El Capitán Cocktail
The El Capitán is a classic Peruvian cocktail, often described as the country's answer to the Manhattan. It features a simple yet elegant combination of pisco, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters. The result is a spirit-forward, aromatic, and perfectly balanced drink that showcases the unique character of pisco, with herbaceous notes from the vermouth and a hint of spice from the bitters. It's a stirred cocktail, typically served straight up in a chilled coupe or cocktail glass.
Preparation
Preparation time: 3 minutes
Preparation time
Difficulty
Drink Classification
The El Capitán is categorized as a classic alcoholic cocktail. It is often enjoyed as an apéritif or a sophisticated sipping drink for cocktail hour.
Serving
This is a spirit-forward cocktail served cold and straight up in a chilled coupe glass. Its alcohol content is notable, making it a perfect sipping drink.
Serving size
Approximately 90 ml / 3 oz (before dilution)
Alcohol content
Approximately 25-30% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe or Cocktail glass
Glass treatment
Chilled
Backstory
Legend has it that the drink originated in the 1920s in the highlands of Puno, Peru. It was the preferred drink of army captains (capitanes) who would ride on horseback to local cantinas. They would order a mix of pisco and vermouth, creating the drink that would eventually be named in their honor.
Origin
Peru, circa 1920s.
El Capitán Cocktail
The drink's original name is 'El Capitán', Spanish for 'The Captain'. It is also frequently referred to as a 'Pisco Manhattan' due to its construction being similar to the classic Manhattan cocktail, but with pisco as the base spirit.
Original name
El Capitán
Alternative names
- Pisco Manhattan
- The Captain
Characteristics overview
The El Capitán offers a silky, smooth texture with a complex flavor profile balancing pisco's fruitiness with vermouth's herbal sweetness and bitters' spice. Its clear, amber appearance and aromatic bouquet make it an elegant, all-season classic.
Flavor
Pisco-forward, grape notes, herbaceous, slightly sweet, spicy, complex
Aroma
Aromatic, herbal, grape spirit, orange peel, spices
Taste balance
Balanced, spirit-forward, bittersweet
Aftertaste
Clean, warming, lingering herbal notes
Fizziness
Still, no carbonation
Color appearance
Amber, reddish-brown, clear
Texture
Silky, smooth, viscous
Seasonality
All-season, classic
Flavor intensity & Experience
The cocktail has a pronounced, spirit-forward flavor profile, balancing the fruitiness of pisco with the bittersweet notes of vermouth and a hint of spice. It is not carbonated and has a notable alcohol strength.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation
Ingredients
This cocktail requires three key ingredients: Pisco as the base spirit, sweet vermouth for complexity and sweetness, and Angostura bitters for spice.
- Pisco (Quebranta is traditional)45 ml / 1.5 ozA Pisco Puro Quebranta provides a classic flavor, but an Acholado blend can also be used for more complexity.
- Sweet Vermouth45 ml / 1.5 ozA quality Italian-style sweet vermouth like Carpano Antica or Cocchi di Torino works well.
- Angostura Aromatic Bitters2 dashesOther aromatic or orange bitters can be used for variation.
Ice type
- Cubed (for stirring)
Mixing equipments
You will need standard bar equipment for a stirred cocktail: a mixing glass, a bar spoon for stirring, a jigger for measuring, and a strainer.
- Mixing glass: For combining and chilling the ingredients.
- Bar spoon: For stirring the cocktail properly.
- Jigger: For accurate measurement of liquids.
- Strainer (Julep or Hawthorne): For straining the chilled liquid into the serving glass.
Instructions
To prepare, chill a coupe glass, then stir pisco, sweet vermouth, and bitters with ice in a mixing glass. Strain the mixture into the chilled glass and garnish with an expressed orange peel.
1. Chill your serving glass (a coupe or cocktail glass) by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer for a few minutes.
2. Fill a mixing glass with cubed ice.
3. Add the pisco, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters to the mixing glass.
4. Stir the mixture with a bar spoon for about 20-30 seconds until well-chilled and properly diluted.
5. Discard the ice from your chilled serving glass.
6. Strain the cocktail from the mixing glass into the chilled serving glass.
7. Take a fresh orange peel, express its oils over the surface of the drink by twisting it, and then drop it into the glass as a garnish.
Garnishing
The classic garnish is a swath of orange peel, which adds aromatic citrus oils that complement the drink's flavors. A quality cocktail cherry is a common alternative.
- Orange peel: Express the oils from a fresh orange peel over the drink and drop it in or place it on the rim.
- Cocktail cherry (optional): A single high-quality cherry, like a Luxardo Maraschino, can be dropped into the glass as an alternative garnish.
Dietary Information
This cocktail is naturally free from common allergens like dairy, eggs, nuts, and gluten. It is suitable for both vegan and vegetarian diets, provided the specific brands of vermouth and bitters used are confirmed to be vegan.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly
Nutrition information
This cocktail contains around 170 kcal per serving, with carbohydrates and sugar primarily coming from the sweet vermouth.
Calories
Approximately 160-180 kcal / 670-750 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Approximately 8-10 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Approximately 7-9 g
Sugar level
Occasions
The El Capitán is an ideal choice for an apéritif before a meal or for a sophisticated cocktail hour. Its spirit-forward nature makes it perfect for social gatherings where classic stirred drinks are appreciated.
- Apéritif
- Cocktail Hour
- Social Gathering
- Pre-dinner drink
Pairing suggestions
The El Capitán pairs wonderfully with savory appetizers. It complements the saltiness of cured meats, cheeses, and olives, and its profile stands up well to flavorful Peruvian dishes like empanadas or ceviche.
- Cured meats and cheeses
- Olives and nuts
- Empanadas
- Ceviche
El Capitán Cocktail: The Captain of Peruvian Classics
The El Capitán is a timeless Peruvian classic that offers a sophisticated and spirit-forward experience. As a pisco-based variation of the Manhattan, it combines the grape brandy's unique character with the herbal sweetness of vermouth and the spice of aromatic bitters. Served chilled and straight up, this smooth, balanced, and aromatic cocktail is perfect for sipping as an apéritif or during a refined cocktail hour. Its historical roots in 1920s Peru add a layer of intriguing backstory to this elegant drink.
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