In the land of Pisco... What is Pisco?

Pisco / Peru more than 400 years of History and Tradition (1613 -2013).

Pisco is the name given to the spirit derived from distillation of grapes, which is produced in the southern coastal region of Peru. It is obtained from the distillation and fermentation of fresh grape juice (with an alcohol content of 38º to 48º) according to established practices in the producing areas, previously recognized and declared as such by national law, specifically in the departments of Lima, Ica, Arequipa, Moquegua and the valleys of Locumba, Sama and Caplina in Tacna. The Process Pisco is obtained through the distillation and fermentation of fresh grape musts (grape juice). This process starts at the beginning of February every year, when the selected pisco grapes go through both deseeding and pressing machines, being careful not to crush the seeds. The extracted juice is stored in cubes ant it is at this stage that the yeast starts to take effect, thus converting the sugar from the juice into alcohol. Later on, when it is fermented, the liquid is extracted and boiled ay 90º to 110º until it transforms into vapor, taking care to preserve the natural fruit aroma which gives the pisco its final character. This vapor is transported to a coil which is submerged in a well of cold water where the vapor is condensed and turned into pisco. This is the distillation phase in which the head, heart and tail are separated. The head and tail are discarded because the highest quality alcohol is found in the heart. Once the process is complete, the pisco is stored in stainless steel containers, so as not alter the color or aroma of the pisco, for a period of three or more months, the time it takes to reach maturity and the full development of all its characteristics. It is now ready to be bottled and enjoyed.

In the Land of Pisco... Letters to the Editor

Pisco / Peru more than 400 years of history and tradition

Write to us at liviopw@yahoo.com Business Opportunities 1.-What can we do so that Peruvian Pisco is sold in France at a competitive price? I live in Yvelines, whose capital is Versalles. Paul Andre Makaliz3@gmail.com 2.-I’m Peruvian. I live six months of the year in California, three months in Mexico (my wife is Mexican), and three months in Peru. I would like to contact a company that exports Pisco and would like to have a representative abroad. I am a Real Estate Broker in California and Mexico, and in the process of retirement. I want to put my 40 years of experience in various businesses in the service of Peruvian Pisco. I have a few contacts with vineyard owners in Napa, California. Congratulations on your website. Cesar canchante@hotmail.com 3.-How can I make a business with a small quantity of Pisco? Italo Sanchez Tohalino ipsancheztohalino@gmail.com 4.-Dear Sirs, I would appreciate it if you could send more information on how to export pisco, as I am interested in beginning this business and meet Pisco producers, and develop my own brand, as well as learn how to export and earn money with this business. Regards Carlos Peñaranda carlos_roberto125@hotmail.com 5.-Good Morning. I’ve read your email and I am very interested in promoting Pisco here (Portugal). I always try to do something, but on a very small scale, and I am trying to participate in small cuisine events, but my biggest limitation is the ability to obtain Pisco. Here it is very expensive (500ml cost 25 Euros), and there is no support from the Embassy. My idea is to organize, through the wine tasting and firewater circles here, the participation with Pisco in a continuous manner, especially for our compatriots in Madrid, who are the closest to be able to participate. In order to participate one must have a variety of piscos, and here we only have one brand and one type of Pisco harvest. Hugs, Marco L. marcoleyp@gmail.com 6.-Hi, I live in New York and I heard about you through Cadena Sur. I would ike you to tell me if you know where I can get all the varieties of Pisco here in New York, I live in Maspeth. Once I’ve purchased acholado and quebranta, and it took luck, because it isn’t something you do every day, purchase Pisco, and you must request it from the liquor store. The only brand they sell in NY is Ocucaje. Well, I hope you can help. I thank you and congratulate you on your website! Good luck, from all my heart. Long live Peru!! Cecilia Pinillos marce-toli@hotmail.com 7.-Please send me information about the opportunity to have business with pisco in the United States. I would appreciate it if you could send information as soon as possible, as I am planning to visit Peru, and I would like to have information before I travel. Sincerely, Cesar M. Marius cmmarius@aol.com 8.-I would like to know what type of business opportunities I could have with the distribution of new products in New Jersey. Eduardo Poma POMA20@VERIZON.NET 9.-I would like to know more about these business opportunities. I am starting a company whose goal is the Pisco industry. Thanks for youresponse. Nana Luzmila milita_rodas@yahoo.es 10.-Hello Livio, Where can I buy Pisco in Western Australia? Cheers Emmanuel Blondel wisdomad@bigpond.net.au 11.-I would like to buy bottles of fruit soaked in Pisco, please send me prices for the amount of 200 and 400 bottles. Also, I would like you to tell me if they have an origin certificate, as well as all the documentation necessary for exportation to the United States, where I have a contact. Thanks for your answer. Thanks. Victor Hugo Sierra Espinoza 994952067 victor_h_sierra@hotmail.com 12.-We are interested in contacting someone in order to commercialize Pisco. We are located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. We’re awaiting your quick reply. Mirta mirta1450@hotmail.com 13.-Where can I go to purchase Peruvian Pisco in Dallas, Texas? There used to be Pisco in “Goodie-Goodies,” but lately they only have Chilean Pisco! No Way! Once they told me that they had Chilean Pisco because the seller of the Pisco always visited them, while the Peruvian Pisco person never came. Could that be true? PERUBETTY@aol.com 14.-I am very interested in this subject. I need more information about the rules and requirements to begin to distribute a brand of Pisco. I live in Roswell, GA. Thanks in advance. Yuri Alviz yurialviz@hotmail.com 15.-I will soon be travelling to Spain and I am beginning a business of direct sales of pisco through small exports. To begin, I would like to know the prices abroad, and the ease to find this sort of export. Is there any sort of support from the government? Regards Juan Carlos Flores xmflores@hotmail.com 16.-I would appreciate it if you could send me information about prices and forms to purchase Pisco from abroad. Sincerely, Alida de Rubiños alidarubinos@yahoo.com 17.-Dear Sirs, I am a Peruvian businessman that has been living for some time in Rome. I would appreciate it if you could inform me of foreign sales, tariffs and other information that you consider to be relevant in case there is the possibility to commercialize Pisco around here. Thanks for your response. Sincerely, Carlos Arturo Arias cariascar@yahoo.com 18.-I was checking out your website on Pisco. It is very interesting and focused on Peruvian culture. However, I am interested in a business opportunity in the commercialization of Pisco. What are the procedures to begin this business? Please send me information, and maybe we could meet. Thanks, Alberto Olivares aoc0307@hotmail.com 19.-Hello friends. I would like complete information on how to import our Pisco. I live in the United States (Florida). I appreciate in advance any help you can offer. Felipe Escobar. felipe026@hotmail.com

In The Land of Pisco ... Meeting Doctor Pisco: Part III

Pisco / Peru more than 400 years of History & Tradition (1613- 2013).

Here we share the third and final part of this article that has been separated into three parts. Enjoy! The Origin of the Pisco Sour As well as his thesis regarding whether or not Pisco is Peruvian, Angeles Caballero has found at least five theories that relate to the Pisco Sour. All of these theories are based upon documentation, not tradition.. Perhaps the most “authentic” Pisco sour is that which is made in Pasco, not in Lima. What is our magic cocktail doing at those incredible heights? When Angeles Caballero did research in order to publish a book about the literature in this area, he discovered that at the beginning of the last century that there was a bar called Morris in Pasco. This bar was owned by the American William Morris, who prepared the first Pisco Sour in Pasco in order to satisfy the demand for the whisky sour made by his countrymen who were working in a mine in Cerro de Pasco. Dr. Pisco states that when Morris closed the bar in Pasco and reopened it with the same name along Boza street in the center of Lima, that was when the Pisco Sour was first introduced in the capital. But his income split because one of his barmen also came down from the mountains, but began to work in the Maury Hotel. This information can be corroborated in the literature of Luis Alberto Sanchez, where we can see the “birth certificate” of Pisco Sour in Pasco. With the same lexicographic technique, Angeles Caballero has set out to demonstrate that the lúcuma and the chirimoya are also Peruvian. At his 75 years of age, he has maintained his investigative passion and his academic perseverance to continue the project of discussing the literary production of all Peru’s departments. His completed works are some 90 books spanning from literature, education, journalism and folk-lore. “The only thing that I am missing is becoming a member of the Academia, but that will never happen because there are too many hoops.” We forgot: Dr. Pisco also has maintained the rebellious spirit of his youth. Two Anecdotes “I’m going to tell you two anecdotes: I was invited to dinner when I was dean, and when I got there they told me “This is legitimate Pisco” and they gave me a full glass. “And you, sir, must drink it in front of us.” I had never drunken Pisco before, so I said to myself “Well, I hope the Lord of Luren helps me.” I drank and I felt something, but after eating a salad of lima beans, the effect passed. Time went by and I heard that in Ica there was an institution called the FBI. “Have you heard of it?” they asked me. “Of course!” I responded, “It’s the Federal Bureau of Investigation.” “NO!” they corrected me, “It’s the Federation of Drunk people of Ica!” (Federacion de Borrachos Iqueños). “And we want to make you a member.” Since I was the “preferred son of Ica” despite being from Ancash. They told me that they were going to do a serious ceremony—like the Masons do—and I would have to drink a large glass. “Oh no,” I told them, “I’d prefer not to be a member. I have to work, be an example, and I am a dean of a university.” I wouldn’t join. Everyone in the group were producers from Ica, from the then high society of Ica. Written by: Manuel Cadenas Mujica The Editors elpiscoesdelperu.com elpiscoesdelperu Compartimos con Uds. este artículo que será difundido en 3 entregas, nos pareció muy interesante. Disfrútenlo. Tertulias Pisqueras Conozcamos al Doctor Pisco - Parte III Origen del pisco sour Además de su tesis sobre la peruanidad del pisco, Ángeles Caballero ha recogido al menos cinco teorías acerca del pisco sour, todas en base a documentación, no a tradiciones. Quizás más verosímil sea aquella que coloca su origen en Pasco, no en Lima. ¿Qué hacía por allá el mágico cóctel, en tales alturas increíbles? Cuando investigaba para realizar su libro sobre la literatura de esa zona descubrió que a principios del siglo pasado existió allá un bar Morris, del norteamericano William Morris, quien preparó el primer pisco sour para satisfacer la demanda del whisky sour de sus paisanos trabajadores de la mina de Cerro de Pasco. El “Doctor Pisco” señala que recién cuando Morris cierra ese bar en Pasco y lo reabre en la calle Boza, en el centro de Lima, con el mismo nombre, se instala el pisco sour en la capital. Pero bifurcado ingreso, puesto que sus barmans en la sierra también “bajaron” y se instalaron nada menos que en el hotel Maury. Este dato se encuentra refrendado, señala, en la Literatura Peruana de Luis Alberto Sánchez, donde por primera vez se da partida de nacimiento al pisco sour en Pasco. Con la misma técnica eminentemente lexicográfica, Ángeles Caballero ha emprendido la demostración de la peruanidad de la lúcuma y la chirimoya. A sus setenta y cinco años mantiene vivo el ánimo investigador y la perseverancia académica para continuar, además, su proyecto de cubrir la producción literaria de todos los departamentos del Perú. La obra completa de este autor llega ya a los 90 libros, de Literatura, Educación, Periodismo, y Folclor. “Lo único que me falta es que me hagan miembro de la Academia, pero no lo harán nunca porque hay mucha argolla”. Lo olvidábamos: el Doctor Pisco también mantiene intacto el ímpetu rebelde de su juventud. Dos anécdotas del Doctor Pisco “Le voy a contar dos anécdotas: me invitaron a una comida, yo ya era rector, y a la entrada me dijeron ‘este es el legítimo pisco’ y me dieron un vaso lleno. ‘Y usted delante de nosotros lo tiene que tomar’. Nunca había tomado pisco, así que me dije: ‘Bueno, que el Señor de Luren me ayudé’. Tomé y sentí algo, pero con una ensalada de pallares pasó el efecto. Pasó el tiempo y supe que en Ica hay una institución a la que llaman el FBI. ‘¿Conoce usted?’ me dijeron. ‘Claro’, respondí, ‘es el Federal Bureau of Investigation’. ‘Noooooooooo’, me corrigieron, ‘¡es la Federación de Borrachos Iqueños!, y queremos hacerlo socio’, porque soy Hijo Predilecto de Ica a pesar de ser ancashino. Me explicaron que iba a haber una ceremonia solemne, tipo masón, y tenía que tomar un vaso así de grande. Ah, no, les dije, prefiero no ser miembro. Tengo que trabajar, dar el ejemplo, soy rector de una universidad. Y me negué. Todos eran productores iqueños, de la sociedad alta iqueña de entonces”. Fin Escrito por: Manuel Cadenas Mujica Los Editores elpiscoesdelperu.com