Pitorro is a Puerto Rican distillate, also known as moonshine rum. This is a very strong alcohol, the alcohol content in it can exceed 60% vol. The raw material is sugar cane or molasses, hence the other name – ron cañita (cane rum). Pitorro is also known by “names”: lagrima de montaña (tears of the mountain), mamplé, pitrinche, lágrima de mangle (mangrove tears).
Since we are talking about moonshine, it does not have an established rigid recipe or specific production technologies, respectively, the taste of the drink depends only on the manufacturer.
Pieces of fruits, herbs, spices, sugar are added to the cane distillate. All this is insisted in a dry, dark and cool place until the owner decides that the drink is ready. Sometimes a vessel with a future pitorro is buried in the ground for several months or even years. There is also aging in oak barrels. Most often, coconut, pineapple, papaya, strawberries, mango, tamarind, coffee and chocolate are taken for infusion.
Pittoro differs from real rum in a low degree of purification, therefore it belongs to the category of moonshine (distillates).
There are also “factory” versions of pitorro, made on an industrial scale at large wineries, for example, Destileria Coqui’s Pitorro. However, it is homemade moonshine that is still popular. Since illegal moonshining is prohibited in Puerto Rico, you can only find such a drink through an acquaintance.
To reduce the cost of production, instead of distillate from sugar cane, ordinary rectified alcohol with the addition of cane sugar or honey is sometimes used.
How to drink Pitorro
It is customary to drink Pitorro in its pure form, adding ice, or at room temperature. In addition, cane rum is part of the Puerto Rican analogue of eggnog – Coquito (“Coquito” or “Little Coconut”).
Coquito: Mix 2 beaten egg yolks with a can of unsweetened condensed milk, put on fire, stirring constantly, heat to about 70 degrees (the liquid should become less thick). Pour the base into a blender, add a can of coconut cream or milk, the same amount of sweet condensed milk, half a glass of pitorro (can be replaced with white rum), half a glass of water, spices to taste (vanilla, cloves, cinnamon). Mix everything for 30 seconds, pour into a deep bowl and leave to cool overnight.
Pitorro is served at holidays, major festivals and family gatherings.
