Let’s start with the obvious – buying Pisco in Ohio is hard. There are currently two (2) Pisco available in the state that aren’t on special order or delisted. To put that in perspective, Macchu Pisco’s parent company makes three (3) Pisco’s on their own! So is their entry level offering worth your time, or should you consider a trip out of state or to Peru to find your Pisco?
Macchu Pisco
Sight: Clear
Smell: A bit of burn, but clear fermented grape flavors come through, mixed with hints of tropical fruit and vanilla. There’s a bit of ethanol and cotton candy floating around in the nose as well. There’s almost something a bit oatmeal cookie and sherry going on.
Sip: The body is moderate and somewhat viscous. There are notes of shortbread and fermented grape coming through. Touches of slate and vanilla come out as well, with a hint of pithy citrus and tropical fruit.
Savor: The ending has a bit of burn and ethanol note, but there’s also a decent amount of golden raisin. The ending is quite dry as well.
Macchu Pisco is an interest and wide ranging pisco. As Peruvian brandy goes it seems to be nice, but it’s one of my first. That said, the flavors are dynamic, and the texture is solid. There’s a bit of heat, but it’s clearly meant for mixing, not necessarily sipping.
In Cocktails
In a a Pisco Sour, Macchu Pisco is floral and grape forward without adding a whole lot of complexity. Some of the vanilla like notes carry forward, helped by the sweetness, and a bit of the tropical fruit comes out. The slightly raisined nature is there as well, with a bit of floral note. Overall, it makes a solid, if not overtly complicated cocktail.
In Review – Macchu Pisco
Macchu Pisco is reasonably interesting and priced that you can buy it, use it, and get an idea of what Pisco could be. This means that as an offering to stock on your bar, it works in exactly the capacity it should. Now, if you have a number of Pisco enthusiasts in your life, you should probably ask them for an idea of what you should use. If however, you’re like me, and you live in Ohio, this is one of two available Piscos, and it’s servicable for cocktails.