Demonio de Los Andes Mosto Verde Italia Pisco Gran Demonio 50 cl 44%

Forty-four percent, and nobody adjusted it afterwards. Pisco leaves the copper still at whatever strength it happens to reach, and that is the strength that goes into the bottle. Gran Demonio lands higher than most, and the distiller's cut decides it, not a splash of water.

The expert's description

Demonio de Los Andes Mosto Verde Italia Pisco Gran Demonio 50 cl 44% is a Peruvian Pisco Mosto Verde distilled from the Italia grape in copper pot stills and bottled at 44% with no water added.

Gran Demonio is Viña Tacama's Mosto Verde range, bottled in 50 cl. Mosto Verde means green must and refers to a fermentation cut short while sugar is still present. The still therefore runs not on finished wine but on a must that still tastes of grape juice, and that demands far more fruit per bottle because the yield drops.

Italia is the name of the grape and does not refer to a country, however large it sits on the label. It is an aromatic variety, and it is the reason this bottle smells of flowers and ripe fruit rather than grain and spice. The grapes grow on Viña Tacama's own land in the Ica Valley south of Lima.

Pisco never goes into a cask, and no water, sugar, colouring or flavouring is added. The high strength carries the aroma unusually far, which is exactly why this release belongs in a glass of its own rather than in a shaker.

Tasting notes

Nose

Floral and intense. Orange blossom and jasmine first, then ripe pear and melon, with a thread of honey underneath.

Palate

Full and oily in texture. Ripe fruit throughout, sweet in impression without being sweet, with citrus peel and a warm alcoholic edge holding it all up.

Finish

Long and warm. The flowers withdraw slowly and the fruit stays longest.

Specifications

Name: Demonio de Los Andes Mosto Verde Italia Pisco Gran Demonio 50 cl 44%
Distillery: Viña Tacama
Region/Country: Ica Valley, Peru
Type: Peruvian Pisco Mosto Verde from the Italia grape
ABV: 44%
Size: 50 CL
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Single distilled in copper pot stills to bottle proof
EAN no.: 7750359000451
Serving suggestion: Neat in a tulip glass at room temperature

Flavour profile

Floral · Ripe fruit · Full-bodied · Aromatic · Powerful

Did you know?

Viña Tacama has belonged to the Olaechea family since 1889, and the estate has drawn on French help in the cellar for many years. The best known of those advisers was the Bordeaux oenologist Émile Peynaud, who worked with the house over a long stretch.

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Frequently asked questions about Demonio de Los Andes Mosto Verde Italia Pisco Gran Demonio 50 cl 44%

What separates Gran Demonio from the standard Demonio de Los Andes?

The production method and the strength. Gran Demonio is the house's Mosto Verde range, where fermentation is halted before it finishes and far more grapes go into every bottle. The result is a fuller, more intense Pisco bottled at a higher ABV.

Why is the bottle 50 cl?

Because that is how the Gran Demonio range is bottled. It is the format Viña Tacama uses for its Mosto Verde releases, which also appear as Quebranta and as an Acholado. The smaller bottle makes it easier to keep several grape varieties open side by side.

How is a Pisco at 44% best enjoyed?

Neat, at room temperature, in a small glass with a narrow opening. Give it a couple of minutes so the alcohol gets some air, and nose across the rim rather than down into it. A few drops of cold water open the flowers up if it feels tight.

Does it work in cocktails, or is it too strong?

It works, but that is not what it was built for. The high strength and intense floral notes mean lime juice and sugar syrup have to be dialled back so the grape is not buried. For a round of Pisco Sours, an Acholado or a Quebranta is the more obvious call.

What can a Mosto Verde do that a standard Pisco cannot?

It delivers a distinctly softer, oilier texture and a stronger aroma. Because the still runs on must with sugar remaining, the boil itself behaves differently and the spirit comes out rounder. The trade-off is roughly twice the fruit per bottle. What all Peruvian Pisco shares, though, is that it never sees a cask, unlike the grape brandy matured by the Cognac Houses and Distilleries of France.

Who is behind Demonio de Los Andes?

Viña Tacama in the Ica Valley, one of Peru's oldest and best known wine houses. Beyond pisco the estate also produces wine, and the vineyards sit in the same area the grapes for these bottles come from.

Does it make a good gift?

Yes, particularly for someone who already knows Pisco from a Pisco Sour. The Mosto Verde method and the higher strength make this a clear step up from an everyday bar pisco, and the 50 cl format wraps easily.