Alcoholic Drinks to Try in Chile

Chileans love to have a good time, invent weird drinks, and watch foreigners drink them! (Okay, I’m kidding slightly – most of the drinks are really good). You may have heard of some of the more famous Chilean alcoholic options, such as their red wines and pisco sour, but there are still other Chilean drinks that are less well known and just as fun to try, especially if you happen to go out into the countryside. 

Written in no particular order, here are eight alcoholic drinks that you should try while in Chile. 

1. Terremoto

The terremoto, or earthquake drink, is a staple alcoholic drink in Chile, and is particularly popular during their independence day festivities in September. This drink is quite sweet and is either loved or just barely tolerated. The terremoto is made with 3 main ingredients: cheap white wine, a scoop of pineapple ice cream, and grenadine (and/or fernet if you’d like it less sweet).

Terremotos can be found throughout Chile, but La Piojera (the flea) in Santiago, Chile is famous for them and is constantly full of Chileans and tourists alike downing terremotos. Their appetizers are also quite good. Near the plaza de armas on a side street, it’s easy to get to and is by most of the other tourist attractions. But if you’re lucky enough to try a homemade terremoto, my belief is that they’re way better homemade than I’ve ever had in a bar. 

2. Pisco Sour

The pisco sour is a staple drink in both Peru and Chile, and there’s a long, tense battle between where Pisco originated. Peruvians argue that since they have a town called Pisco, that obviously it came from Peru. Chileans argue that the Pisco locations in northern Chile are the best and evidence that it came from Chile (quite frankly, it probably originated from both, as Pisco was invented before the country boundaries existed). 

Pisco is a brandy and of course isn’t made just as a pisco sour, but it’s a staple drink that can be found across the country, particularly in the north.  The pisco sour is a tart drink made with lemon juice, and with a slight foam on the top that is absolutely tantalizing. This is a must-try alcoholic drink. 

3. Chicha

Chicha is a popular country drink in Chile made from either fermented grapes or apples, depending on where you go. In the central region of Chile (wine region!) it’s made with grapes, but down south usually with apples. Generally you buy chicha either from the distillery itself (bring your own empty bottles, as usually that’s how they do it) or sometimes it’s sold in markets in larger cities and towns. Usually it’s a murky tan color.

I have no idea the potency of chicha, but that’s the fun of it! Slurp it down plain and enjoy. 

4. Chicha with Harina Tostada

If you really want to just make a meal out of your drink, add in some harina tostada, or toasted flour, to your chicha, stir, and drink. This is a common practice in the central region of Chile (particularly the Maule region) and takes some getting used to. The texture is a little funky and it’s always just odd drinking something that should be eaten. You’ll also have a hefty amount of flour left at the bottom; just add in some more chicha, stir, and drink again. 

Chileans also sometimes mix harina tostada with red wine or malt. From my understanding, this is practiced more in the countryside than in cities.

5. Chilean Wine

Central Chile is the home of fruity, fresh red wine, particularly merlot and cabernet. You can pick up a middle of the road bottle of wine for very cheap, and also tour some of the wineries if you so desire. If you're on a budget, a huge bottle of El Gato will be your best friend. 

Concha y Toro and Errazuriz are well-known brands. But don't be afraid to try unknown brands: they're usually just as delicious! Bear in mind that Chileans pronounce the "t" in both merlot and cabernet, even if they're well-schooled in wine. It is what it is. 

6. Chilean Michelada

While in Chile I always loved my first drink to be a michelada. Simple, tart and smooth, it goes down easy. A Chilean michelada differs from a Mexican one, so if you’ve tried micheladas elsewhere and don’t like them, don’t assume that that’ll be the case here. 

In Chile, a michelada is made with lemon juice, merken and a blonde beer, plus a salted rim. Merken is a spice native to Chile and is very slightly spicy, somewhat similar to red pepper flakes. Sometimes it’s around the rim of the glass, or just put directly into the drink. 

You can find micheladas at most restaurants, or just try one at your hotel/apartment by yourself. 

7. Piscola

Want to keep it simple? Mix pisco and cola and you’ve got yourself a handy dandy Piscola. Popular among young and old men alike, it’s a cheaper option to a whiskey cola (although that’s popular as well). It's also a party and barbecue favorite, so if you meet any friends while in Chile, be prepared to down some piscolas.

8. Local Tap Beer

Craft beer is becoming more and more of a thing in Chile. In some restaurants now there are a few homemade beer options on tap to try, which are usually really good. Generally you have 2-3 options: blonde, amber and black (rubia, amber & negra). Having catchy beer names hasn’t caught on yet. There are also multiple beer festivals in different parts of Chile throughout the year, so you might just luck out while there and get to sample lots of different local beer.

Pro tip: A michelada made with a local blonde beer is the best! 

If you don’t trust taps, or can’t find this anywhere, then Kunstmann Brewery is the most famous brewery in Chile, located in Valdivia (or, technically, Torobayo, close to Valdivia). Bottled Kunstmann beer is quite expensive, but the beer at the brewery itself is reasonably priced and delicious.  

Well, there you have it! 8 alcoholic options to look for when in Chile. Are you excited to try any? Are there any more you know of that I missed?