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Inspired by the Peruvian cocktail, this frothy Pisco Sour is made with Pisco brandy, citrus juice, simple syrup, and an egg white garnished with orange bitters. As a classically-trained chef with plenty of cocktail-making experience under my belt, Iโve perfected this Pisco Sour recipe so you donโt have to experiment.
Megganโs notes
If youโre looking for a foolproof Pisco Sour recipe, look no further. I explain all the ingredients, any substitutions, and how to make this classic cocktail vegan.
Look for a Pisco brandy made in Peru (Barsol is a popular brand). Amargo bitters are the traditional garnish on the foam, but I prefer orange bitters for both their flavor and accessibility.
Whether you cannot consume raw egg whites or simply donโt want to, You can easily substitute 2 tablespoons of aquafaba, the juice of canned chickpeas, instead of an egg white.
To successfully make the vegan swap, mix your Pisco Sour in a blender instead of a shaker with an ice cube. That way, your aquafaba blends up nice and frothy on top of the cocktail.
Table of Contents
Pisco Sour Ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Pisco Sour Cocktail Ingredient Notes
- Pisco brandy: This white brandy is made from fermented muscat grapes. Look for one made in Peru or Chile.
- Egg white: Optional but recommended for a frothy top on your drink. Or substitute 1 teaspoon pasteurized egg whites (or omit if you donโt want raw eggs).
- Lemon juice: The IBA version of the cocktail is made with lemon juice, but the original Pisco Sours were made with lime.
- Simple syrup:ย To make it yourself, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved (do not boil). Remove from heat and cool before adding 1 tablespoon (or more to taste) to your cocktail shaker with the other ingredients. Store leftover simple syrup covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks.
- Bitters: Amargo bitters are the traditional choice for a Pisco sour. I use orange bitters here because they are easier to find and I like how the orange flavor tastes with the fresh lemon juice.
How to Make A Pisco Sour
- To a cocktail shaker, add pisco, egg white (if using), lemon juice, and simple syrup (without ice). Shake vigorously until well mixed, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- To the shaker, add ice about half way, shake again to chill everything, about 30 seconds to a minute. Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass (or Old Fashioned glass), garnish with 3 to 5 drops of Angostura bitters, and serve.ย
Pisco Sour Recipe Tips and Variations
- Yield:ย This recipe makes 1 cocktail.
- Glassware:ย The Pisco Sour is traditionally made in a Nick and Nora glass, stemmed cocktail glass somewhere between a martini glass and a coupe glass. Nick and Nora Charles are a fictional married couple from the book The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett. The glass is named after them (he, an alcoholic detective and her, a wealthy heiress).
- Big batch:ย Pisco Sours are best prepared one delicious drink at a time.
- Chilean Pisco Sour: Substitute Chilean pisco for the Peruvian variety and Pica lime for the lemon juice. Omit the egg white and orange bitters.
- Vegan Pisco Sour: Substitute 2 tablespoons aquafaba (canned chickpea liquid) and blend the cocktail with an ice cube in a blender until frothy.
- Piscola: Pisco brandy with cola.
- Chilcano: Pisco brandy with ginger ale.
- Capitรกn: Pisco brandy with vermouth.
- California Pisco Punch: Peruvian pisco, pineapple juice, and lemon.
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Pisco Sour Recipe
Ingredientsย
- 2 ounces Pisco brandy (ยผ cup, see note 1)
- 1 egg white (optional, see note 2)
- 1 ounce lemon juice (2 tablespoons, see note 3)
- 3/4 ounce simple syrup (1 tablespoon plus 1 ยฝ teaspoons, see note 4)
- 3 to 5 drops Angostura Orange Bitters for garnish
Instructionsย
- To a cocktail shaker, add pisco, egg white (if using), lemon juice, and simple syrup (without ice). Shake vigorously until well mixed, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- To the shaker, add ice about half way, shake again to chill everything, about 30 seconds to a minute.
- Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass (or Old Fashioned glass), garnish with 3 to 5 drops of Angostura bitters, and serve.ย
Notes
- Pisco brandy: This white brandy is made from fermented muscat grapes. Look for one made in Peru or Chile.
- Egg white: Optional but recommended for a frothy top on your drink. Or substitute 1 teaspoon pasteurized egg whites (or omit if you donโt want raw eggs).
- Lemon juice: The IBA version of the cocktail is made with lemon juice, but the original Pisco Sours were made with lime.
- Simple syrup: To make it yourself, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved (do not boil). Cool before adding to your cocktail shaker.
- Yield:ย This recipe makes 1 cocktail.