BarSol Acholado Pisco

I generally don't sip Pisco neat, much like vodka or gin. I usually reserve them for mixed drinks, but I decided to try three readily available BarSol Piscos (Acholado, Italia & Quebranta) neat. The Acholado is a combination of three permitted grape varietals for Pisco in Peru. It appears designed for cocktails, yet I found it quite pleasant on its own. Honestly, my expectations were quite low. On the nose, there was a lot of pepper and some melon. My expectations rose slightly after smelling it, and the initial taste was a welcome surprise. It had a buttery, almost creamy texture, with notes of lime and salt. It was exceptionally smooth, and even the finish, while a tad warm, lingered with hints of blackberry and spice. I have to admit, for a spirit that's not often discussed, it was more than drinkable. I wouldn't call it complex, but it was smooth and lacked any unpleasant characteristics. Is it better in cocktails? I believe so, but it's still quite good neat. I'd rate it a 3 neat, but if you plan to use it in cocktails, I'd give it a 3.5, so I'll average them.

This is very unlike my usual preferences. It's fresh, sweet, well-rounded, and floral, with notes of apricot and honeydew, and jasmine. It also has a fresh white grape must character. It's quite different from aged spirits, possessing an inescapable, sweet, stevia-like quality. Beneath that, my palate detects a toggle between yeasty hefeweizen beer, Medjool dates, simple syrup, and crisp green bean vegetal notes. It has a raw egg white element. I fully agree with a previous reviewer's comparison to oolong tea, falling somewhere between green and oxidized tea. Despite everything working together surprisingly well, it's completely outside my typical expectations and preferences. The youth and single distillation seem to enhance the impression of an unaged spirit, yet it remains cohesive and soft, without the expected strong ethanol presence. I must consider this a success because most factors that could be seen as drawbacks likely stem from my unfamiliarity rather than a lack of quality. Fresh, young, vibrant, and undeniably floral, this clearly represents good value. I need to continue my pisco exploration.

Received as a complimentary sample. Not quite my preference, as it possesses minimal flavor.