The recipes on the Pisco O Web site are designed to be made by an experienced mixologist with the proper equipment and ingredients, and many of them use sugar-laden ingredients.
One such ingredient is simple syrup. To make it, boil one part of water, then add two parts of sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
If you’re trying to reduce or eliminate your sugar intake, simple syrup won’t help – but you can modify these recipes to accommodate your own needs. Then you can buy ingredients compatible with your diet, and make your own version of these drinks at home as often as you want, at a lower cost.
Making bar-style drinks at home
Eduardo M. Diaz, president of Pure Spirits – the firm that imports Pisco O from Peru – says that just about anyone can make all of the company’s suggested bar-style drinks at home. To do this, you’ll need:
• A substantial drink shaker that works with a secure top.
• Measuring cups and spoons and straws
• A supply of the various nectar flavors.
“Juice contains more liquid than the nectars,” say Diaz. He admits that he has seen only the Loóza line of juices in South Florida grocery stores. Loóza’s packaging claims that its Passion Fruit Nectar contains just 24 percent passion fruit. The rest is water and sugar.
Other nectar sources
In stores and on the Web, I found other products that are expensive and really intended for bartenders and caterers. Some representatives of these products weren’t happy to speak with a reporter.
In Milam’s Markets and other South Florida stores, I found nectars made by R.W. Knudsen. These are 100 percent nectars with potential for use in alcoholic beverages. R.W. Knudsen’s twin product line, Santa Cruz Organic, also makes nectars.
Santa Cruz this year introduced a new Organic Passion Fruit Nectar that is available at Milam’s Markets. It is 100 percent juice, with no added sugar. Ingredients include filtered water; organic white grape, passion-fruit, and apple juice concentrates; and unspecified vegetable and fruit juices for color.
When you modify Diaz’s recipes to use the flavorful, naturally sweet Organic Passion Fruit Nectar, you can omit the simple syrup.
“Any brand of nectar will work,” says Diaz. To be on the safe side, try the nectar before you mix the drink. If you don’t like the nectar straight from the bottle or can, you may not like it in your drink.
Tools for making Pisco O recipes
You’ll need a squeezer to squeeze fresh limes and lemons. For small amounts of juice, I prefer a hand squeezer over the electric ones. I have an old metal hand squeezer. Now they come in plastic. You can buy one at Mexico Market in Homestead.
In addition, you’ll need strainers in various sizes, preferably with long handles; and glasses suitable for each type of drink you want to make.
Pisco O Drinks
Pisco Sour is a classic limey and frothy drink representative of the culture, heritage, and tradition of Peru.
3 oz Pisco O
1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
1 ½ oz sugar or simple syrup
½ oz fresh cracked egg white or Egg Beaters ® Whites
Ice
Pour ingredients into a shaker, add ice, and shake vigorously. Pour liquid mix from shaker into a cocktail glass through a strainer. Add two drops of Angostura bitters toward the side of the glass.
Note: If you use fresh eggs, crack the egg. Use half of the egg white or about ½ ounce per drink.
Shaking the drink beats the egg white. When you have shaken enough, a little layer of egg white foam will form on top of the drink when you pour it into a glass. The Angostura bitters kill the smell and taste of the raw egg whites.
Passion for Pisco is for the more adventurous drinker.
2 oz Pisco O
3 oz passion fruit nectar
1 oz sugar or fresh made simple syrup
½ oz fresh lime juice
Shake vigorously with ice. Strain and serve in a cocktail glass.
When you use Santa Cruz Organic Passion Fruit Nectar, omit the sugar or simple syrup. The drink is sweet enough with just the Santa Cruz Organic Passion Fruit Nectar.
Cosmo O is an urban classic with a mystical twist.
3 oz Pisco O
2 oz 100 percent cranberry juice
1 oz 100 percent Santa Cruz Passion Fruit Nectar
Squirt of fresh lime juice
Squirt of Cointreau or other orange liqueur
Mix all ingredients with ice and shake vigorously. Strain and serve in martini glass. Decorate with fresh lemon peel.
Black Pisco is a Pisco version of Miami’s Cuba Libre.
2 oz Pisco O
3 oz Coca-Cola or other cola drink
Squirt of fresh lime juice
Serve in a highball glass. Pour drink over ice and garnish with a slice of fresh lime.
You’ll find other recipe suggestion on Pisco O’s Web site.
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