Peru celebrates pisco sour day with worldwide events

February 4, 2012

Pisco Sour is Peru’s flagship drink and has acquired a global fame since many decades ago.  The drink, a carefully prepared concoction of pisco, a local brew made out from grapes and combined with lemon, sugar and sprinkled with cinnamon is a “must” for travelers who visit the Andean Nation and a select drink in bars around the world, particularly in posh hotels and restaurants.
Such is the importance of the iconic drink, that Peru declared the first Saturday of February, every year, as “Pisco Sour Day”.   The event, originally kept as a local celebration, has taken high flight this year around the globe as the Embassies of Peru on more than eighteen countries have organized special events to commemorate the day dedicated to a cultural symbol of the country, gone fully international.
The Peruvian Embassies in the United States, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, Brazil, Belgium, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Turkey and Korea, among others, staged tastings and special parties for the local Peruvian communities on each country, as well as for the diplomatic world and high-level authorities of these countries.  These events generate important media coverage and contribute to promote, around the world, the unique taste of Peru’s national cocktail symbol, perhaps one of the most renowned in the planet.
One of the most important acts took place in the Hall of the Americas of the Organization of American States (OAS) headquarters, in Washington D.C., with a special celebration and Pisco tasting event, which counted with the presence of OAS Secretary General, Jose Miguel Inzulsa, the Peruvian Ambassadors to Washington and the OAS and special guests from the United States and the international diplomatic and business world. Guests enjoyed different varieties of Pisco and diverse manners of preparing Peru’s national drink, by the hand of recognized bartenders and cocktail experts. A Peruvian diplomat remarked that “the presence of pisco sour in major commercial establishments in Washington DC has increased this year, demonstrating the strength of our national cocktail on the demanding local market”.
To underline the importance of the flagship Peruvian beverage, the national authorities announced that the famous international chain of Nobu Restaurants, would invite a glass of pisco sour to all the guests who visit their premises worldwide, as part of celebrating “Pisco Sour Day”   
Within the travel industry, Pisco Sour is almost a synonymous to Peru travel and, for this reason, the Peruvian authorities are using this special day as a good opportunity to promote the country’s abundant and richly varied, natural and cultural attractions, which the Andean country boasts.  Toasting with Piscos is normally the prelude to fine dining and Peru will also take the occasion as an ideal moment to highlight the stunning relevance which Peruvian cuisine has acquired, to be also praised around the world and converted in one of the main features which attract visitors into Peru. Peruvian restaurants, considered symbols of innovation, a unique fusion of traditional textures and flavors with contemporary trends and enriched with the phenomenal variety of products which both the land and the sea provide in the country, are not only a highlight on Peruvian tours, but are currently found in numerous cities of Latin America, United States and Europe.  Thus, Peru makes again headlines with its celebrated national drink and its fine gastronomy, continuing to motivate voyagers to target the country as their next travel destination, where unique food and beverage match the extraordinary natural and cultural attractions.

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"The presence of our pisco has increased this year, and in particular the consumption of pisco sour in major commercial establishments in Washington DC, demonstrating the strength of our national cocktail in the demanding local market," Forsyth added.

- Peruvian cuisine is a key factor for the country’s economic development as it participates in two fundamental axes such as the economy, competitiveness and employment, the president of the National Center for Strategic Planning (Ceplan), German Alarco said.

He highlighted the role of the national cuisine in the updating of the National Strategic Development Plan (Pedn) at 2021, as it also takes part in the regional development and infrastructure, natural resources and environment, as well as in the sovereign insertion into the world and regional integration.
The head of Ceplan noted that in said process of update his office is expanding the strategic actions to promote quality standards in the culinary chain and boost supply to turn it into a cultural heritage of humanity.
“We are also working to promote the certification of gastronomic establishments and position Peru as a global culinary destination,” president of Ceplan.
In addition, Peru’s Agriculture Minister Luis Ginocchio pointed out that Peruvian cuisine stands out thanks to the diversity of products provided by peasants.


The Pisco Sour Day is also celebrated in the departments of Arequipa, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Moquegua, Piura, Tacna and Tumbes, as well as in various Lima districts like San Miguel, Jesus Maria, Barranco, Santiago de Surco, Pueblo Libre and Magdalena del Mar, among others.
Finally, Minister Urquizo noted that the international restaurant chain Nobu will invite a glass of pisco sour to all guests who go to its premises worldwide, joining to Peru’s celebrations.