Chufly (China Chilcano)

Singani is the national spirit of Bolivia, and the Chufly is the main cocktail they do with it. Singani is an all grape juice spirit that is made from muscat grapes grown at a very high altitude. It is not aged in oak, so it is clear in color, but has a wonderfully floral and sometimes spicy flavor. Singani is sweet, usually sweeter than pisco, the grape spirit made in neighboring Peru and Chile.

So the Chufly is not a Spanish word. Nor is the cocktail something that the Spanish would have drank when they introduced distilling to Bolivia hundreds of years ago. As with many South American traditions, there's a bit of a rivalry between countries who claim they started them. The Chufly is nearly identical to the Chilcano of Chile, a pisco, lime juice and ginger ale drink. The difference is that the Chufly is not served long but in a rocks glass with less ginger ale so you can taste the singani. I had a bartender make this one with Rujero Singani

• 2 oz. Singani (Rujero used at China Chilcano)
• 1 oz. lime juice
• ginger ale
• lime slice

Build drink in an Old Fashioned glass with singani and lime juice first. Add ice and top with ginger ale. Stir gently and garnish with lime slice.