FIESTAS PATRIAS IN PERU – HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY PERU

SouthAmerica July 22, 2019March 3, 2021 cocktail, Pisco, Pisco cocktail, Ponche Los Libertadores, southamerica, southamericatotheworld, southamericatotheworld.com, Yanira K. Wise

Every July 28^th we celebrate Independence Day in Peru, it was thanks to Don Jose de San Martin, the Libertador who made this possible. He also helped Argentina and Chile to become a free country prior Peru’s independence. Another important name to remember on the battles of independence is El libertador Simón Bolivar who helped Venezuela and Colombia in their independence.

In celebration of Peru’s Independence we are sharing a Pisco cocktail recipe, to party like a Peruvian president. Ponche de los Libertadores is an elite traditional cocktail made for inauguration of the new president of Peru every five years, a tradition that began with the first president of Peru, Don Jose de San Martin.

Today’s preparation method uses a blender, which obviously did not exist in 1821! During the nineteenth century it was typical for Peruvian parties to make a punch, taking whatever they had on hand, mixed altogether and shared by the partygoers. The explorer and naturalist Paul Marcoy described this in his travel logs while going from Arequipa to Cusco.

The Ponche de los Libertadores is also served during special events of the Peruvian national congress, but mainly celebrated with on July 28th, Peru’s Independence Day. The drink is highly exclusive because most Peruvians have never heard of it before, and bars in Peru will not know how to make it either. But now everyone can celebrate as president for a day.

Serves 2

Ingredients

1.5 oz. pisco (quebranta or acholado)

1 oz. White rum

1 oz. Gold rum

½ oz. Algarrobina

1 ½ oz. malta (can substitute stout beer)

1 ½ oz. evaporated milk

1 egg white

2 oz. simple sugar syrup

Cinnamon powder for garnish

Cinnamon stick for garnish (also use it to mix the drink)

Preparation

First decorate the interior of the glass with either Algarrobina or chocolate syrup.

Place all of the ingredients in a blender, blend on high until smooth. Pour into a tall glass; Finish with a dash of cinnamon, and cinnamon stick

This is a sweet drink, so some may wish to reduce or cut out the simple sugar.

Some recipes call for use of whiskey and cognac instead of two types of rum. One would have to ask during San Martin’s time what liquors would be most likely available. Rum certainly was available with the Spanish trade running up to Mexico and the Caribbean. Cognac is a variety of brandy, as it is pisco. It is more likely pisco was the go-to liquor.