GRAPPA: Brandy of Italy

WHAT IS GRAPPA?

Grappa is an Italian brandy.  It’s traditionally made from pomace, the discarded grape seeds, stalks, and stems that are a by-product of the winemaking process.  It doesn’t sound great yet, but anything Italian automatically wins.  Trust me!

HISTORY OF GRAPPA

Grappa was originally made in the town of Bassano del Grappa, located in Italy’s northern Veneto region where it gets its name.  The name “grappa” is protected in the European Union, so to be called grappa, it must be:

1. Produced in Italy, in the Italian part of Switzerland, or in San Marino
2. Produced from pomace
3. Fermentation and distillation must occur on the pomace, with no added water

The taste of Grappa depends on the type of grape used.  It tends to be potent and dry…and did I say potent? After distillation, Grappa is usually stored in glass bottles for about six months before it is distributed.  Americans tend to like sweeter Grappa, with a little syrup added.  The Grappa sold today can be about 40 to 65 percent alcohol, which is 80 to 125 proof.

Bassano del Grappa, Italy

HOW TO DRINK GRAPPA

It’s usually served chilled, on the rocks or not, after a meal (digestif).  It should be swirled gently in the glass, smelled before tasting and taking a small sip.  Grappa glasses have become popular in recent years.  So fancy!

Because of grappa’s light taste, you can easily mix it with other alcohol such as vodka or gin. You can also mix it with liqueurs such as limoncello (one of my faves!) to create a great, blended cocktail.  A popular cocktail in the US that includes Grappa is a Genoese cocktail:

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 parts Grappa
• 2 parts Vodka
• 1 part dry vermouth
• 1 part Sambuca

DIRECTIONS:

1. Chill grappa and vodka
2. Add dry vermouth and sambuca in a cocktail shaker
3. Strain into a martini glass
4. Enjoy!

Grappa is definitely one of the strongest liquors I’ve ever tried.  I’m not able to drink straight but in a blended cocktail…perfection!

Cheers!
Ashlee

Photo Credit: beachcomberpete.com

PISCO: Brandy of Peru & Chile

WHAT IS PISCO?

Pisco is a South American brandy that’s exported from both Peru and Chile.  Both countries claim to be the original producers and the 400-year-old debate continues today.  At the time of its creation, what now is Chile was part of Peru.

HISTORY OF PISCO

After Spanish conquistadors arrived in South America, they discovered that the Peruvian valleys south of Lima would be ideal for grape growing. They planted various grapes from Spain because after all, they had to have their wine after all that conquering (sarcasm inserted here). The grapes are fermented and then distilled into the potent spirit.

It must be aged for a minimum of three months in vessels made of copper, glass or stainless steel, which cannot alter the natural flavor.  Peruvian pisco must be bottled directly after aging, without any additives or dilution and must have an alcohol content between 38 – 48% (76* to 96* proof). In Chile, pisco is sometimes mixed with distilled water to reach the desired alcohol content.

TYPES OF PISCO

There are four categories of pisco, made from eight varieties of grapes:

1) Pisco puro is made only from black, nonaromatic grapes. These were the original grapes brought over from Spain.

2) Pisco aromático is made from one of four more fruity and aromatic varieties: muscatél, italia, albilla, and torontél.

3) Pisco acholado is made from a blend of a nonaromatic grape and one or more of the aromatic varieties.

4) Pisco mosto verde is made from partially fermented grapes. Pisco puro and pisco acholado are the varieties most often used to make pisco sours.

HOW TO DRINK

Tons of cocktails include Pisco but the most famous is the Pisco Sour:

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 ounces pisco
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• 1 ounce key lime juice
• 1 egg white
• Angostura bitters (2-3 dashes)
• Ice cubes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix the pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white in a cocktail shaker.
2. Add ice, shake, strain into an old-fashioned glass, and sprinkle the Angostura bitters on top of the foam.
3. Drink ASAP.

Doesn’t this look super refreshing?  Try it some time!

Cheers!
Ashlee