The winner of the first-ever Aussie Pisco Chilcano Competition has been crowned, with Alicia Clarke from Double Deuce Lounge in Sydney coming out on top.
The new cocktail competition was created by PROMPERÚ, the Commission for the Promotion of Peruvian Exports and Tourism, in partnership with four of Peru’s leading Pisco distillers Pucara Pisco, Pisco Del Parral, Pisco De Carral, and Barsol Pisco. The idea was to showcase the versatility of the ‘Spirit of Peru’ for use in a wide array of cocktails, and its ability to complement the unique flavours of quintessential Australian ingredients.
Clarke’s creation – the Queensland Yacht Club – gives a refreshing Australian twist to the Chilcano with the Pisco being complemented by the use of a tropical mango and pineapple cordial and Stone’s Ginger Wine.
Chilcano Chief Judge Mike Bennie, with the help of Continental Deli’s Michael Nicolian, tried 26 original Chilcano recipes, with Clarke’s cocktail coming out on top as showcased both the Pisco and classic Australian ingredients in one delicious drink.
“This was such a great celebration of Pisco with a seriously excellent collection of cocktails submitted. While there were so many creative and delicious drinks entered into this competition, the best offerings showed not only inventiveness but consideration for the ‘Australia-themed’ criteria,” Bennie said.
“So many fun, tasty, original cocktails and the best-of-the-best was a close affair – the top entry a sunshiney, Aussie-fruit forward, super well-balanced cocktail that put Pisco on show with a medley of tropical fruits, citrusy freshness and a hit of ginger spice. Far out, bonza, awesome stuff.”
Mario Vargas, Trade Commissioner of Peru, thanked all the bartenders who submitted recipes for the competition.
“It was great to see such a diverse range of creative recipes that put a spin on the classic Chilcano and promoting our national spirit Pisco within the Australian bar scene,” he said.
“A big congratulations to Alicia who created the tasty and original ‘Queensland Yacht Club’. We can’t wait to see how it is made during the Instagram Live and hopefully see it and many of the other original Chilcano creations at venues across Australia. I’m sure they’ll be a great success and contribution to their bars.”
Clarke has been awarded $1,500 cash, 24 bottles of premium Pisco for the Double Deuce Lounge, and the opportunity to showcase their original Chilcano creation in a virtual cocktail making event for media and the public in February.
The second-place cocktail, which also received $500 and a case of premium Pisco, was the Chilca-Yeah-Nah created by Atlanta Pahulu from Bulletin Place.
Clarke will be hosting a live virtual cocktail making event from the Double Deuce Lounge Instagram page, @doubledeucelounge, to show exactly how she made the trophy-winning creation on Tuesday, 16 February, at 6:00 PM AEDT.
