Bright and Sophisticated: How Muchu Picchu Elevates the Love and Connection of Bel Canto

Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto is a beautiful exploration of human connection and the contrasts that shape our relationships. Set in the elegant home of the vice president of an unnamed South American country, the novel begins with a glittering party in honor of a visiting Japanese executive’s birthday. World-renowned opera singer Roxane Coss mesmerizes the audience, but the evening is abruptly upended when armed guerrillas storm the mansion and take the group hostage.

What starts with intense and contrasting action—from a standing ovation and an unexpected kiss to darkness, terror, and violence—gradually transitions into a quiet, reflective story as the hostages and captors settle into a strange shared existence. They tiptoe around cultural and social boundaries, forming unlikely relationships and revealing universal desires for love, meaning, and connection. Themes of wealth and poverty, power and helplessness, and hope and fear weave throughout the story, offering a meditation on the vulnerability and complexities of being human.

The Mucho Picchu cocktail is a natural companion to this novel, reflecting its themes and emotional undercurrents. Pisco, a South American brandy, symbolizes both strength and vulnerability, echoing the relationships between the characters. Champagne’s bright effervescence captures the fleeting moments of celebration and peace, like the bubbles of joy before the night descends into chaos. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, with its Italian roots, adds richness and ties to opera, connecting to Roxane’s artistry and the cultural elements of the story. Grapefruit juice provides a tangy-sweet balance, much like the mix of tenderness and tension that runs through the novel.

Even the drink’s soft pink color mirrors the bittersweet tone of Bel Canto. Much like the conversations in the story—about love, time, and the human experience—the cocktail’s blend of flavors enhances the reading experience, offering a sophisticated and memorable pairing.

Crafting the Perfect Mucho Picchu: this recipe was inspired by Joaquin Simo from the Death and Co. Modern Classic Cocktails book.

• Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Macchu Pisco

• 1/4 ounce Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur

• 1/2 ounce grapefruit juice

• 1/2 ounce simple syrup

• Dry champagne

• Garnish: 1 grapefruit twist

• Instructions:

• Shake all ingredients except champagne with ice.

• Strain into a champagne flute.

• Top with dry champagne.

• Garnish with a grapefruit twist.

• Glassware:

• Use a traditional champagne flute to accommodate volume and preserve bubbles.