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
Bespoke travel in Bolivia. Tips and ‘best bits’ Aracari travel planner, Bronwen Griffith has recently returned from a bespoke travel experience in Bolivia. Here she shares stories, tips and ‘best bi...
A Guide to the Smithsonian Institute’s Folklife Festival in Washington... The Smithsonian Institution hosts an annual Folklife Festival in Washington DC, with the spotlight turning to Peru this year as the theme of the event...
The Top Peru Culinary Tour Experiences  Peru is recognized as one of the world's top culinary destinations thanks to an almost unbeatable variety of ingredients as a result of such diverse c...
Ollantaytambo Tour: The Legacy of the Ruins Ollantaytambo (2,800 meters, or 9,200 feet above sea level) is the name given both to the Inca ruin complex sculpted into the cliff side at the northe...
Aracari guest testimonials: “The only way to see Peru is with Aracari.... Aracari guest testimonials & reviews We are pleased to say that our intelligent and expert travel guides have been applauded in many of the repor...
Peru travel Insight #3: Why Machu Picchu was never found by the Spanis... Aracari's Weekly Insight It is thought that the Spanish conquistadores did not track down Machu Picchu because it had actually been abandoned by the ...