Pisco Sour
Pisco, lime, sugar syrup and egg white shaken hard twice, poured over a fine foam and finished with three drops of Angostura.
Photograph credit: Barranco- Ministro de la Producción lanzó la Feria Perú Produce por el Día Nacional del Pisco Sour. - 55078782791 by Ministerio de la Producción · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Method
Tap a step to highlight it, or turn on Cook Mode for large type and step-by-step focus.
-
Chill a coupe glass in the freezer.
-
Put the pisco, lime juice, sugar syrup and egg white into a shaker with no ice.
-
Seal and shake hard for 15 seconds. This is the dry shake, and it is what builds the foam.
-
Open the shaker, fill it with ice, seal again and shake hard for another 15 seconds until the outside is frosted.
-
Double strain through a fine sieve into the chilled coupe.
-
Let it settle for 20 seconds so the foam separates cleanly from the liquid.
-
Drop three dashes of Angostura onto the foam, and drag a cocktail stick through them for a pattern if you like.
-
Serve immediately, while the head is still tight.
Chef’s Tips
- Dry shake first, always. Ice first gives you a thin, short-lived head.
- Double strain so no ice shards break the foam.
- Fresh lime only. Bottled juice makes the drink taste flat and sweet.
Common Substitutions & Variations
- Lemon is the everyday swap for lime in this kind of dish — the acidity plays the same role even though the flavour is not identical.
Pairing Suggestions
- Causa limeña
- Ceviche
- Salted nuts
Storage & Reheating
Make to order. Sugar syrup keeps a month refrigerated.
Common questions
How long does Pisco Sour take to make?
About 5 minutes in total — 5 minutes of preparation and of cooking. The recipe serves 1.
What are the key tips for making Pisco Sour?
Dry shake first, always. Ice first gives you a thin, short-lived head. Double strain so no ice shards break the foam. Fresh lime only. Bottled juice makes the drink taste flat and sweet.
What should I serve with Pisco Sour?
Causa limeña; Ceviche; Salted nuts.
How should Pisco Sour be stored?
Make to order. Sugar syrup keeps a month refrigerated.
Is Pisco Sour suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is gluten-free and low-carb. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Pisco Sour?
About 186 kcal per serving, with 0 g protein, 14 g carbohydrate and 3 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
Cooked this? Leave a review
Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.