drink: Pisco, a Chilean brandy
bar: Leopold Bros. of Ann Arbor
I have been meaning to post a quick blog on the awesomeness that is PISCO. Pisco is a brandy distilled from white muscat grapes. It is so popular in Chile and Peru, that both nations bicker over which can claim it as the national drink. But, here in America, it is relatively unknown outside of the San Francisco foodie community. I had to majorly struggle to convince my local liquor store that the drink even existed. “It’s not in my liquor books,” he kept saying.
When you can find it… it is delicious. I was turned on to it by my friend and previous co-worker, Andrea, who brought it back from her trip to Chile. When cooking my husband a Chilean themed dinner, I decided to opt for a cocktail course instead of a dessert course. Thus the Strickland household tradition of Pisco Sours and Anna’s Almond Cinnamon This was born.
The only place in all of Michigan where the existence of Pisco is acknowledge the way it deserves to be is at Leopold Bros. of Ann Arbor. In addition to being a brewery, they distill their own gin, vodka, liqueurs, and pisco!! Their menu includes an array of tasty pisco drinks, including piscola, pisco sunrise, and, my favorite, the raspberry pisco margarita. Leopold’s is a wonder in and of itself. Just off of the main street strip, the bar is one of the only hang out havens that doesn’t get uncomfortably overrun in the evenings. They offer large tables for groups, board games, the best jukebox in town, couches, free wi-fi, and a snackable menu (which now includes artisan sandwiches and pizza). It’s cozy, it’s friendly, it’s perfect… only it’s going away forever. The neighborhood rent is driving them to Denver.
The most unfortunate thing is that Ann Arbor-ites know what they are loosing, but can do nothing about it. It’s the fault of the market. All we Leopold lovers can do is hope that the new Denver crowd can appreciate the gem that they are getting. And in the meantime, I’m going to have to start stocking up on Pisco immediately.
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