Living in Peru : your everyday companion

By Yvonne Galloway

Pisco Sour Day, February 5, is fast approaching and the editors at LivinginPeru.com decided to duke it out and prove to their peers and readers who is the best maker and shaker. So we gathered to watch the making of a sour and to see the gringos go head to head — or copa to copa — for the title.

The venue for the day’s competition was the bar at Cala. Contestants Carsten Korch and Nathan Paluck entered the arena (ok, bar!) equipped with very little but their own choice of pisco and the will to win.

CK appeared supremely confident, sure of his ability to produce a perfect pisco. NP was full of his usual bonhomie and convinced he too could provide the judges with a sour worthy of mention.

NP in the left corner, CK in the right.

Isis Bottger gives the sours a taste.

The bar was prepped in advance with all the customary ingredients and tools. Ice, small jugs of lime juice, egg white, sugar syrup and the all important shaker and glasses to serve.

The judges who had to make the rather difficult decision as to the winner were Pisco Connoisseur and mixologist Hans Hilburg, Isis Bottger and yours truly. As we watched the contenders limber up NP tried to engage Hans in a little pre- competition tactical talk. CK filled his cocktails glasses to the brim with ice in readiness for his pisco preparation. Both contenders felt it acceptable and necessary to imbibe a little of the alcohol before commencing.

As the contestants set about making their version of a great Peruvian drink it was interesting to observe them and see their individual styles emerging. CK’s concoction came about with precise and exact measurements no sign of faltering.

NP, uninhibited and jovial, had time to pause during his mixing and remind his opponent not to forget the syrup. He was not the least bit fazed that before pouring his shaker appeared stuck and needed some extra force to pry it loose.

Within minutes our cocktails were ready and the judges eager to taste the samples. So who was the victor and what was the prize? Watch the video to see what took place and what the panel had to say.

Winning pisco sour recipe • 2 ounces of Pisco Italia, Viñas de Oro • 1½ ounces of Pisco Quebranta Mosto Verde, Cuatro Gallos • 1 ounce Peruvian lime juice • 1 ounce sugar syrup • ½ ounce egg white

Handshake all of the above in a cocktail mixer for about 60 seconds, fill up the glass and place two drops of Angostura bitters on top. Enjoy the winning LivinginPeru.com pisco sour of 2011!

Pisco Sour Day 2011
• Three great Lima bars				• 10 Questions for a pisco sour girl
• Don't drink this sour!				• Pisco Sour Day events
				Photo: Marco Simola

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2 Comments

# Eileen Carpio says :
3 February, 2011 [ 03:44 ]

I'm soooo excited. My boyfriend and I will be in Peru on the 5th of Feb. I had no idea it was Pisco Sour day. What a wonderful way to start our month's holiday in Peru. Thanks for the notice.

# Yesika says :
4 February, 2011 [ 07:26 ]

Hi, Guys

The video for the battle was fun, congratulations to both. Thanks for promoting our Pisco Sour.

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