Back in 2012, GSN reviewed the original Pisco Portón here. With the category exploding in the U.S. (as it should), the company has introduced a pisco puro. What is a “pisco puro”? Basically it means it is crafted from a single grape varietal. There are only eight allowed in peruvian pisco: Quebranta, Mollar, Uvina, Negra Criolla, Italia, Muscatel, Torontel and Albilla. La Caravedo uses the Quebranta grape, which is the dominant and original grape used in pisco, and the one most often found in a pisco sour.
Located in Ica, Peru, Hacienda La Caravedo is the oldest distillery in the Americas going back to 1684. As with all Peruvian piscos, they use small batch copper pot stills and do not age the spirit or add water to bring it down to proof. You are tasting nothing but the pure heart of the distillate.
La Caravedo (80 proof)
Visual: Clear.
Nose: Apple, pear, grape seed, wet grass.
Taste: Floral and semi-fruity with a medium dry mouthfeel. Some peppery notes kick in after a moment, but these are tempered by a nutty and oatmeal-like chewiness. Very fresh and evocative.
Finish: Medium long with more of the grape character shining through towards the end.
Overall: A very nice pisco and one that works just as well as a chilled sipper as it does in a cocktail. Pisco Portón has done it again!
GSN Rating: A
For more information go to: La Caravedo
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