About Chilean Spirits

About Chilean Spirits
Chile's claim to fame as far as spirits is Pisco, a brandy made from grapes such as Torontel and Pedro Jimenez. Sometimes clear, sometimes greenish in appearance, it is most famously known for its use in the Pisco Sour cocktail, enjoyed by multitudes of tourists in Santiago.

There are also clear versions of Gran Pisco, a brandy made from Muscat d'Alexandria grapes and aged in oak casks. This is a flavorful, but mild type of brandy.

There are a few cooperative producers in Chile that produce rum as well as pisco. A small amount of liqueur is also made from ancho chiles. These are used in cocktails in place of rum or orange-flavored spirits.

Top Picks for Chile

Catan Pisco Reserve
89 points
$34.99
A delicate, fruity and floral Pisco with a sliky-smooth gentle finish; excellent for stirred cocktails and even sipping neat.
89 points $34.99
Black Heron Smoked Gran Pisco Brandy
84 points
$39
A unique and herbal style of Pisco that would be good for Whiskey drinkers.