Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

Portón Pisco: The Peruvian Liquor to Drink

By

When settling in at your local bar, you may have noticed a new ingredient on the drink list: pisco. What is pisco, you ask? It is a grape-based, distilled Peruvian liquor that has been around since the 17th century. The liquor was very popular in the United States during the 19th century, especially in San Francisco where the Pisco Punch was all the rage. However, during and after Prohibition the liquor fell out of flavor. But it is back now. Whether it is sipped on its own or part of increasingly popular cocktails such as the Pisco Sour, Peru’s finest spirit is well on it’s way into the consciousness of discerning minds in the bar and cocktail lounge industry.

One of the leading brands of this pisco resurgence is Portón. Founded by multitalented entrepreneur Brent Kallop and overseen by master distiller Johnny Schuler, Portón has become the best selling, ultra-premium brand of pisco in the United States over the past several years. Schuller is an integral part of Portón’s creation from the harvesting of grapes grown in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, to the distilling and bottling processes, which takes place at the Hacienda la Caravedo in Inca, Peru—the oldest distillery in the Americas.

Recommended Videos

Portón is classified as a mosto verde pisco, which means that is made from a blend of grape varietals that have not been completely fermented. Mosto Verde piscos are viewed as the highest grade of the Peruvian spirit. Portón is comprised of a blend of Quebranta, Torontel and Alibilla grapes that, once partially fermented and distilled create floral and fruity tasting notes with hints of grassy herbs and just the slightest touch of white pepper.

We at The Manual have been enjoying Portón since the dog days of this past summer. Our full-fledged recommendation is to get a group of friends together, buy a bottle of Portón and mix it over ice with ginger beer and muddled lime. It is a simple cocktail, but your knowledge of cutting edge spirits will impress your friends and the flavors will leave your taste buds satisfied.

Now, go forth and try Portón pisco to your heart’s content, secure in the knowledge that The Manual has your back in all matters drink related.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Matt Domino
Matt Domino
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Matt Domino is a writer living in Brooklyn. His fiction has appeared in Slice and The Montreal Review, while his non-fiction…
The drink of the summer: White Port & Tonic
These Portugese classic is ready for its international debut
Taylor Fladgate Chip Dry White Port & Tonic

Though winter is still in full swing, let's take some joy in looking ahead to summer -- and what we might all be drinking in a few months' time. One drink that's up on professional radars for 2025 is the White Port and Tonic, the unofficial drink of Porto and a low-abv sipper that's big on flavor and refreshingly casual.

I'm personally delighted about this development, as I spent a very happy summer in Porto a few years ago, enjoying the excellent food and drink there as well as the gorgeous ocean views. Something I appreciated about the culture there was that port was absolutely not a stuffy, elite, or terribly expensive drink. Rather it was something to casually sip after finishing a pizza, or something to share with friends sat on a wall overlooking the city. Certainly, more aged and pricey ports are available -- and are interesting to drink in their own right -- but port can also be something relaxed and informal.

Read more
Take your Margarita up a notch with beautiful garnishes, like this bar does
Visual appeal is as important as flavor in creating a great drink
The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel Margarita

It's Margarita season, and that means you'll be seeing Margarita recipes which incorporate fruits, infused tequilas, and even alternative spirits like mezcal. But if you'd prefer to keep your Margaritas more on the classic side, then there are still changes you can make to fancy them up.

One option is to keep the changes minimal, such as switching out the usual lime juice for lemon juice. That adds a tart, sharp note to the drink, and lemon is a natural partner for tequila. You should also feel free to play with the proportions of tequila, triple sec, and citrus juice to find your own preference, as well as adding a sweetner like simple syrup if required. One thing to remember is that the freshness of your citrus will make a big difference to its flavor, so fresher citrus juice may not require any additional sweetner at all, while if you're using older lemons or limes you might need to help them out with a little additional sugar.

Read more
Pronghorn launched a bourbon matured in Madagascar vanilla extract-soaked cognac casks
Pronghorn's new bourbon is aged in a very unique barrel
Pronghorn

You've likely had your fair share of unique expressions if you're a whiskey drinker. We're talking about whiskeys elevated by maturing or finishing in unique barrels. And very few of those whiskeys are as unique as Pronghorn's newest expression.
Edmond's Honor

This whiskey was made to pay homage to the sometimes overlooked Edmond Albius, the Malagasy botanist and vanilla cultivation pioneer of the 1800s. It's an ultra-premium bourbon that's matured in vanilla extract-soaked cognac casks.

Read more