Capitán
Pisco and sweet vermouth with bitters. A classic Peruvian drink.
Stirred · Coupe · Medium · about 3 minutes · about 24% ABV
Ingredients
- 45 ml Pisco
- 45 ml Sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Cocktail cherry (garnish)
Method
- Chill the glass
- Pour 45 ml pisco into the mixing glass
- Pour 45 ml sweet vermouth into the mixing glass
- Add 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- Add ice
- Stir
- Strain
- Garnish
Tip
Use a good Peruvian pisco.
About the Capitán
The Capitán is a Peruvian classic said to have been created in the early 1900s for army captains in Puno, who drank pisco and vermouth to stay warm in the high Andes.
The vermouth cocktail family. Vermouth reached American bars in the 1860s and 1870s, and bartenders began stirring it with whiskey, gin and brandy. That gave us the Manhattan and the Martinez, the ancestor of the Martini. Drinks in this family are stirred rather than shaken, and they are all about the balance between the spirit and the aromatised wine.
Capitán FAQ
What's in a Capitán?
45 ml pisco, 45 ml sweet vermouth, 2 dashes angostura bitters, garnished with cocktail cherry.
How strong is a Capitán?
About 24% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 2.0 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is stronger than a glass of wine.
Should I shake or stir a Capitán?
Stir it. It is made only of spirits and wines, so stirring keeps it clear and silky. Shaking would make it cloudy and frothy.
What glass do you serve a Capitán in?
A coupe, about 180 ml. Chill the glass first and serve without ice. No coupe? Use a martini glass or small wine glass.
