This week marks Chilcano week. That special time of year where we pay tribute to one of our favorite drinks here at Fiesta On Main.
The Chilcano might not hold a candle to the popularity of the Pisco Sour, but it’s history and place in Peruvian culture cement it as a must try (and try often!). While the Chilcano’s drink structure of Pisco, ginger ale and lime immediately might make us think it’s a derivative of the popular cocktail, the Moscow Mule. Just swap Pisco for Vodka and we’re there. In fact the Chilcano is sometimes referred to as the Cuzco Mule. But it’s origins are actually linked to Italian influences in Peru, similar to some of our favorite dishes like Tallarines Verdes, Milanesa de Pollo and even the Holiday favorite Paneton.
The Chilcano dates back to the early 19th century which is the same time Italian immigrants started to bring their influences and it’s most likely that the Chilcano developed from an Italian drink, the buon giorno cocktail, a mix of ginger ale and lime with the Italian liquor grappa.
So why do we celebrate a whole week of the Chilcano in January?
Yeah, I get it. The Chilcano is an iced drink, perfect for celebrating the middle of summer and is typically celebrated in one of the hottest times of the year in Peru. That makes perfect sense. January isn’t a great time for us to celebrate it in the middle of our cold New England winters. But to be honest, we’ve celebrated almost every year since we opened and every year we get one or two days during our Chilcano week where the weather gives us just a glimpse of summer in the middle of our cold winter. It’s become our own beacon for reminding us that there are warmer days ahead and that we get to look forward to being out in the sunshine soon with sunglasses on, out on our patio enjoying a refreshing Chilcano. So we ask that you celebrate a drink with us that gives us a little Peruvian summer in the middle of our New England winter.
How do you make a Chilcano?
A Chilcano is an easy to make drink that can be made at home and is great for enjoying time with friends.
What you will need;
A Pisco Acholado - Our suggestion is to find a brand you really enjoy. Each Pisco Acholado is a different mix of Peruvian Pisco grapes and it can vary by brand and year. Some of the brands we use at our bar include Caravedo, Tabernero, Alegre, La Diablada by Macchu Pisco, Barsol and Pisco 100. Picking one is pretty tough but check your local liquor store and we highly recommend being sure it’s an Acholado. If you’re not sure of the differences, check out our other blog posts.
Limes - lots of limes. As fresh as you can get them. It’s going to be ½ a lime per drink so you should try and have a lot on hand.
Ginger Ale or Ginger Beer - Unlike the Moscow Mule, the Chilcano uses Ginger Ale traditionally but some people have expressed a preference for the more spicy ginger beer.
Angostura Bitters (Optional) - This is probably a 50/50 split on wanting bitters versus omitting the bitters. Some really like the depth of flavor the bitters adds while others feel the bitters overpowers the flavor of the drink.
Ice - Yeah, I mean, it’s a summer drink right?
The glass can be your choice. We tend to use tall Collins glasses which allow the ice to mend and distribute the water pretty evenly but you can use a standard pint glass just fine.
Start by adding ice to the glass, filling it up about halfway with ice. Then pour the acholado pisco over the ice, about an ounce and half to two ounces, depending on how strong you want it. Add the juice of about half a lime (a full lime if you want to kick it up a notch). You can optionally add the bitters, just a dash. Fill the glass to the top with the ginger ale (or ginger beer if you prefer that). Give the drink a light stir with a bar spoon or you can alternatively roll the drink by pouring it into another glass and then back into the original glass. The nice thing about rolling it is that the whole drink gets a good mixture if you plan to drink it out of a straw or drink it quickly. Garnich the drink with a little lime wedge and that’s it! You’ve got a Chilcano. One of Peru’s most iconic and favorite summer drinks.
For even more variety, try adding flavors like passionfruit, strawberry and even coconut.
Salud!
