Unlike anything else amaro in taste, the Italian Fernet Branca is bold and bitter. The result of 27 herbs, roots and spices – including myrrh, rhubarb, chamomile, cardamom aloe and saffron have created this sweet liqueur that was established in Milan back in the year 1845. Its specific flavors make it one of the most beloved and frustrating ingredients in the cocktail world. The complexity of the flavour palate allows for Fernet Branca to be enjoyed neat, or mixed into a variety of cocktails where it adds depth and gravitas with every sip.
The Appeal of Fernet Branca Cocktails
The flavor profile of Fernet, with its extreme bitterness and multi-dimensional herbal notes can be off-putting to some drinkers but it is exactly for that reason why this spirit seems so untethered as a cocktailing ingredient. It brings an extra level of flavor, mystery and counterpoint-a complexity that makes a basic beverage extraordinary. Below, we showcase some of the best Fernet Branca cocktails to show just how versatile and deep this amaro can be.
Classic Fernet Branca Cocktails
1. The Hanky Panky
One of the all-time Fernet classic cocktails, the Hanky Panky was invented by Ada Coleman at London’s Savoy Hotel. This drink uses gin, sweet vermouth and fernet (Dash of Fernet Branca,) garnished with an orange twist to round out the meal that was dating faux pas. However, this leaves us with a fernet that is perfectly sweet and bitter at the same time, donned in herbs.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz gin
- 1.5 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes Fernet Branca
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions:
- Combine gin, sweet vermouth, and Fernet Branca in a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with an orange peel twist.
2. The Toronto
If you think Fernet is too bracing a digestif to sip on its own, try it in Toronto which is softened with rye whiskey, simple syrup, and aromatic bitters. My one-sentence take: For Whiskey Cheese Plate lovers who want to get into Fernet Branca cocktail domain.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz rye whiskey
- 0.25 oz Fernet Branca
- 0.25 oz simple syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir until well-chilled.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with an orange peel.
Modern Twists on Fernet Branca Cocktails
1. The Ferrari
Ferrari A simple but powerful shot, the Ferrari is produced with equivalent components of Fernet and Campari. It is a shot to be swallowed in one gulp – with the accompanying sensation of all those densely flavored, somewhat bitter flavor notes rushing headlong over you.
Ingredients:
- 0.75 oz Fernet Branca
- 0.75 oz Campari
Instructions:
- Combine Fernet Branca and Campari in a shot glass.
- Serve immediately.
2. Fernet Branca Spritz
If you like your cocktails a bit lighter and more refreshing, the Fernet Spritz is deceptively simple to make. This cocktail mixes Fernet with orange juice and prosecco in a bright, bubbly creation that seems light enough for brunch but is secretly balanced by bitters.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Fernet Branca
- 1.5 oz orange juice
- Prosecco to top
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Add Fernet Branca and orange juice.
- Top with prosecco.
- Garnish with an orange slice.
Seasonal and Festive Fernet Branca Cocktails
1. Fernet Festivus
Great for the winter holidays, the Fernet Festivus cocktail includes rye whiskey and allspice syrup with a splash of gingerbread. It is the perfect holiday drink, with all of those festive flavors.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz rye whiskey
- 0.5 oz Fernet Branca
- 0.5 oz gingerbread syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange twist for garnish
Instructions:
- Combine rye whiskey, Fernet Branca, gingerbread syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir until well-chilled.
- Strain into a chilled glass.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
2. Fernet Mimosa
This Brunch regular is made by Fernet Branca -cent- a mix of orange juice and Prosecco. It’s also the right amount of sweet and bitter combination offering so this is ideal to go with your heavy breakfast.
Ingredients:
- 0.25 oz Fernet Branca
- 1.5 oz orange juice
- 4 oz prosecco
- Orange wedge for garnish
Instructions:
- Add Fernet and orange juice to a glass.
- Top with prosecco.
- Garnish with an orange wedge.
Advanced Fernet Branca Cocktails
1. Eeyore’s Requiem
Eeyore’s Requiem (Also known as the Fernet Negroni) This is a deeply layered cocktail, with what many considered competing ingredients: Campari and gin; blanc vermouth alongside Cynar and then some Fernet to boot. An extremely bitter drink that thrills those who like a bit more bitterness in their life.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Campari
- 1 oz blanc vermouth
- 0.5 oz gin
- 0.25 oz Cynar
- 0.25 oz Fernet
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir well and strain into a coupe glass.
- Garnish with an orange peel.
2. The Fanciulli
A night-cap or uneasy-dreams-after-essentially-all-is-said-and-done-type day drink, The Fanciulli is an early twentieth-century cocktail that is essentially a Manhattan with bourbon or rye whiskey and sweet vermouth instead of the usual bitters. Nice, easy-drinking cocktail with a touch of Fernet bitterness
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
- 0.75 oz sweet vermouth
- 0.25 oz Fernet Branca
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir until well-chilled.
- Strain into a coupe glass.
- Garnish with a lemon peel.
Tips for Creating Your Own Fernet Branca Cocktails
Balancing Flavors
Balance in Fernet Work Flavor Balancing – Introduction Its bitterness is quite strong, so you should combine it with bold flavors or the bitterness will simply take over. Sweet vermouth, simple syrup and aromatic bitters can be included to soften Fernet Branca’s bitterness and augment its herbal complexity.
Experimenting with Ingredients
Do not shy away from trying out various mixers and spirits. Fernet works great with both rye whiskey and gin, whether the rich spiciness of a rye that pairs perfectly with Fernet’s spicy side or perhaps one more floral sort of corpse reviver made from ginever. Citrus peels, fresh herbs and flavored syrups will add in more dimensions to your drinks.
Presentation Matters
This presentation can help improve the drinking experience by a large margin. Using nice glassware and garnishes will take your drinks to the next level. The little extra things you add to your drink can be as simple as a twist of citrus peel or one sprig of fresh herb or even an ice cube carefully placed with it.
