National Pisco Sour Festival

It seems that each time we go into old Colonial center of Lima (okay, it's been twice) we run into some sort of festivity. Last time it was the anniversary of the founding of the city some 400-plus years ago. This time it was for the national pisco sour celebration. Or make that the Grand National Pisco Sour Festival.

Now we all remember that pisco sour is something of a national drink in Peru, and it is a source of great pride. It's also pretty yummy, but potent. I can't really drink a whole one - they make my head spin. Pisco is a brandy, made from Peruvian grapes and perfected in the town of - you guessed it - Pisco.

Of course, Chileans will try to tell you that they invented pisco, pisco sours, and make the best ones. This drives the Peruvians crazy. As it is, Chile took a chunk of their country back in the 1890s, and Chileans own the two main department store chains in Peru, as well as one of the major grocery stores. Claiming that they make better pisco sours is... well, it really ticks off the locals. Chile has even gone so far as to create or rename a town in their country, Pisco. But they don't fool us. We've been to the REAL Pisco. And we know it's in Peru.

So for the Grand Festival, there were tents and booths set up in an area along the Rimac River, just behind the Plaza del Armas. The plaza is in the heart of the old Colonial center, where the presidential palace and cathedral are located. The booths featured different brands of pisco, and not much else. However, the stage was where the action was taking place. Here bartenders were facing off to see who could mix up the best pisco sour. They were competing in groups of two at a time. We saw contestants # 17 and 18. Each had a very different style and order in which he did things. We thought the one in this picture had a definite advantage over his opponent. Here he is adding the final few drops of bitters that float on top of the drink.