Fernet-Branca
 | |
| Type | Amaro bitters (fernet) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Fratelli Branca Distillerie |
| Country of origin | Milan, Italy |
| Introduced | 1845 |
| Alcohol by volume | 39% |
| Flavour | Bitter |
Fernet-Branca [ferˈnɛt ˈbraŋka] is a brand of amaro or bitter herbal liqueur. Bernandino Branca invented the Fernet-Branca bitter in Milan, Italy, in 1845.[1] The brand soon thereafter gained popularity, leading to the founding of the Fratelli Branca Distillery.
History
Intensely bitter since its inception in 1845, Fernet-Branca has been produced according to the original recipe that has been handed down from generation to generation. The bitters are made from 27 herbs and other ingredients. The exact formula is a trade secret known only to the Fernet-Branca president, Niccolò Branca, who personally measures out the aromatics during the production process.
The same manufacturer also offers a sweeter, mint-flavored liqueur under the label Branca Menta.
As a fernet, the beverage has a higher ABV (39%) and lower sugar content than most other amaros.[2]
Consumption
Fernet-Branca is often consumed neat as a digestif, typically served in a cordial glass, or as a mixing component (usually supportive and not as the primary ingredient) in cocktails such as the "Toronto", the "Fanciulli", and the more prolific "Hanky Panky".
The beverage was orignially promoted for its health benefits including as a remedy for “overeating, flatulence, hangovers, gas pains, (and) lifting yourself off the floor when you’ve mixed oysters and bananas.”[3]
Fernet-Branca has enjoyed a recent growth in popularity in the United States particularly due to an increase in the interest in and mixing/serving of "vintage" cocktails.
In Argentina and Uruguay, it may be mixed with Coca-Cola and served as "Fernet con Coca".
In popular culture
- Bill Cosby made the drink the centerpiece of his "Fernet Branca" routine, recorded on the 1973 album Fat Albert.
- Alfred Pennyworth (played by Michael Caine) drinks Fernet-Branca in the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises.[4]
- The drink features in the comic novel Cooking with Fernet Branca by James Hamilton-Paterson.[5]
- The song, "I Drink Fernet" by rap artist Equipto and Michael Marshall (singer) featuring Skeptic and Cognito, is dedicated to the drink Fernet, specifically Fernet-Branca.[6]
References
- ↑ "Fernet-Branca History".
- ↑ "The Fuss About Fernet-Branca". Drink Spirits. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
- ↑
- ↑ Along With the Dark Knight, Fernet Branca Also Rises The Drink Nation. Retrieved November 03, 2015.
- ↑ Drzal, Dawn (2015-12-18). "From a Tuscan Kitchen". New York Times. New York, NY. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
- ↑ Christopher, Ross (2011-06-21). "Are Italian Digestifs the New Courvoisier? Check the Rap Dedicated to Fernet-Branca". Culture. Details Magazine. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fernet Branca. |
- Fernet Branca website
- Cavalieri, Nate (7 December 2005). "The Myth of Fernet". SF Weekly. Archived from the original on 21 February 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2015.