Quebranta Pisco

How is Quebranta Pisco made?

Quebranta Pisco starts with the dark-skinned Quebranta grape, a non-aromatic variety that's fermented into wine and then distilled just once in copper pot stills called falcas. The distillation must reach between 38-48% alcohol by volume, and unlike many other spirits, nothing can be added afterward – no water, no aging, no additives. The clear spirit goes straight from the still into neutral containers where it rests for at least three months before bottling, preserving the pure essence of the grape.

How do you drink Quebranta Pisco?

Quebranta pisco shines brightest in cocktails, particularly the classic Pisco Sour where its earthy, muscular character provides the perfect backbone for lime juice and egg white. You'll also find it starring in other traditional Peruvian drinks like the Chilcano (mixed with ginger ale and lime) or the Capitán (combined with vermouth). While some purists enjoy sipping it neat to appreciate its raw grape intensity, most bartenders and home enthusiasts reach for Quebranta when they want a pisco that can stand up to citrus and other bold mixers without getting lost in the mix.

How do I choose good Quebranta Pisco?

Look for Quebranta piscos that showcase the grape's natural earthiness and mineral backbone—avoid bottles that taste overly neutral or lack character, as this suggests poor distillation or low-quality fruit. For cocktails like Pisco Sours, you'll want a Quebranta with enough personality to shine through citrus and egg white, so seek out expressions with pronounced grape flavors and a slightly rustic edge. If you're sipping neat, opt for premium producers who highlight the grape's unique terroir, as Quebranta's distinctive soil-driven notes make it particularly expressive of its vineyard origins.

Nutritional Information

Typical Calorie Range per Ounce: 64-69 calories

Typical Carbohydrate Range per Ounce: 0-0.1 grams

Typical Sugar Range per Ounce: 0 grams

Typically Gluten Free: Yes

Quebranta pisco, like most brandies, contains minimal to no carbohydrates or sugars since the distillation process removes these components from the original grape juice. The calories come primarily from the alcohol content, which typically ranges from 38-48% ABV for authentic Peruvian pisco.

While pisco is made from grapes and should naturally be gluten-free, we always recommend checking the detailed product information on the specific bottle you're purchasing to confirm gluten-free status, especially if you have celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity.

Scrolled this far? Your reward? Quebranta Pisco Trivia!

1. The grape that broke Spanish hearts: Quebranta literally means "heartbreaker" in Spanish, named because this hybrid grape variety was so resilient it "broke" the Spanish colonists' expectations. Created by accident when Spanish colonists' European vines cross-pollinated with local varieties in the 1500s, Quebranta became the rebel child that thrived in Peru's harsh desert climate while its purebred European cousins withered and died.
2. It's technically a wine that forgot how to be wine: Quebranta pisco must be distilled from 100% Quebranta grapes that are fermented completely dry—meaning every last bit of sugar gets converted to alcohol before distillation. This creates a base wine so bone-dry and austere that even the most dedicated wine lover would probably spit it out, but it transforms into liquid gold when distilled into pisco.
3. The only spirit aged in glass, not wood: By Peruvian law, authentic Quebranta pisco can only rest in glass, stainless steel, or other inert containers—never wood barrels. This means the spirit you're drinking tastes exactly like it did when it came off the still, with no vanilla, oak, or other barrel flavors masking the pure grape essence. It's like tasting the ghost of the vineyard itself.
4. One distillation, no second chances: Unlike most spirits that get distilled multiple times for purity, Quebranta pisco gets exactly one trip through the copper pot still. Master distillers have to nail the perfect cut points on this single pass, separating the harsh heads and tails from the silky heart with the precision of a surgeon. Mess up? That entire batch becomes expensive mistakes.
5. The water that never touches the spirit: Traditional Quebranta pisco comes off the still at drinking proof (usually around 84-86 proof) and can never be diluted with water. While most spirits get watered down to their final bottling strength, pisco makers must control the alcohol level entirely through distillation technique, making it one of the purest expressions of fermented grape juice you can drink.