Pisco Portón: Redefining the Cocktail

By Carly Zinderman

Photo Courtesy of Pisco Portón

Portón, a new ultra premium pisco, is blended at Ica at Hacienda la Caravedo, the oldest distillery in the Americas.

Pisco is a clear-colored grape brandy, which was first developed in the Americas by Spanish settlers who didn't want to import orujo from Spain. The region of Pisco is found in Peru where the drink was first exported, and has since become the country's native spirit.

This strong spirit is currently taking hold of North America and Portón is an ultra-premium version. It is made using state-of-the-art technology and ancient artisan methods. Portón is a combination of quebranta, albilla and torontel grapes, which are chosen for their unique flavor. Quebranta gives body and fullness of flavor; albilla is a green grape that adds a fruity taste and smooth finish; and torontels lend citrus and peach aromas to the Portón Pisco.

The mosto verde production method, used by Master Distiller Johnny Schuler, involves using wine made from the first pressing of these grapes before it has fully fermented. This ensures that not all of the natural sugars have been converted into alcohol - a costly process that uses a great deal of grapes, but yields only a small amount of pisco.

The unmistakable flavor of pisco is sure to make it a must-have for connoisseurs. With distinct characteristics that make Pisco Portón more flavorful than vodka, but more subtle than tequila, it opens itself up to a whole new category of classic, contemporary and creative cocktail recipes. Here are some of our favorites:

Ultimate Peruvian Margarita
Ingredients:

1 oz. Pisco Portón
1 oz. Gran Marnier
½ oz. fresh lime juice
½ oz. fresh lemon juice
1 oz. simple syrup

How to mix:
Shake ingredients with ice. Strain into a margarita glass and garnish with a lime and orange wedge.

Chocolate Lover
Ingredients:

2 oz. Pisco Portón
1 oz. Chocolate cream
½ oz Grand Manier
orange twist garnish

How to mix:
Combine and chill ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain drink into a Martini glass with and garnish with a twist of orange.

Strawberry Portón Tini
Ingredients:

3 fresh strawberries, crushed
1.25 oz. Pisco Portón
3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
3/4 oz. simple syrup
1.25 oz. soda water
.5 oz. Monin Chipotle Pineapple Syrup (or use .5 oz. simple syrup and 2 drops chipotle hot sauce as a substitute for Monin® Chipotle Pineapple Syrup)

How to mix:
Mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into glass.
Garnish with fresh strawberry and lime wedge.

To learn more about Pisco Portón and see additional recipes visit piscoporton.com.

Carly Zinderman

Carly Zinderman is a Senior Staff Writer for JustLuxe, based just outside of Los Angeles, CA. Since graduating from Occidental College with a degree in English and Comparative Literary Studies, she has written on a variety of topics for books, magazines and online publications, but loves fashion and style best. In her spare time, when she?s not writing, Carly enjoys watching old movies, reading an...(Read More)