Fernet Branca

[Shaving_CHENG]

There's a place in Atlanta called Holeman & Finch Public House that serves a cocktail similar to what you enjoy. It's called a "Southern Cola". It's Fernet Branca Amaro and Coke poured over an ice cube of lime juice. Can't say I've tried it but I hear it's delicious.

That's a pretty standard drink in Argentina - they drink it like it's going out of style

[djh]

In this part of the world, bitters and digestifs are very popular. I have tried many different versions and Fernet is one of my favourites. I sip it straight or maybe with an ice cube- poured over Coca Cola and ice it is known as the barman's breakfast.

[mrgreengenes]

My dad always had a bottle of Fernet Branca in the house when I was growing up.. He'd put it in his espresso after meals.. I think it tastes awful but still feel a strange attraction to it due to the family connection.

[The Knize]

I did some quick and sloppy research. That is, I had a look at Wikipedia. Apparently there are quite a number of different brands of ferent. And it is distinct from amaro. Among other things, less sweet and less alcoholic.

[conroygc]

I enjoy fernet branca ice cold after a very hearty meal. I enjoy the bitter herb taste quite a bit.

I once passed around shots at a small party for some good friends who are pretty new to drinking (anything aside from vodka is exotic). I asked one of my friends how he liked the taste. He said,

"It's like there's a beautiful field or meadow with hundreds of flowers and herbs in full bloom, and a cow ate all of them and took a shit and they made it into a drink." My father said it tasted like Robitussen and motor oil.

Acquired taste I guess...

edit. I decided to pour a glass. I think this stuff is great, and I wonder why it's so under the radar.

[Edcculus]

Its been a long time since I had this. My college roomate studied abroad in Argentina, and introduced me to fernet mixed with cola on the rocks. Pretty tasty, although I never really keep it on hand.

[EckoVicto]

It's very much in the same league as Gammel Dansk, Arnbitter and Riga Balsams. Some of my friends always take a wee dram of it in the motning whenever they are travelling - it keeps the system running (not to fast though!!).
In my experience it is very difficult to remove from a table if it sits there for a while - very sticky.

[kratos*86*]

The Fernet -Branca is one of the most italian's liquer or digestif....
this liquer has copied by multitude brands!!! is a must to try.....
the fernet-branca's advertisement are a very good vintage with other Fernet's product(BrancaMenta liquer with mentholed sensation).........is the history!!!(togheter with China Martini, Martini,elisir Borsci, VOV,Cynar,Rabarbaro Zucca)
all this are the history of liquer-digestif.....see this http://www.saperebere.com/amari.html

[Shantytownbrown]

I enjoy the Fernet Branca...its great as a last sip before ending a heavy nite of drinking, as it seems to ward off the evils of the hangover...

and it is excellent in the Hanky Panky Cocktail..

http://summitsips.com/2012/06/drink-...ek-hanky-panky

(great cocktail site btw, not mine, but a great blogger I have been following)


scott

[Penguinetti]

My family is from Argentina, and my uncle especially love this stuff. He drinks it quite regularly as a way to end the night.

[kratos*86*]

I enjoy the Fernet Branca...its great as a last sip before ending a heavy nite of drinking, as it seems to ward off the evils of the hangover...

and it is excellent in the Hanky Panky Cocktail..

http://summitsips.com/2012/06/drink-...ek-hanky-panky

(great cocktail site btw, not mine, but a great blogger I have been following)


scott

+1

p.s. i had forgotten " Vecchio Amaro del Capo" and I can not mention other less known because they are too....Italy is so rich of history,invention,rich and liquer digestif

[The Chandos]

I just got back from vacation where I quicky drained my bottle. I would get up early in the morning and watch the sunrise with a cup of coffe and as splash of Fernet Branca, then drag the surfboard down to the beach for a quick session before the kids woke up. I'd take another nip when I was done, too. I went to the local store to pick up another bottle but they were out. Sigh... They had a bottle of Lillet, though, that I almost bought, but the label was discolored from the lights and I thought it was probably old and improperly stored. I didn't buy anything.

The Fernet -Branca is one of the most italian's liquer or digestif....
this liquer has copied by multitude brands!!! is a must to try.....
the fernet-branca's advertisement are a very good vintage with other Fernet's product(BrancaMenta liquer with mentholed sensation).........is the history!!!(togheter with China Martini, Martini,elisir Borsci, VOV,Cynar,Rabarbaro Zucca)
all this are the history of liquer-digestif.....see this http://www.saperebere.com/amari.html

I've been on the hunt for some Cynar, intrigued by the use of artichokes as a main ingredient. None of the stores in my town have it but I have a friend coming to visit soon who should be able to obtain a bottle.

I enjoy the Fernet Branca...its great as a last sip before ending a heavy nite of drinking, as it seems to ward off the evils of the hangover...

and it is excellent in the Hanky Panky Cocktail..

http://summitsips.com/2012/06/drink-...ek-hanky-panky

(great cocktail site btw, not mine, but a great blogger I have been following)


scott

That is a GREAT cocktail recipe that I'm looking forward to trying! Thanks for the link. Any recommendations on gin? I reckon a sweet vermouth is necessary given the dryness of the Fernet but I typically have dry vermouth on hand...

[Jeff C]

Cynar is extremely mild compared to Fernet. Today I saw an Amaro by a company I had never heard of before, Meletti, from Italy. It's very mild, quite nice.

[talibeard]

I love Fernet Branca from time to time. When you are into this stuff there is a good alternative and actually the only one really; the Czech Fernet Stock. Probably harder to come by but when you have the chance, try it! The Hungarian Unicum is not far off but way too sweet for my taste.

[Shantytownbrown]

I just got back from vacation where I quicky drained my bottle. I would get up early in the morning and watch the sunrise with a cup of coffe and as splash of Fernet Branca, then drag the surfboard down to the beach for a quick session before the kids woke up. I'd take another nip when I was done, too. I went to the local store to pick up another bottle but they were out. Sigh... They had a bottle of Lillet, though, that I almost bought, but the label was discolored from the lights and I thought it was probably old and improperly stored. I didn't buy anything.



I've been on the hunt for some Cynar, intrigued by the use of artichokes as a main ingredient. None of the stores in my town have it but I have a friend coming to visit soon who should be able to obtain a bottle.



That is a GREAT cocktail recipe that I'm looking forward to trying! Thanks for the link. Any recommendations on gin? I reckon a sweet vermouth is necessary given the dryness of the Fernet but I typically have dry vermouth on hand...

Yes, I would not sub dry vermouth in this recipe! Go out and get yourself some of that too...! If you haven't tried Carpano Antiqua Formula, you are missing out, unfortunately it comes only in a one liter bottle, so unless you use sweet vermouth often, it will go bad on you. (I keep mine in the fridge to prolong its life) martini and Rossi is fine for this, and comes in a small bottle.

If you get the vermouth and the cynar, try this great riff on the manhattan, http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/l...cocktails-2007

As for gin, you need not spend money, Beefeaters is my goto mixing gin, it's congeners come thru nicely in this, for a few more bucks , go for Plymouth.

[The Knize]

Finally tried some Fernet Branca in Coke. Seemed like a waste of both. I really like FB, but it seemed to overwhelm the Coke. Maybe I used too much. I put about a jigger into, say, a 12 oz glass of Coke with ice. No lime or anything. I really like rum and Coke. This was Passover Coke made with real sugar.

[The Chandos]

Should I be storing my Fernet (and other amari) in the refrigerator?

Right now they are in the cabinet for easy access and because there is more room there than in the fridge but I'm concerned about spoiling.

[The Knize]

Should I be storing my Fernet (and other amari) in the refrigerator?

Right now they are in the cabinet for easy access and because there is more room there than in the fridge but I'm concerned about spoiling.

I keep our Fernet Branco and all of our amaros in the freezer, because they were often served that cold when we were in Italy.

But Ferent Branco is about 80 proof isn't it? I doubt it would deteriorate much at room temperature. I do not even keep Aperol in the fridge, which is probably wrong of me as it is quite low in alcohol as I recall.

[ackvil]

My parents would put this in espresso. Many folks from their home town in Italy did the same thing.

One humorous story about Fernet. An "Americano" was visiting my father one day and joined him for espresso. He saw my father putting in a bit of the Fernet in his espresso and he followed suit. He liked the taste and had two or three cups of espresso with the Fernet in it. However, there is one side effect for some people: it can act like a laxative. My father's friend could barely make it to the bathroom after drinking two ounces of it.

[kratos*86*]

in this day i have tried a typical digestif of Centre Italy....very ver very very good!!!
The name is "Amaro Vecchia Umbria"
I recommend, if you have the opportunity,to taste this liquor
http://www.fabiogreco.com/amariamari/vecchiaumbria.jpg
A tipical scent of red fruits...very good!!!as the price.
excuse me for the O.T. i report a description"For connoisseurs, was the old bitter "Viparo" by vis = force and generates Parian = force) was invented by pharmacist Morganti, to treat digestive disorders of a woman of the time, but soon after, this remedy, herbal , roots and aromatic woods, began to be used also by the steel workers who, before each work shift, went to the pharmacy of Dr. Morganti to taste a glass that "corroborated and gave him power."

Great Bitter at 21 ° based on 100% natural herbs.
Aged in barrels for 5 years before being sold.

Content 700 ° cl"

excuse me....but i love too the bitters and i write many words,for who love bitter,when i discover a good product!!!