Pisco Puro

How is Pisco Puro made?

Pisco Puro starts with a single grape variety - typically Quebranta, Italia, or Torontel - that's fermented into wine and then distilled once in copper pot stills. The magic happens during distillation, where master distillers carefully separate the heads, hearts, and tails, keeping only the pristine middle portion that captures the grape's pure essence. No aging in wood, no additives, no water dilution - just grape-to-glass purity that showcases each variety's distinct character.

How do you drink Pisco Puro?

Pisco Puro shines brightest when sipped neat at room temperature, allowing its pure grape character to come through without any dilution or chill masking the nuanced flavors. While some folks enjoy it on the rocks, purists argue this diminishes the spirit's aromatic intensity that makes it so special. In cocktails, Pisco Puro works beautifully in classic drinks like the Pisco Sour, Chilcano, and Pisco Punch, where its clean, fruity profile provides an excellent base for citrus and other mixers without competing for attention.

How do I choose good Pisco Puro?

When selecting a Pisco Puro, focus on bottles that clearly state the grape variety on the label—Quebranta offers earthier, more robust flavors perfect for a classic Pisco Sour, while Italia grapes produce floral, aromatic spirits that shine in lighter cocktails like a Chilcano. For sipping neat or in spirit-forward drinks, look for piscos from established distilleries in Peru's Ica region, where the desert climate concentrates grape flavors beautifully. Your cocktail choice should guide your selection: citrus-heavy drinks can handle the boldness of Quebranta, while delicate preparations benefit from the perfumed elegance of Moscatel or Torontel varieties.

Nutritional Information

Typical Calorie Range per Ounce: 65-70 calories

Typical Carbohydrate Range per Ounce: 0-0.1 grams

Typical Sugar Range per Ounce: 0 grams

Typically Gluten Free: Yes

Since Pisco Puro is distilled from grapes rather than grains, it naturally contains no gluten. The distillation process also removes virtually all carbohydrates and sugars, leaving behind a clean spirit that's essentially just ethanol and water with aromatic compounds. Always check the specific product label and manufacturer information to confirm gluten-free status, especially if you have celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity.

Scrolled this far? Your reward? Pisco Puro trivia!

1. Pisco Puro gets distilled in copper pot stills that can't be cleaned between batches – by law! Peruvian regulations actually prohibit washing these stills because the residue from previous distillations adds complexity and character to each new batch. Think of it as seasoning a cast iron pan, but for brandy production.
2. The grapes used for Pisco Puro must be pressed by foot or with wooden presses only – no metal machinery allowed. This ancient requirement exists because metal can react with the grape acids and alter the flavor profile. Some producers still stomp grapes the same way their ancestors did 400 years ago.
3. Pisco Puro can only be made from eight specific grape varieties, and most people have never heard of them. Forget Cabernet or Chardonnay – we're talking Quebranta, Italia, Mollar, and Negra Criolla among others. These grapes were brought by Spanish conquistadors in the 1500s and adapted uniquely to Peru's coastal desert climate.
4. Unlike most spirits, Pisco Puro can never see the inside of a wooden barrel. Aging in wood is completely forbidden, which means every bottle represents the pure, unmasked flavor of the grape and distillation process. This makes it one of the few major spirits that tastes exactly as it did centuries ago.
5. The water used to proof down Pisco Puro comes from Andean glacial runoff that's naturally filtered through volcanic rock for thousands of years. This mineral-rich water doesn't just dilute the spirit – it actually contributes specific flavor notes and mouthfeel that can't be replicated anywhere else on Earth.