Fernet Old Fashioned
The Fernet Old Fashioned may be the best drink I’ve ever created.
I know what you’re thinking: Every drink with Fernet is Rick’s favorite drink. And though that is harsh and false mostly true, this potion of utter joyment surpasses all others.
Though Fernet is clearly delicious on its own without ice, I wanted a cocktail that would be more approachable, and in my case, a bullet train for consuming more Fernet. For example, mayonnaise is hard to eat in quantity on its own (or rimming a cocktail glass) but if you make a sandwich with mayonnaise and butter on white bread, it goes down like a Mai Tai. (Note: this analogy is flawless.)
Fernet Old Fashioned
- 2oz Fernet Branca
- 1/2oz simple syrup
- 1 dash either Angostura orange or Fee’s whiskey barrel-aged bitters
- orange peel, for garnish
Stir with ice and strain into a rocks glass. Release those orange oils, squire. Alternately, you could build over ice and stir.
Rick from Kaiser Penguin
The Fernet Challenge
The rules are simple: make the Fernet Old Fashioned. If you don’t like it, I will drink and document any cocktail you choose. Yes, even one made with seafood cheese dip (but no poison! … well, deadly flowers are ok.)
KP Question
- You either love or hate Fernet. Which is it? And what is your Fernet story? You surely have one.
p.s. Yes, I’ve made Fernet Old Fashioned hard candy and am bringing it to Tales.
18 Responses to “Fernet Old Fashioned”
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Tony Harion
Said this on June 23rd, 2009 at 10:01pm:Killer Garnish!
I´m not a huge fan of Fernet (yet), but i´m gonna give this one a try.. right now!
Cheers,
Tony
Katherine
Said this on June 24th, 2009 at 4:32am:Love love love Fernet!!!! Currently going through a fernet and diet coke phase.
Doug Winship
Said this on June 24th, 2009 at 3:19pm:This post, like the analogy, is flawless!
But, while I am currently on an Old Fashioned kick, my knees tremble at the rehab my taste buds would have to endure to recover from two ounces of Fernet!
Tiare
Said this on June 24th, 2009 at 6:34pm:Can`t wait to try this one!
Last week fernet instantly cured my acute bellypain caused by too many nuts, drinking this old fashioned will sure be good for me.
When i saw this garnish at liqurious there was no doubt at which blog it belonged.
T
Kevin
Said this on June 25th, 2009 at 12:04am:I’m in argentina right now. Work involves pumping out about a two to three dozen Fernet cola’s in a night. I love the stuff but, you do get tired of it eventually. And for having some of the best fernet in the world. They really aren’t very creative with the stuff down here.
Matt Robold (RumDood)
Said this on June 25th, 2009 at 12:17pm:Rick, I think it’s time to admit that you have a problem…
Federico Cuco
Said this on June 26th, 2009 at 1:48pm:Hello I’m a bartender from Buenos Aires Argentina.
Here the people drinks up a lot of fernet, but in the booring way (Fernet with coca cola).
I Found your Fernet Old Fashioned recipe, Delicious.
I’ll put the recipe in the Bar Blackboard tonight.
I hope you don’t mind.
Best!
Federico Cuco
Jack
Said this on June 30th, 2009 at 10:46pm:Hooray for Fernet! Rick, you asked for good Fernet fun facts / stories… here you go!
1) As one might gather from a few of the above comments, Fernet is really really popular in South America. It is also really really (relatively) inexpensive there.
2) My fiancee lived in Uruguay for awhile before we met – because of fun fact #1, Fernet became her favorite drink.
3) Without prior knowledge of #1 or #2, I got a Fernet and Coke on our first date (4th of July fireworks, then drinks and snacks… in Hartford CT, of all the oddest places). Imagine my surprise and delight at discovering that this esoteric and somewhat spur of the moment drink choice was the most attractive thing I could have possibly done!
4) Fernet is nigh-impossible to find in our current residence here in Vermont. You have to special order it for $30 a bottle. I love this state, but seriously…
5) There’s a drink making the blogosphere rounds right now called the Toronto – I think it’s a Boudreau creation – that also involves Fernet.
6) That drink + this drink + all the nostalgia + upcoming 4th of July = -$30 from my wallet. Thanks for the inspiration, Rick. Seriously. =)
Rick
Said this on July 1st, 2009 at 11:06am:Jack,
A hearty cheers to you sir! Loved the stories and am always glad to motivate the purchase of Fernet Branca.
Jay Hepburn
Said this on July 1st, 2009 at 3:15pm:Rick, finally tried this tonight – delicious! The sugar, bitters and zest tame the Fernet just perfectly.
BonzoGal
Said this on July 1st, 2009 at 6:10pm:I want a dress made out of that garnish. Get peelin’!
Just For Rick | The Pegu Blog
Said this on July 19th, 2009 at 4:29pm:[...] up in our little corner of the blogosphere knows that the Kaiser Penguin, Rick Stutz, has an unhealthy affinity for Fernet Branca, of storied fame. In a recent Amazon search, I came across a Bill Cosby routine [...]
Zuckervati
Said this on July 28th, 2009 at 3:43pm:Ok, I can’t be the only one who can’t stand this stuff out of the bottle. Man, you’ve got to dilute it down pretty far before it stops burning.
That said, we came up with a great cocktail for it one evening:
- 1oz Fernet Branca
- 1oz Malibu passion fruit rum
- 1 can Coke
Build over ice in a highball glass. Kind of reminds me of Mauby and soda.
Who Has the Most Bitters? | Kaiser Penguin
Said this on August 16th, 2009 at 6:03pm:[...] leave you without a cocktail! I crafted this sly harpy the other night as a riff on my Fernet Old Fashioned which I’ve probably consumed more of than any other potion this year. You know how absinthe [...]
butters
Said this on November 18th, 2009 at 2:35am:I have checked out this post time and time again in amusement. I wondered why anyone would want to make this? As time has gone on I have come to love Fernet in my cocktails. Right now it is probably my favorite cocktail ingredient. I finally decided to make this drink and I can now say ‘wow’. This shit is damned delicious. Simple and delicious. Thanks for loving Fernet as much as I am right now and probably will in the future.
Rick
Said this on November 18th, 2009 at 8:40am:butters, Cheers! Anything that makes Fernet easier to drink in large quantities is a win.
Time for a Drink: Fernet Old Fashioned | U Reader | Your daily news stop station ...
Said this on November 27th, 2009 at 6:20pm:[...] one which was put together by my crony Rick at Kaiser Penguin: the Fernet Old Fashioned. By simply substituting the amaro for the some-more informed scotch or [...]
Brian
Said this on December 2nd, 2009 at 1:31am:I love Fernet. And I am making this cocktail (again) right now. First drank Fernet at a Danish girl’s house. She bought a bottle for her visiting father, who believed that it cures a cold. He only used a bit & left the rest. She couldn’t stand the stuff & dared me to try it. I fell in love and drank 1/4 of the bottle (straight!). She gave me the rest & we were both happy.