Chilcano
Pisco, lime and ginger ale with bitters. Peru's favourite highball.
Built in glass · Highball · Easy · about 2 minutes · about 12% ABV
Ingredients
- 60 ml Pisco
- 15 ml Fresh lime juice
- 120 ml Dry ginger ale
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Lime wheel (garnish)
Method
- Ice the glass
- Pour 60 ml pisco into the glass
- Add 15 ml fresh lime juice
- Add 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- Top with 120 ml dry ginger ale
- Stir once
- Garnish
About the Chilcano
The Chilcano is a Peruvian highball of pisco, lime and ginger ale. It is said to have been introduced by Italian immigrants who mixed grappa with ginger ale. Peru celebrates it each January with a national Chilcano week.
The buck and mule family. Bucks and mules mix a spirit with ginger ale or ginger beer and a little citrus. Bucks were popular around 1900. The Moscow Mule, created in Los Angeles in the early 1940s, made the copper-mug version famous around the world.
Chilcano FAQ
What's in a Chilcano?
60 ml pisco, 15 ml fresh lime juice, 120 ml dry ginger ale, 2 dashes angostura bitters, garnished with lime wheel.
How strong is a Chilcano?
About 12% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 2.0 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is about as strong as a glass of wine or lighter.
Should I shake or stir a Chilcano?
Neither. Build it straight in the glass over ice, then give it one gentle stir.
What glass do you serve a Chilcano in?
A highball, about 350 ml. Serve it over ice. No highball? Use any tall, straight-sided glass.
