Pisco Sour (Peruvian Pisco and Lime Cocktail)
In short: Pisco, fresh lime juice and syrup shaken hard with egg white into a pale, silky foam crowned with a few drops of aromatic bitters. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 2 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 2
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 190 kcal
The pisco sour is the cocktail most closely tied to Peruvian bars and restaurants. Pisco, a clear, unaged grape spirit, is shaken with fresh lime juice, sugar syrup and egg white, then strained into a glass, where the egg white forms a thick, silky foam. Drops of aromatic bitters finish the top. The drink is tart, lightly sweet and smooth, and needs only about five minutes of work once the glasses are chilled.
Instructions
- Chill two coupe or short glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Put the pisco, lime juice, syrup and egg whites in a cocktail shaker without ice. Shake hard for 15 seconds to build the foam.
- Add the ice and shake hard for another 15 seconds, until the shaker is frosty.
- Strain into the chilled glasses and let the foam settle for 30 seconds.
- Dot the bitters on the foam, drag a toothpick through the drops if you like, and serve right away.
Tips
- For a drier, stronger drink, use 120 ml (4 fl oz) pisco, 40 ml (1 1/3 fl oz) lime juice and 40 ml (1 1/3 fl oz) syrup for two.
- Shake once without ice, then again with ice, for the thickest foam. No shaker? A jar with a tight lid works.
Questions and answers
Is the raw egg white safe?
Fresh, clean eggs carry a small risk of salmonella. Use pasteurized egg white if you are serving pregnant women, young children, older adults or anyone with weakened immunity.
Can I make a pisco sour without egg white?
Yes. Use 60 ml (4 tablespoons) of aquafaba, the liquid from canned chickpeas, for foam, or skip the foam for a thinner drink.
What is pisco?
Pisco is a clear, unaged grape spirit. The Peruvian style is distilled to bottling strength without added water, which keeps its aromatic, slightly floral character.
How long does it take to make Pisco Sour (Peruvian Pisco and Lime Cocktail)?
About 15 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pisco Sour (Peruvian Pisco and Lime Cocktail)?
About 190 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 25 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 190 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 25 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 24 g |
| Sodium | 55 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
