Pisco Sour cocktail history
Listed on the IBA’s list of official cocktails as a contemporary classic, the Pisco Sour’s origins are a little fuzzy. The story that is most often taken for the truth is one that credits American bartender Victor Morris who ostensibly invented it during a sojourn to Peru in the 1920s.
It’s fairly likely that old Victor was inspired by the classic Whiskey Sour since the ingredients are quite similar. The Pisco Sour just uses pisco and lime instead of whiskey and lemon.
Delicious variations to try
Once you’ve learned how to make a Pisco Sour cocktail, you’re going to want to meet its cousins, trust us. Here are a few tasty variations of the classic Pisco Sour cocktail recipe to try:
Cranberry Pisco Sour
Adding 30ml of cranberry puree to the cocktail is a nice way to usher it into the festive flavor space, where cranberry is of course one of the golden girls.
Blackberry Pisco Sour
Yes, another berry version, but blackberries are very different from cranberries! Juicy and sweet, it combines wonderfully with the green notes from the lime, and the herbal, earthen tones of the pisco. Add 30ml of blackberry juice to the cocktail recipe to give it a go, or make your own puree by processing blackberries in a blender if you’re feeling crafty.
Blood Orange Pisco Sour
Feeling zesty? Give the Blood Orange Pisco Sour a go. Add 60ml of fresh blood orange juice to the recipe to create a lovely deeply-hued cocktail that is as zingy as it is pretty.
Nutty and zesty? Try this: How to Make an Amaretto Sour the Simple & Delicious Way
When to serve a Pisco Sour cocktail
Whether you are keen on serving a Chilean cocktail Pisco Sour, or will instead be telling your guests it’s a Peruvian cocktail Pisco Sour (the same thing either way), there are a few occasions when this cocktail really makes a splash. We love serving it during:
Christmas time
It may not be a classic choice as a festive drink, but we love its creaminess along with Christmas meals – plus it looks great in pictures!
After-work drinks
Shaking up a post-work drink for your friends at home? A Pisco Sour is a novel treat that will definitely have them coming back for more.
Hen do
If you are hosting a hen do with a retro or throwback theme, the Pisco Sour will have everyone talking about your era-appropriate drinks selection for sure. It’s classy, creamy, and ever so dreamy.
