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Amer A. Vargas Newsletter

The Modern Butlers’ Journal, April 2019, Let’s Talk about Mixology

Amer A. VargasLet’s Talk about Mixology, Part 42

 

by Amer A. Vargas

 

Calafate Sour

Having recently traveled around both the Argentinian and the Chilean Patagonias whilst delivering service, this fortunate butler had the opportunity to taste a very interesting local cocktail at The Singular Hotel in Puerto Natales.

It’s called the Calafate Sour, and it’s a variation of the Pisco Sour that includes juice of the calafate, a fruit endemic to the southern parts of South America, particularly Ushuaia in Argentina and Punta Arenas in Chile. The calafate fruit is a berry of a dark blue colour, with a very strong and tangy-sweet taste. And for those who aren’t familiar with Pisco, this is a high-proof spirit produced by distilling fermented wine or grape juice, originally from Peru, but also widely produced in Chile.

This is what you need to prepare the Calafate Sour: 30 ml / 1 oz of lemon juice, 75 ml / 2½ oz of Pisco, 15 ml / ½ oz of (concentrated) Calafate juice, a teaspoon of sugar and ice.

The Calafate Sour is prepared and presented by Cerveceria Baguales in Puerto Natales, Chile. Photo courtesy of Trip Advisor

And this is how you prepare it: put the lemon juice and the sugar in a blender and mix for a minute. Add some ice and mix for about 10 seconds and finish by adding the pisco and the calafate juice and mixing it for another 20 seconds. Serve in a lowball or a flute decorated with a lemon slice or wedge.

Legend has it that whoever consumes calafate berries, falls under their spell and will return to the place where they were first consumed. This butler is counting the seconds to go back to Patagonia!

Cheers!

Mr. Vargas is the Institute’s President—feel free to contact him via email, AmerVargas @ modernbutlers.com

 

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.

 

Por Amer A. Vargas

Amer A. Vargas graduated with a Tourism Degree specializing in hotel management from CETT (Center for Tourism Studies) in Barcelona and spent the following decade in the service industry. Beginning as a waiter and then supervisor in high-end restaurants, he was next made responsible for raising service standards through staff training programs. After receiving further training as a butler, he worked as a butler and valet in private service as well as hotels in England and Europe.

During this time period, he translated the best-selling industry texts Butlers & Household Managers, 21st Century Professionals and Hotel Butlers, The Great Service Differentiators into Spanish and is currently creating butler training materials in the Spanish language.

As the Director of Spanish-speaking Markets, Amer is responsible for making the technology of butling available in private residences and hotels in the Spanish-speaking countries of the world. He provides consultation, placement, and training services in these countries.