Salud to the best year yet!

It’s finally here. Our last post of the year! Tomorrow I will be heading to Times Square to try to see the ball drop for the first time in my life, and catch a glimpse of Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. There, I said it. I think it will be funny and a New Years to remember. But before that, we need to get all geared up for those hours standing  in the cold, and here are the drinks I plan on having with my friends. As you would expect, they are made with Pisco, our very own Peruvian brandy. If you haven’t tried it yet, despite our multiple persuasion strategies, this is the time to do it. Maybe your New Years resolution should be to be adventurous and try new things!

The recipes were given to me by my friend Melanie Asher, Pisco producer extraordinaire, creator of the La Diablada and Macchu Pisco brands, which you can find in many countries now, the US being her main market. In Peru most people toast with champagne at midnight, but follow the celebration with many Pisco cocktails, amongst other spirits. We also have the 12 grapes tradition (eating one grape and making one wish for each ringing of the 12 o’clock bell). A lot of people run around the house with bags to attract lots of travelling in the coming year, and another big tradition of more humble origins is to make a ragged doll with old clothes, and burn it at midnight, to destroy all the negative things of the past year. Whatever your New Years good luck charm may be, these drinks will be the perfect way to make it merrier and welcome 2012 with the highest of spirits!

Don’t forget that you can still download our free ebook 6 Christmas Treats, so you get a final chance at making these holiday dishes for your New Years celebration. Happy New Year for you all. May all your wishes come true this year, and may you grow and help make the world a better place every day. Salud, dinero, y mucho mucho amor!

Algarrobina

3 ounces of Pisco

2 1/2 ounces of carob syrup (algarrobina)

2 ounces of milk

1 unit of egg yolk (optional)

4 ice cubes

Ground cinnamon

Mix all ingredients in a blender, serve and decorate with the ground cinnamon.

Chilcano

2 parts Pisco

1/4 part lime juice

Ginger Ale, Sprite, or 7Up, very cold

A dash of bitters

Put everything in a tall glass, stir, and enjoy.

Pisco Punch (Malabar bar and lounge)

1 1/2 parts Pisco

1 1/2 part mineral water

3/4 parts lime juice

1 part pineapple syrup made by boiling flesh of one pineapple with a litre of water and 1 kg. sugar, then leave rest until cold

Build in over ice cubes in a large wine glass, garnish with candied pineapple and maraschino cherry.