Ingredients
Drink
- 60 mlsingani
- 120 mlginger ale
- juice of ½ lime
- plenty of ice
Garnish
- 1lime wheel
- 1cinnamon stick
Directions
- Fill a tall glass to the top with ice.
- Pour the singani straight over the ice and give it a moment to chill before anything else goes in.
- Singani is a Bolivian grape brandy distilled from Muscat of Alexandria grown above 1,600 metres, and it is protected as a Bolivian denomination. It sits closer to pisco than to cognac and is not interchangeable with either.
- Squeeze in the lime juice, going by taste rather than by measure, since limes vary a great deal in sharpness.
- Top with ginger ale and stir once, lifting from the bottom.
- Use ginger ale rather than lemonade. The dry ginger against the floral grape is the entire balance of the drink, and a sweet mixer flattens the singani completely.
- Garnish with a lime wheel and a cinnamon stick.
- Serve immediately, while it is cold and still lively.
Technique
- It is Bolivia’s standard highball, poured everywhere from La Paz to Tarija.
- Singani is distilled at altitude and tastes floral and slightly grapey. A heavier brandy makes a different and duller drink.
- One stir only. Ginger ale loses its gas fast in a glass full of ice.
Substitutions
- Pisco, which is the nearest widely available spirit.
- A light unaged grape brandy, though the aromatics will be softer.
Variations
- With lemon-lime soda instead of ginger ale, which is common and sweeter.
- Served long over crushed ice on a hot afternoon.
- With a dash of Angostura bitters.
History
Bolivia’s standard highball, poured from La Paz to Tarija with the national grape spirit.
Frequently asked questions
What is Chuflay?
Chuflay is a cocktail from Bolivia: singani lengthened with ginger ale and lime over ice. Bolivia’s standard highball, poured from La Paz to Tarija with the national grape spirit.
How long does Chuflay take to make?
Chuflay takes 3 min of preparation and no cooking at all. The recipe makes 1 drink. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Chuflay?
Yes, within limits. Pisco, which is the nearest widely available spirit. A light unaged grape brandy, though the aromatics will be softer.
What is the most important thing to get right in Chuflay?
Squeeze in the lime juice, going by taste rather than by measure, since limes vary a great deal in sharpness.
