Comments on: Fernet Branca, and the Hanky Panky Cocktail http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/ Quenching your thirst with sips, nips and tipples. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:34:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: scott http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-273749 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:22:58 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-273749 I question whether San Francisco drinks more Fernet than anywhere else in the world. The stuff is practically the national drink of Argentina. Try to find a bar, or household, in Buenos Aires that doesn't carry it. Literally impossible. Also, take note of all the people drinking what looks like Coke; it's actually Fernet Branca and Coke ("Fernet y Coca"), which is the way they do it, all of them. The combination adds sweetness to it's natural bitter earthiness, creating an almost Jagermeister-esque cocktail. While the first few admittedly require some getting used to, after a while you find them addictive. I have since graduated to Fernet on the rocks with a splash of water, and keep a bottle at home and order it out whenever given the opportunity. I question whether San Francisco drinks more Fernet than anywhere else in the world. The stuff is practically the national drink of Argentina. Try to find a bar, or household, in Buenos Aires that doesn’t carry it. Literally impossible.
Also, take note of all the people drinking what looks like Coke; it’s actually Fernet Branca and Coke (”Fernet y Coca”), which is the way they do it, all of them. The combination adds sweetness to it’s natural bitter earthiness, creating an almost Jagermeister-esque cocktail. While the first few admittedly require some getting used to, after a while you find them addictive.
I have since graduated to Fernet on the rocks with a splash of water, and keep a bottle at home and order it out whenever given the opportunity.

]]> by: Mike http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-134279 Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:33:33 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-134279 My brother introduced me to Fernet Branca a month ago. After I tossed back the first shot I wanted to punch him. But strangely, as we drained the bottle in about an hour, I actually started to like it (used ginger ale chaser). The buzz is quite unique too. Something akin to alochol mixed with crack. No hangover the next day (try that with 12 shots of tequila) although I lost about 12 lbs sitting on the can. You can also try it with a Coke chaser (tried mixing it but better to do it in shot so as not to prolong the crappy taste). Also not bad mixed with Red Bull. Always serve it ice cold - numbs the taste buds which is essential here folks. My brother introduced me to Fernet Branca a month ago. After I tossed back the first shot I wanted to punch him.

But strangely, as we drained the bottle in about an hour, I actually started to like it (used ginger ale chaser).

The buzz is quite unique too. Something akin to alochol mixed with crack. No hangover the next day (try that with 12 shots of tequila) although I lost about 12 lbs sitting on the can.

You can also try it with a Coke chaser (tried mixing it but better to do it in shot so as not to prolong the crappy taste). Also not bad mixed with Red Bull. Always serve it ice cold - numbs the taste buds which is essential here folks.

]]> by: Elizabeth Appel http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-70022 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 20:58:04 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-70022 I use fernet branca in my Manhattans (made with Crown Royal, M&R sweet vermouth and about 1 tsp of branca) I use fernet branca in my Manhattans (made with Crown Royal, M&R sweet vermouth and about 1 tsp of branca)

]]> by: Rose http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-34304 Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:49:22 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-34304 Fernet benefited from a strong marketing campaign in San Francisco, successfully casting it as "the" industry drink of choice. Drinkers were taught to order it as a shot with a ginger back. I immediately began asking bartenders to mix the two (a request that still earns me confused and pitying looks at some bars) and I soon began drinking it at home with a high quality ginger beer called Fentimans. It's also great with the Dandellion and Burdock soda they make. Both are available at Rainbow Grocery her in San Francisco. Fernet benefited from a strong marketing campaign in San Francisco, successfully casting it as “the” industry drink of choice. Drinkers were taught to order it as a shot with a ginger back.

I immediately began asking bartenders to mix the two (a request that still earns me confused and pitying looks at some bars) and I soon began drinking it at home with a high quality ginger beer called Fentimans.

It’s also great with the Dandellion and Burdock soda they make. Both are available at Rainbow Grocery her in San Francisco.

]]> by: Giuseppe http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-33667 Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:29:38 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-33667 I invented a cocktail called the Corpo Reviver, which uses Branca.. obviously a play on the Corpse Reviver its equal parts (1 oz/30 ml) Beefeater, St. Gemain, Lemon Juice, Lillet Blanc; shake; strain add 2 to 3 dashes of Branca... suit to taste I suposse... garnish with cherry I love this drink because the cocktail is quite ordinary without Branca but a few dashes and you can see the complexity of the stuff and how it brings all the other flavors out. But I am great liar... you will have to make one to see if I am telling the truth. I invented a cocktail called the Corpo Reviver, which uses Branca.. obviously a play on the Corpse Reviver its equal parts (1 oz/30 ml)
Beefeater, St. Gemain, Lemon Juice, Lillet Blanc; shake; strain add 2 to 3 dashes of Branca… suit to taste I suposse… garnish with cherry

I love this drink because the cocktail is quite ordinary without Branca but a few dashes and you can see the complexity of the stuff and how it brings all the other flavors out. But I am great liar… you will have to make one to see if I am telling the truth.

]]> by: Chris Sheehan http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-33229 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:10:57 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-33229 I got a bottle a couple of years ago to try the Toronto Cocktail in Embury. That I live there was a good enough reason to try it once, but not good enough to continue drinking them. I got a bottle a couple of years ago to try the Toronto Cocktail in Embury. That I live there was a good enough reason to try it once, but not good enough to continue drinking them.

]]> by: Robert Hess http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-33219 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 18:09:42 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-33219 The Fernando was created at Employees Only apparently. I haven't had a chance to try it, but it does sound interesting. The Fernando was created at Employees Only apparently. I haven’t had a chance to try it, but it does sound interesting.

]]> by: Yuval http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-33051 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:16:44 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-33051 I first tasted Fernet Branca neat and found it much too bitter, without the balancing sweetness found in something like Campari. But recently I tried a cocktail called the "Fernando" at Employees Only in NYC. According to the menu, the Fernando consisted of Fernet Branca, Martini Bianco, and dashes of Galliano, although I'm unsure of the proportions. To my tastes, the Fernando successfully showcased the bitterness of Fernet Branca but balanced it with sweetness. I first tasted Fernet Branca neat and found it much too bitter, without the balancing sweetness found in something like Campari.

But recently I tried a cocktail called the “Fernando” at Employees Only in NYC.

According to the menu, the Fernando consisted of Fernet Branca, Martini Bianco, and dashes of Galliano, although I’m unsure of the proportions.

To my tastes, the Fernando successfully showcased the bitterness of Fernet Branca but balanced it with sweetness.

]]> by: Thomas http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-33004 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 03:05:11 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2007/07/08/fernet-branca-and-the-hanky-panky-cocktail/#comment-33004 My first knowledge of Fernet Branca came when I was still a boy, from a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fat-Albert-Bill-Cosby/dp/B000654YQU/" rel="nofollow"> Bill Cosby album</a> that had my cousins and I rolling on the floor. Cosby relates his own first encounter with the stuff, served to him as a digestive while traveling in Italy. To hear him tell it, it is quite effective stuff! Since then I have read about it in other cocktail esoterica, but have never even seen a bottle. Between that vivid first impression as delivered by Cosby and Robert's own description, I'll be eager to try it when the opportunity arises. My first knowledge of Fernet Branca came when I was still a boy, from a Bill Cosby album that had my cousins and I rolling on the floor. Cosby relates his own first encounter with the stuff, served to him as a digestive while traveling in Italy. To hear him tell it, it is quite effective stuff!
Since then I have read about it in other cocktail esoterica, but have never even seen a bottle. Between that vivid first impression as delivered by Cosby and Robert’s own description, I’ll be eager to try it when the opportunity arises.

]]>