Yikes. I’ve enjoyed pretty much all the South American wines I’ve tasted (my dad’s always pushing the Concha Y Toro ever since a skiing trip to Chile), and Tacama was no exception. They can be a little, I dunno, acidic? Sort of a strong, bitter aftertaste.
Pisco was totally new to me, a clear booze that I guess is something like vodka. I found a great write up about it on Wine Library’s website.
The standard Pisco Sour in Peru is the version served with frothy egg whites. Here’s a recipe:
2 oz pisco brandy
1 oz lime juice
1/4 oz simple syrup
1/2 egg white
1 dash bitters
Shake ingredients vigorously with ice. Strain into a champagne flute, and add the bitters as an aromatic garnish.
I wonder what the recommended wine pairings would be for some of the Peruvian dishes I enjoyed?
