Classic Pisco Sour Cocktail Recipe

Name: Classic Peruvian Pisco Sour Cocktail
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 ounces pisco; 1 ounce simple syrup; 3/4 ounce key lime juice; 1 egg white; 2 to 3 dashes Angostura bitters

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 0 mins

Total: 10 mins

Serving: 1 to 2 servings

Yield: 1 to 2 cocktails

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The citrusy, frothy pisco sour is a fantastic classic cocktail that you've likely seen on bar menus. It's the national cocktail of both Peru and Chile, where pisco brandy is made and loved.

While technically in the same classification as other brandies like cognac, pisco is in a category all its own. It's high-proof, typically clear, and can range from slightly sweet to herbal and bitter. Pisco is delicious when mixed into cocktails, the most popular of which is the pisco sour.

What Is Pisco?

Who Invented the Pisco Sour?

The pisco sour's exact history is disputed. Both Chile and Peru lay claims to this famous cocktail's creation. However, the generally accepted story is that it was created sometime between 1915 and 1925. This account gives credit to bartender Victor Morris, an American bartender who was working in Lima, Peru at the time. It is a classically-styled sour drink, likely influenced by cocktails such as the whiskey sour.

What are the Ingredients in a Pisco Sour?

There are many ways to make a pisco sour cocktail, but this basic Peruvian recipe is always a hit. Made with pisco brandy, simple syrup, lime juice, egg white, and a few dashes of bitters, the pisco sour's taste is a tantalizing mix of tart, sweet, silky, and herbaceous. It's a fabulous cocktail and an excellent excuse to explore the diverse range of piscos available.

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How to Make a True Peruvian-Style Pisco Sour

To get the most authentic version of this classic Peruvian cocktail, heed the following tips:

Use a Peruvian pisco: Since this is a Peruvian-style pisco sour, pisco from Peru is preferred. Pisco puro is the traditional choice (made using only the Quebranta grape), but pisco acholado (a mixture of different grape varieties) will also work nicely. Pisco can be found in liquor stores across the U.S. and ordered online.
Try Peru's preferred bitters: In Peru, Amargo Chuncho Bitters are preferred. The brand's international availability is increasing and you can even find it online. Angostura Aromatic Bitters has long been the recommended substitute.

More Tips for Making the Best Pisco Sour

Use lime juice: Very tart lime juice is essential. Many recipes call for lemon juice, possibly a translation error from the Spanish word limon. Limones are actually small South American limes, similar to key limes (also known as "Peruvian lemons").
Keep the lime skin out of your drink: The skin of limes has a lot of essential oils that can be a tad too bitter and sour, and the pith (the white part) of all citrus is bitter; when squeezing the lime, be sure to keep the flesh side facing down so the juice doesn't run over the lime peel. Avoid dropping the lime in as garnish as it will also tamper with the taste.
Keep the simple syrup really simple. You can use any recipe for simple syrup you want, but the easiest and yummiest option is to do a basic 1:1 ratio of white sugar to water.
If possible, use a real egg white: You can always use pasteurized liquid egg whites from a container, but the texture is not quite the same and can affect the look and taste of an authentic pisco sour. See more tips on using eggs in cocktails below the recipe.

Shake your cocktail well: When you pour your cocktail into an old fashioned glass or a sour glass, you want a nice 1/2-inch layer of foam on top.

Peruvian pisco sour cocktail with foam on top and dashes of bitters in a tumbler — The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

What You'll Need to Make this Pisco Sour Cocktail Recipe

A Handy Dandy Citrus Juicer

A Sleek Cocktail Shaker

A Good Cocktail Strainer

"This Pisco Sour has a bright, citrusy and refreshing flavor profile similar to a margarita. I used 3 1/2 key limes and loved the intensity of the lime flavor. The egg white creates a fluffy froth and gives the drink an almost silky body, which makes it easy to drink." —Danielle Centoni

Classic Peruvian Pisco Sour Cocktail Tester Image

2 ounces pisco
1 ounce simple syrup
3/4 ounce key lime juice (preferred), or lime juice
1 large egg white
2 to 3 dashes aromatic bitters

Gather the ingredients.

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
Add the pisco, simple syrup, lime juice, and egg white to a cocktail shaker.

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
Add ice to fill, and shake vigorously. Alternatively, you can use a blender if you don't have a shaker.

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
Strain into an old-fashioned glass or sour glass and sprinkle the bitters on top of the foam. Serve immediately and enjoy.

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs poses a risk for foodborne illness.

Is the Pisco Sour Safe to Drink?

It is safe for most people to drink a pisco sour, though any drink that includes raw eggs poses the risk of salmonella. (Children under 5, adults older than 65, and immunocompromised people are at the highest risk of illness from salmonella.)

Always take steps to make egg cocktails safely: Only use fresh, refrigerated eggs and be careful that the egg white does not touch the outer shell. Another option is to pasteurize eggs at home. You can also wait a little longer to take that first sip: A Brazilian study that intentionally inoculated a pisco sour with the bacteria found it safe to drink nine minutes after making the drink.

Recipe Variations

As the pisco sour gained worldwide attention, bartenders developed variations and explored techniques for mixing up this cocktail:

If you find that the shaken cocktail isn't producing the desired thickness of the foam, try the dry shake method: Shake the ingredients thoroughly without ice first, then fill the shaker with ice and shake very hard for at least 30 seconds before straining.
Lemon juice often replaces the key lime juice. Some drinkers prefer the switch in citrus while others find it a better match for certain types of pisco.
Try a vegan version with aquafabain place of the egg white.
Don't stress if you don't have bitters on hand. You can do without, or you can try a sprinkle of grated cinnamon or nutmeg on top of the foam.
Tropical fruits make an excellent addition to the pisco sour. For instance, a mango pisco sour is a blended variation with frozen mango, and the maracuyá sour adds passion fruit juice.

How Strong Is a Pisco Sour?

Peruvian pisco can range from 38 to 48 percent ABV and is the only alcohol in a pisco sour. Thanks to the mixers and a generous shake with ice, the cocktail is relatively light. When made with a 40 percent ABV (or 80 proof) pisco is used, this recipe will yield a cocktail with about 11 percent ABV, similar to a glass of red wine.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
130	Calories
2g	Fat
8g	Carbs
3g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1 to 2
Amount per serving
Calories	130
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g	3%
Saturated Fat 1g	4%
Cholesterol 93mg	31%
Sodium 36mg	2%
Total Carbohydrate 8g	3%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 3mg	17%
Calcium 16mg	1%
Iron 0mg	3%
Potassium 49mg	1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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