Pisco Sour

By Rebekah Peppler

Published March 24, 2021

Pisco Sour
Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Chris Lanier.
Total Time
10 minutes
Rating
4(161)
Comments
Read comments

The pisco sour is sweet-tart, richly textured and crowned with a fluffy white top. The origins of the drink, a blend of pisco (a South American brandy), citrus, sugar and egg white, come with some debate as to whether it originated in Chile or Peru. But it is most commonly said to have been created in the early 20th century by Victor Morris, an American expatriate in Peru. While this recipe calls for using exclusively lime juice, a combination of fresh lime and lemon juice (½ ounce lemon, ½ ounce lime) works as well. Just don’t skip the aromatic bitters, added as a final garnish and often in a decorative pattern: They contribute to the drink’s final aesthetic and aroma.

Featured in: Sours That Walk the Line

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Ingredients

Yield:1 drink

    For the 2-to-1 Simple Syrup

    • ½cup granulated or turbinado sugar

    For the Cocktail

    • 2ounces pisco
    • 1ounce fresh lime juice
    • 1egg white
    • ¾ounce 2-to-1 simple syrup
    • Ice
    • 3 to 4dashes Angostura bitters
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (1 servings)

616 calories; 0 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 119 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 116 grams sugars; 3 grams protein; 60 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prepare the simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine sugar with ¼ cup water. Heat over low, stirring frequently, just until sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Refrigerate if not using immediately. (Remaining syrup will keep in the fridge for up to 1 month.)

  2. Step 2

    In a cocktail shaker, combine the pisco, lime juice, egg white and ¾ ounce simple syrup. Cover and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Add ice to the shaker, cover again and shake vigorously until chilled, about 10 to 15 seconds more. Double-strain into a chilled coupe or Nick and Nora glass. Garnish with bitters.

Ratings

4 out of 5
161 user ratings
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Comments

Rachel K

A note that in Chile, pisco sours are most traditionally made with all lemon juice! Though other, special flavors commonly found include mango (use mango pulp in place of lemon juice), lemon and ginger, and others. Happy to see this shared on NYTCooking!

Sandy

Actually, limes are far more prevalent in Peru than lemons. Confusing because, in South America, “ limón” means both lemons and limes, whereas, in Spain, “ limón” means lemon and “lima” means lime. Peruvian bartenders rarely use lemon in pisco sours. They prefer a native lime called Limón sutil (sometimes called Limón peruano and other names – hence the confusion), which highly acidic, extremely sour. Horticulturally it's Citrus aurantifolia. Key lime is used if limón sutil is not available

Kathleen

One of my favorite cocktails. I’ve always had it with nutmeg on top not bitters.

Jessie Paul

This is great! Reminds me of my trip to Peru :)

FrenchFrey

In Lima a few years ago I attended a gathering of long time expats that featured a pisco sour “competition”. The Canadian winner used maple syrup instead of simple syrup. I can’t recall whether he diluted it so I suggest we all experiment a bit. No harm in drinking a few versions until we land on the winner. I do love this cocktail.

Sandy

Actually, limes are far more prevalent in Peru than lemons. Confusing because, in South America, “ limón” means both lemons and limes, whereas, in Spain, “ limón” means lemon and “lima” means lime. Peruvian bartenders rarely use lemon in pisco sours. They prefer a native lime called Limón sutil (sometimes called Limón peruano and other names – hence the confusion), which highly acidic, extremely sour. Horticulturally it's Citrus aurantifolia. Key lime is used if limón sutil is not available

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