Italian amaro paired with the crispness of rye whiskey and a little sugar.
Serious Eats / Jennifer Hess
Why It Works
- Bitter, bracing Fernet Branca tempers the spiciness of rye whiskey. A bit of sugar, in turn, helps keep the bitterness of the Fernet from dominating the drink.
Some tastes take longer to acquire than others. Even those who have accustomed their palates to the robust flavors of whiskey and gin are left breathless by initial encounters with bitter Italian liqueurs. Campari is typically the first amari encountered, with its searing crispness lighting up drinks such as Negronis and Americanos. But even those who have accustomed themselves to Campari’s sharp bitterness are often thrown for a loop when sampling Fernet Branca.
Developed in the mid-19th century as a digestivo, Fernet Branca is baroquely bitter with a complex aroma and flavor rich with cardamom, gentian and peppermint. While it has a devoted fan base—San Francisco seems to live on the stuff—Fernet Branca has such an assertive flavor that it has no doubt frightened away plenty of novice drinkers.
Here’s a cocktail that helps the Fernet Branca-curious start off gently. Pairing the bitter Italian amaro with the crispness of rye whiskey and softening the blow with sugar, the Toronto Cocktail keeps the Fernet from dominating the show. In the same flavor realm as the Boulevardier, the Toronto is a richly flavored, mildly bitter cocktail that also pairs perfectly with a crisp autumn evening.
October 2008
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2 ounces rye whiskey
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1/4 ounce Fernet Branca
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1/4 ounce simple syrup
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2 dashes Angostura bitters
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Combine rye, Fernet, simple syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass and fill with cracked ice. Stir for 20 seconds and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Squeeze a piece of orange peel over the drink and use as garnish.
Special Equipment
Cocktail strainer, bar spoon
Read More
- Boulevardier Recipe
- 5 Essential Fernet Branca Cocktails
- From Behind the Bar: On Fernet Branca
- Amari 101: Your Guide to Italy’s Essential Bittersweet Liqueurs
| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 164 | Calories |
| 0g | Fat |
| 4g | Carbs |
| 0g | Protein |
Show Full Nutrition Label
×
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 1 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 164 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| 0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| 0mg | 0% |
| 1mg | 0% |
| 4g | 1% |
| Dietary Fiber 0g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 4g | |
| 0g | |
| Vitamin C 0mg | 0% |
| Calcium 0mg | 0% |
| Iron 0mg | 0% |
| Potassium 1mg | 0% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Italian amaro paired with the crispness of rye whiskey and a little sugar. Serious Eats / Jennifer Hess Why It Works Bitter, bracing Fernet Branca tempers the spiciness of rye whiskey. A bit of sugar, in turn, helps keep the bitterness of the Fernet from dominating the drink. Some tastes take longer to acquire than others. Even those who have accustomed their palates to the robust flavors of whiskey and gin are left breathless by initial encounters with bitter Italian liqueurs. Campari is typically the first amari encountered, with its searing crispness lighting up drinks such as Negronis and Americanos. But even those who have accustomed themselves to Campari’s sharp bitterness are often thrown for a loop when sampling Fernet Branca. Developed in the mid-19th century as a digestivo, Fernet Branca is baroquely bitter with a complex aroma and flavor rich with cardamom, gentian and peppermint. While it has a devoted fan base—San Francisco seems to live on the stuff—Fernet Branca has such an assertive flavor that it has no doubt frightened away plenty of novice drinkers. Here’s a cocktail that helps the Fernet Branca-curious start off gently. Pairing the bitter Italian amaro with the crispness of rye whiskey and softening the blow with sugar, the Toronto Cocktail keeps the Fernet from dominating the show. In the same flavor realm as the Boulevardier, the Toronto is a richly flavored, mildly bitter cocktail that also pairs perfectly with a crisp autumn evening. October 2008 2 ounces rye whiskey 1/4 ounce Fernet Branca 1/4 ounce simple syrup 2 dashes Angostura bitters Combine rye, Fernet, simple syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass and fill with cracked ice. Stir for 20 seconds and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Squeeze a piece of orange peel over the drink and use as garnish. Special Equipment Cocktail strainer, bar spoon Read More Boulevardier Recipe 5 Essential Fernet Branca Cocktails From Behind the Bar: On Fernet Branca Amari 101: Your Guide to Italy’s Essential Bittersweet Liqueurs Nutrition Facts (per serving) 164 Calories 0g Fat 4g Carbs 0g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label × Nutrition Facts Servings: 1 Amount per serving Calories 164 % Daily Value* 0g 0% Saturated Fat 0g 0% 0mg 0% 1mg 0% 4g 1% Dietary Fiber 0g 0% Total Sugars 4g 0g Vitamin C 0mg 0% Calcium 0mg 0% Iron 0mg 0% Potassium 1mg 0% *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. (Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Toronto Cocktail Recipe
