IBA
Pisco Sour – IBA
A sour and balanced brandy cocktail ∙ Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 13% ABV ∙
The Pisco Sour is a South American sour made with pisco, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, and egg white, shaken and strained into a cocktail glass.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Pisco 60 mlLemon juice 30 mlSugar syrup 20 mlEgg white 1 pc
- Strain into the chilled cocktail glass
- Garnish with an aromatic bitters drop
Tips
- Add the aromatic bitters drops onto the foam just before serving, so they sit on top rather than mixing into the drink.
History
The Pisco Sour – IBA is the International Bartenders Association's official specification of the Pisco Sour, fixing a standard mix of pisco, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and egg white. The IBA long grouped the drink under its "New Era Drinks" category before moving it to "Contemporary Classics" in the 2020 update to the official list. Peru and Chile each claim the drink and keep their own versions; the IBA specification follows the Peruvian one.
The Pisco Sour is generally credited to Victor Vaughen Morris, an American from Salt Lake City who served a pisco-based riff on the whiskey sour at his Morris' Bar in Lima, which opened in 1916. Peruvian bartender Mario Bruiget is often credited with later refining the recipe, including the addition of egg white and bitters.
FAQ
What do you mix Pisco Sour with?
Lemon juice, sugar syrup, and egg white. The pisco is shaken hard with them to raise a frothy foam, then strained into a chilled glass with a drop of aromatic bitters on top.
What is a Peruvian pisco sour cocktail?
It is the Pisco Sour as Peru makes it, with pisco, a grape brandy. Peru and Chile both claim the drink, and the IBA recipe follows the Peruvian version. The classic sour of spirit, citrus, and sweetener is shaken with egg white for body and finished with drops of aromatic bitters on the foam.
What kind of alcohol is Pisco Sour?
Pisco, an unaged grape brandy. Shaken and diluted, the drink comes to about 13% ABV, in the range of most classic sours.
How is a Pisco Sour traditionally served?
Up in a chilled cocktail glass, without ice, with drops of aromatic bitters on the foam rather than a fruit garnish.
