Fernet (Italian pronunciation: [ferˈnɛt]) is an Italian type of amaro, a bitter, aromatic spirit. Fernet is made from a number of herbs and spices which vary according to the brand, but usually include myrrh, rhubarb, chamomile, cardamom, aloe, and especially saffron,[1] with a base of distilled grape spirits.
Fernet is usually served as a digestif after a meal but may also be served with coffee and espresso or mixed into coffee and espresso drinks. It typically contains 45% alcohol by volume. It may be served at room temperature or with ice.
The Italian liqueur has a cult following in the international bartending community and is immensely popular in Argentina.[2] The South American country consumes more than 75% of all fernet produced globally[3] and, due to the product's popularity, also has Fratelli Branca's only distillery outside of Italy.[2] As it is traditionally mixed with Coke, fernet has also contributed in making Argentina one of the biggest consumers of Coca-Cola in the world.[3] Fernet and Coke (Spanish: fernet con coca) is so ubiquitous in Argentina that it has been described as "the country's unofficial drink".[2] This combination is called fernandito or viajero (traveller).
Fernet was introduced to Argentina by Italians during the Great European immigration wave to the country of the late 19th century and early 20th century.[4] It is particularly associated with Córdoba Province, which has been called "the world fernet capital"; almost three million litres are consumed there annually, representing just under 30 percent of national consumption.[5] National production is around 25 million liters, with 35% sold in Buenos Aires city and province.[6][7]Fernet-Branca is by far the most popular brand in the country, leading the market and reaching a "mythical" status among Argentines.[8] Other popular brands include 1882, Capri, Ramazzotti and Vittone.[5]
Fernet is commonly mixed with Coca-Cola, a mixed drink known as fernet con coca (Spanish for "fernet and Coke") or fernando.[8][9] While long available, the drink became much more popular in the mid-1980s, encouraged by advertisements of Fratelli Branca in TV stations with national scope,[10] its popularity growing steadily ever since.[11] Consumption of fernet increased greatly in the first decade of the 21st century.[4] By the early 2010s, the popularity of relatively inexpensive fernet was so high that many bars in Buenos Aires removed it from their menus to encourage sales of more expensive drinks.[4]
In the US
The drink has been popular in the San Francisco Bay Area since before Prohibition.[1] In 2008, San Francisco accounted for 25% of US consumption.[12] San Francisco bars usually serve fernet as a shot followed by a ginger ale chaser.[1]
In the Czech Republic
The Czech-manufactured Fernet Stock brand is popular in the Czech Republic,[13] where it is served as shots or as part of different cocktails.
Cocktails
Fernet can be mixed into cocktails, though the strong taste can overwhelm other ingredients. It can replace bitters in recipes; for instance, the Fanciulli cocktail is a Manhattan with fernet instead of Angostura bitters.[14]
The chef Fergus Henderson offers a recipe, entitled both "A Miracle" and "Dr. Henderson", that approximates Branca Menta (a fernet with menthols and peppermint), by combining two parts fernet with one part crème de menthe over ice. The recipe describes this cocktail as a cure for overindulgence.[15]
Mike and the Moonpies' 2019 song "You Look Good in Neon" makes reference to Fernet in its chorus. Fans of the band have taken to buying shots of the drink at concerts.[17]
^ abcCavalieri, Nate (2005-12-07). "The Myth of Fernet". SF Weekly. from the original on 21 February 2007. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
^ abcCompton, Natalie B. (November 26, 2018). "How Fernet Took Over Argentina". Vice. Vice Media. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
^ abLahrichi, Kamilia (March 14, 2017). "Argentina loves its Fernet, a bitter Italian liquor". CNN Travel. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
^ abcPetovel, Pablo (1 January 2013). "Todo lo que hay que saber sobre el fernet" (in Spanish). Día a Día. Contenidos Mediterráneos. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
^ abMarchetti, Nicolás (15 October 2015). "Eligieron el mejor fernet de Argentina y no es el que estás pensando" (in Spanish). La Voz del Interior. Clarín Group. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
^"El fenómeno fernet". Clarín (in Spanish). Retrieved 2014-08-11.
^. Clarín (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2008-02-14.
^ ab"EBranca reconoce que la mezcla de fernet con Coca nació en Córdoba" (in Spanish). La Voz del Interior. Clarín Group. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
^Rathbun, A. J. (2009). Dark Spirits: 200 Classy Concoctions Starring Bourbon, Brandy, Scotch, Whiskey, Rum and Morse. Harvard Common Press. p. 207. ISBN978-1-55832-427-5.
^"Promos y Publicidades Canal 9 Argentina (1987/88)". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21 – via www.youtube.com.
^Vecino, Diego. "Fernet: una historia de amor argentina". Conexión Brando. La Nación. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
^Curtis, Wayne (November 2008). "The Bitter Beginning: Learning to love a bracing Italian liqueur". The Atlantic.
^"O Společnosti - Stock Spirits". www.stock.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2020-06-29.
^Felten, Eric (2009-01-03). "Making Bitter Fernet-Branca Much Easier to Swallow". Wall Street Journal.
^Hudak, Joseph. "How Mike and the Moonpies Blew Up Their Red Dirt Image at Abbey Road". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
External links
Media related to Fernet at Wikimedia Commons
January 26, 2023
fernet, italian, pronunciation, ferˈnɛt, italian, type, amaro, bitter, aromatic, spirit, made, from, number, herbs, spices, which, vary, according, brand, usually, include, myrrh, rhubarb, chamomile, cardamom, aloe, especially, saffron, with, base, distilled, . Fernet Italian pronunciation ferˈnɛt is an Italian type of amaro a bitter aromatic spirit Fernet is made from a number of herbs and spices which vary according to the brand but usually include myrrh rhubarb chamomile cardamom aloe and especially saffron 1 with a base of distilled grape spirits Several brands of fernet sold in Argentina From left to right Cinzano Luxardo Ramazzotti 1882 Branca and Martini Fernet is usually served as a digestif after a meal but may also be served with coffee and espresso or mixed into coffee and espresso drinks It typically contains 45 alcohol by volume It may be served at room temperature or with ice The Italian liqueur has a cult following in the international bartending community and is immensely popular in Argentina 2 The South American country consumes more than 75 of all fernet produced globally 3 and due to the product s popularity also has Fratelli Branca s only distillery outside of Italy 2 As it is traditionally mixed with Coke fernet has also contributed in making Argentina one of the biggest consumers of Coca Cola in the world 3 Fernet and Coke Spanish fernet con coca is so ubiquitous in Argentina that it has been described as the country s unofficial drink 2 This combination is called fernandito or viajero traveller Contents 1 Popularity 1 1 In Argentina 1 2 In the US 1 3 In the Czech Republic 2 Cocktails 3 In popular culture 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksPopularity EditIn Argentina Edit See also Fernet con coca Fernet con coca English Fernet and Coke a cultural icon of Argentina Fernet was introduced to Argentina by Italians during the Great European immigration wave to the country of the late 19th century and early 20th century 4 It is particularly associated with Cordoba Province which has been called the world fernet capital almost three million litres are consumed there annually representing just under 30 percent of national consumption 5 National production is around 25 million liters with 35 sold in Buenos Aires city and province 6 7 Fernet Branca is by far the most popular brand in the country leading the market and reaching a mythical status among Argentines 8 Other popular brands include 1882 Capri Ramazzotti and Vittone 5 Fernet is commonly mixed with Coca Cola a mixed drink known as fernet con coca Spanish for fernet and Coke or fernando 8 9 While long available the drink became much more popular in the mid 1980s encouraged by advertisements of Fratelli Branca in TV stations with national scope 10 its popularity growing steadily ever since 11 Consumption of fernet increased greatly in the first decade of the 21st century 4 By the early 2010s the popularity of relatively inexpensive fernet was so high that many bars in Buenos Aires removed it from their menus to encourage sales of more expensive drinks 4 In the US Edit The drink has been popular in the San Francisco Bay Area since before Prohibition 1 In 2008 San Francisco accounted for 25 of US consumption 12 San Francisco bars usually serve fernet as a shot followed by a ginger ale chaser 1 In the Czech Republic Edit The Czech manufactured Fernet Stock brand is popular in the Czech Republic 13 where it is served as shots or as part of different cocktails Cocktails EditFernet can be mixed into cocktails though the strong taste can overwhelm other ingredients It can replace bitters in recipes for instance the Fanciulli cocktail is a Manhattan with fernet instead of Angostura bitters 14 The chef Fergus Henderson offers a recipe entitled both A Miracle and Dr Henderson that approximates Branca Menta a fernet with menthols and peppermint by combining two parts fernet with one part creme de menthe over ice The recipe describes this cocktail as a cure for overindulgence 15 In popular culture EditFernet Branca forms the titular subject of James Hamilton Paterson s 2004 novel of Tuscany expatriate life Cooking with Fernet Branca 16 Mike and the Moonpies 2019 song You Look Good in Neon makes reference to Fernet in its chorus Fans of the band have taken to buying shots of the drink at concerts 17 See also Edit Liquor portalBecherovka Herbal bitters from the Czech Republic Gammel Dansk Danish herbal bitters liquor Riga Black Balsam Traditional Latvian herbal liqueurReferences Edit a b c Cavalieri Nate 2005 12 07 The Myth of Fernet SF Weekly Archived from the original on 21 February 2007 Retrieved 2020 06 27 a b c Compton Natalie B November 26 2018 How Fernet Took Over Argentina Vice Vice Media Retrieved June 12 2019 a b Lahrichi Kamilia March 14 2017 Argentina loves its Fernet a bitter Italian liquor CNN Travel Retrieved June 12 2019 a b c Petovel Pablo 1 January 2013 Todo lo que hay que saber sobre el fernet in Spanish Dia a Dia Contenidos Mediterraneos Retrieved 20 March 2016 a b Marchetti Nicolas 15 October 2015 Eligieron el mejor fernet de Argentina y no es el que estas pensando in Spanish La Voz del Interior Clarin Group Retrieved 20 March 2016 El fenomeno fernet Clarin in Spanish Retrieved 2014 08 11 Los argentinos vuelven al vermouth y al whisky importado Clarin in Spanish Archived from the original on 2008 02 14 a b EBranca reconoce que la mezcla de fernet con Coca nacio en Cordoba in Spanish La Voz del Interior Clarin Group 3 May 2013 Retrieved 20 March 2016 Rathbun A J 2009 Dark Spirits 200 Classy Concoctions Starring Bourbon Brandy Scotch Whiskey Rum and Morse Harvard Common Press p 207 ISBN 978 1 55832 427 5 Promos y Publicidades Canal 9 Argentina 1987 88 Archived from the original on 2021 12 21 via www youtube com Vecino Diego Fernet una historia de amor argentina Conexion Brando La Nacion Retrieved 11 December 2017 Curtis Wayne November 2008 The Bitter Beginning Learning to love a bracing Italian liqueur The Atlantic O Spolecnosti Stock Spirits www stock cz in Czech Retrieved 2020 06 29 Felten Eric 2009 01 03 Making Bitter Fernet Branca Much Easier to Swallow Wall Street Journal Henderson Fergus April 2004 The Whole Beast Nose to Tail Eating Ecco ISBN 0 06 058536 6 Michael Dibdin 2004 06 19 Strange brew The Guardian Hudak Joseph How Mike and the Moonpies Blew Up Their Red Dirt Image at Abbey Road Rolling Stone Retrieved 4 November 2022 External links Edit Media related to Fernet at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fernet amp oldid 1128844026, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
