Peru braces itself for Chilcano week, celebrating this tasty Peruvian Cocktail

It’s finally arrived: Chilcano week 2013!

This delightfully tangy Peruvian cocktail might have been overshadowed by the Pisco Sour as far as being Peru’s national drink is concerned, but that certainly doesn’t mean it can be overlooked.

(Photo Credit: Musuk Nolte, El Comercio)

Concocted of 3 basic ingredients – Pisco, ginger ale and lime – and with endless variations, the Chilcano is a popular hit at summertime, a refreshing accompaniment to the scorching hot sun that graces Peru’s capital. It’s a hugely popular drink at bars across the city, a local custom is to buy a bottle of pisco between friends and to prepare your own chilcanos into the wee hours.

Chilcano week will entail much of what you might expect. Events are taking place across the city, with all sorts of ridiculously tempting promotions being touted by bars and restaurants. Peruvian paper El Comercio rounds up the offerings nicely, our hat tip is Mayta restaurant in Miraflores who offer a selection of macerated piscos serving as a base for different types of Chilcano. Coca leaf Chilcano? Passion fruit Chilcano? Spicy chili chilcano? It’s all possible.

If you want to try a Chilcano in one of Lima’s best bars then you could perhaps be tempted by our Lima Bar tour. If you want to make one at home here’s how:

CHILCANO DE PISCO

  • 6 measures of good quality Peruvian Pisco (Quebranta variety recommended)
  • 1 measure of lime
  • Ginger Ale
  • Ice
  • Angostura bitters (optional)

Add ice to the glass. Pour Pisco over ice. Add lime. Add Ginger Ale. Garnish glass with a slice of lime. Enjoy.

Adventurous mixologists might like to experiment with: fresh ginger, macerated pisco.

Related Post
Luxury Amazon River Cruise with Delfin II The best way to visit the Peruvian Amazon in style is by luxury Amazon Cruise. Aqua Expeditions and Delfin are the two top cruise companies, with diff...
The Iconic Andean Chullo Hat As winter in Peru draws to a close, Andean guides in Cusco and Puno may soon swap their wooly layers for lighter trekking garb, packing away their col...
Marisol Mosquera: 2011 Conde Nast Travel Specialist for Peru and Boliv... Aracari is very pleased to reveal that Marisol Mosquera Has been included amongst 133 of The World’s Top Travel Specialists as published by Conde ...
The 10 most incredible places to visit in Peru For travelers seeking a luxury vacation to South America, Peru is a destination forever topping holiday wishlists. But its appeal can also be its chal...
Whale Watching Peru Check out Aracari founder and CEO, Marisol's, experience whale watching in the Northern Peru Beaches of Mancora, here.  Whale Watching Peru: The ...
Contemporary Peruvian Art: Pablo Patrucco At Aracari we’re always interested in getting under the skin of Peru – understanding the places and people that make it the multifaceted cultural dest...