Cocktail College The Pisco Punch
May 25, 2023
Jay Pouliot, bar manager at Mama Foo Foo in Daytona Beach, dives into the world of Pisco Punch, a cocktail with a rich history linked to the enigmatic Duncan Nichol. He shares his expertly crafted recipe, highlighting essential ingredients like Acholado Pisco and pineapple gum. The conversation reveals the significance of selecting quality ingredients and the balance in cocktail preparation techniques. Personal anecdotes illuminate the challenges of maintaining healthy habits in the bustling restaurant scene, all while embracing the camaraderie that defines the bar industry.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Classic Punch Formula Insight
- The classic punch formula is one part sour, two parts sweet, three parts strong spirit, and four parts weak mixer.
- Pisco Punch leaves out the weak component, making it a very potent cocktail.
Duncan Nichol's Secret Recipe
- Duncan Nichol famously created the Pisco Punch at San Francisco's Bank Exchange but guarded the recipe zealously.
- He made the cocktail in the basement and never revealed his exact method before his death.
Historical Ingredient Pairing Insight
- The original Pisco Punch might have included cocaine-laced tonic, reflecting period usage of coca leaves in beverages.
- Regional ingredient pairing, like Peruvian pisco and coca, is an early example of 'what grows together, goes together' in cocktails.