Alcademics

Last year I visited 5 distilleries in Peru with Pisco Porton (read about that visit here and here): Vinas de Oro, Tres Generaciones, Lovera, Hotel El Carmello, and La Caravedo where Porton is made. This post is about my visit to Lovera in the region of Ica, Peru.

Lovera is located in the village of Guadalupe in the region of Ica where there are around 120 distilleries. We were between places and decided to pop in on our way somewhere. 

This distillery is particularly rustic. Unlike most that have switched to stainless steel fermentation tanks, at Lovera they ferment in the traditional clay/ceramic botijas. Those are the tall containers you see located around distilleries. 

We didn't really learn much about the production process here as we were just popping in, but we did stop in at the "bar," which was a single box under a canopy with a few chairs around it. 

There were a couple of what I assume are the regulars. The guy on the right has a radio he is wearing around his neck. 

Besides the pisco that they make there, we also had some of the local aperitif that they call "quita calzon" aka "panty remover." It is also called "perfecto amor" and in the US, the brand BarSol imports one. It is an aperitif drink; a combination of grape juice and pisco.

In other countries, the similar aperitif (made from unfermented juice and the distilled product of that same juice) is called pineau des charantes (cognac), Floc de Gascogne (armagnac), and Pommeau (Calvados). 

While at the bar, Porton's distiller Johnny Schuler told us the traditional way of drinking shots of pisco while sitting around in a group, as we were at this bar. One pours a shot into a shot glass, then pass the bottle to the next person. Then you take the shot and shake out the glass on the ground before passing the shot glass to the person with the bottle. Cheers. 

Related articles

Distillery Visit: Lovera Pisco in Ica Peru

Distillery Visit: El Carmelo Distillery and Hotel in Ica, Peru

Distillery Visit: Tres Generaciones Pisco in Ica, Peru