The smooth, fruity, South American spirit pisco is having a moment in the States. If you're new to trying this grape-based liquor, your best introductory bet is the pisco sour, a sipping cocktail that's so crisp and refreshing, it's no wonder both Peru and Chile fight over claims to produce the spirit. In our latest episode of Happiest Hour, hosts Matt Rodrigues and Brandi Milloy walk you through how to make your own. Watch the video, then make the cocktail for yourself.
Phew, hard to believe that Wintery January is already behind us! We don't know about you, but we're excited for February. With the Super Bowl, Valentine's Day, and the Oscars, there are plenty of reasons to cook good food and celebrate with loved ones. At the start of each month, we like to highlight the products we are currently obsessed with. Here are our must haves for the next 28 days.
San Francisco Cocktail Week is in full effect, and if you don't live in the city by the Bay, don't worry: I've got the official cocktail recipe for you! Named for the Italian founder of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, Domingo Ghirardelli, this vibrant concoction is a potent mixture of several liquors including pisco, vermouth, Campari, and Benedictine. When selecting a pisco, I recommend Encanto, a new brand that was created by one of San Francisco's top bartenders, Duggan McDonnell. It's an incredibly smooth pisco that's easy to sip on its own or in this wonderful drink. The seltzer water balances out the complex cocktail while providing a lovely effervescence. It's a refreshing libation that would pair perfectly with salty appetizers. Interested in the recipe? Read more.
The other night I found myself at Nopa, a San Francisco restaurant known for its great food and equally respectable drinks. My drink of choice was the pisco sour, the slightly sweet, tart, frothy lemon cocktail made with pisco, a regional South American brandy. This is a wonderful concoction and I'm excited to re-create it at home.
If you don't own pisco, you can find it at a well-stocked liquor store or online. The pisco sour and its namesake spirit have been at the center of a centuries-old battle between Chile and Peru, with both countries claiming it their own.
Note that this recipe calls for Chilean pisco, which is sweeter, with slightly lower alcohol content than Peruvian pisco. If you substitute Peruvian pisco, increase the amount of simple syrup and lemon juice according to your taste. To get the recipe to this lovely Latin libation, read more
Pisco
A super potent brandy made from the distillation of Muscat grapes in Chile and Peru. Aged in special containers to prevent the liquor from absorbing either the color or flavor of the wood.
