FERNET-BRANCA (Fernet-Branca) ITALY

History of origin. The production of Fernet Branca began in Milan in 1845. That year, the Republic of Texas became the 28th state of the United States. The premiere of Richard Wagner’s opera “Tannhäuser” took place in Dresden. There was a flood in the Czech Republic. The British went to war against the Sikhs. A tornado swept through Monville. Vandal William Lloyd smashed in the British Museum a unique Portland antique vase, found in 1582 in a tomb near Rome. A year like a year, nothing special. Calm for Europe (until the French Revolution for another three years!), the most favorable time for the emergence of “Fernet Branca” and for trading it.

The creator of the bitter is considered to be three. This is Signor Bernardino Branca and his wife, Signora Maria. And also a certain doctor from Switzerland, Fernet; according to legend, he lived for more than a hundred years solely for the reason that he regularly took Fernet Branca. However, his participation is not confirmed by anything, so the laurels of the creators of the balm go to the Branca family. Then the question is, where does Fernet come from? Or is it also a company secret? Confusion is introduced by the fact that “Fernet” is also a category of strong bitters.

“Fernet”, we read: “… A bitter liquor (bitter) with a strength of up to 45 degrees, cooked on herbs: chamomile, saffron, aloe, cardamom, oregano, quinine, gentian and many others …” There is no complete list of drink herbs will reveal, of course, no manufacturer.

The most famous fernets are Branca and Stock.

Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria and France argue about exactly where the original drink was invented. And although the dispute has not yet come to an end, most experts are sure that this is Italian Lombardy, and the laurels of the discoverer belong to the pharmacist Bernardino Branca and his colleague, the Swiss doctor Fernet, after whom the new herbal liqueur was named. However, the figure of the doctor is most likely mythical: historians managed to find out that the pharmacist Bernardino conjured over the drink in splendid isolation, and he simply invented the Swiss, who allegedly knew the secrets of longevity and used them during the development of the liquor, to attract interest to his offspring. Let’s not judge the Italian strictly – advertising in 1845 (the year the drink was born) was already the engine of trade.

Initially, “Fernet-Branca” was an anti-cholera drug, a cure for stomach diseases and nervous disorders. However, he retained his medicinal properties and this bitter is taken in small doses as a general tonic after the flu or a cold.

However, this is the fate of many bitters. They were conceived by the creators as medicines, and over time they were classified as alcoholic beverages. Like the “Black Riga Balsam”. In the year of its appearance, it was a medicine with a strength of only 14%. And today it is an alcoholic drink in 40%. So is Fernet Branca. It is used as a digestif both in pure form and in cocktails with ice. Argentines drink it with Coca-Cola. Can be drunk as an aperitif. Pairs well with coffee, especially espresso. It turns out “caffe corretto”, “correct coffee”. Interestingly, this bitter is combined with other alcoholic beverages. America drinks it with whiskey. There is a cocktail in which there are two bitters at once – Fernet Branca and Chinar. The third component is Madera.

On the basis of Fernet Branca, Sputnik, an anti-pohmelin cocktail, was created. Here is his recipe: 45 ml Fernet Branca, 90 ml vodka, sugar and lemon juice. Add crushed ice.

The hangover will take off as if by hand.