Fernet is Gross
 

Discuss. You already know what I think.

It's the bartender shot of kings. You know someone really likes their alcohol if they can shoot a Fernet.

Had to look that one up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernet

The experience of drinking fernet has been described as:

“ The easiest way to explain the taste is to imagine Jägermeister without the sugar. You shoot it, immediately getting a strong hit of mouthwash - drying the mouth out, stinging the tongue. Its kind of like getting hit in the nose. Your brain hurts, your eyes sting and water, you cough a bit. Then, as soon as it begins a warm wave of relief washes over and you are left baptized in Italian herbals and golf ball eyed awake."

No thanks.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

No, it means someone really likes their Fernet.

did someone say Jägermeister?

I remember Bill Cosby had a whole routine about how bad it was.

Lots of quinine, in Italy the traditional restorative for many, essentially a "hard" Cinzano, kin to the "Bitters" shots seen in Germany.

Of course, the real question is why anyone would (a) drink jagermeister at all, much less "seconds".....

Years ago, I became President of a non-profit and my friend and former President took me to dinner at an Italian restaurant. After dinner, he ordered two Fernets (one each). The waiter took a step back, looked at him differently and was clearly impressed. That made me impressed too - at least until I tasted it. Worst thing ever.

He told me it was actually a digestif - meant to help you digest your meal. Maybe it works by making you throw up everything you just ate!

Mmm... Fernet. I'm salivating now.

I guess from custom as I first started drinking these kinds of bitters in South Eastern Spain, Cynar was always more popular in the Alicante bars so my taste leans more to this drink.
Drunk neat as an aperitif, drunk with water or soda as a digestif.
I was quite shocked when I eventually realised that Cynar was Italian and not Spanish.

Eastbay1K - is Cynar gross too?

It's as disgusting as Becherovka.

After an unfortunate series of events on my 19th birthday, just the smell of Jägermeister now makes me nauseous.

A hangover cure favoured by some friends in the UK (I usually favour Alka Seltzer!) - I suspect a little 'hair of the dog' theory, a little 'it'll make you throw up so you feel better' theory, and a little 'medicine is supposed to taste bad' theory. I don't mind it, but then I also like Campari! Frankly, as long as it doesn't have a raw egg in, I can cope!

Taking into account I look neither young, nor trendy, I was in a bar earlier this year, where I used to go frequently. It is slowly morphing into a tequila bar, and I told the bartender that a friend would be interested, as he likes tequila, but his preference is actually strong small cask bourbon ~60%) He then pulled a bottle of ~60% tequila out and asked if I wanted a shot, but that it was expensive, (I forget how much tho) I declined, not because of cost (which I assume was his thought) but because I really don't like tequila (tequila is my can't smell without feeling rough drink due to past imbibing!) so he said 'if you can shoot it without making a face, it is on the house'. Now one thing about me, I am reluctant to step away from a bet (well, one that isn't going to involve police or hospital) so I did it, and with amazing self control, didn't flinch! It was REALLY strong, and made me want to hurl! It was worse than Fernet by a million miles, so whilst I don't think I have ever shot Fernet (normally mixed with tonic or soda, rather grossly with flat leftover open cans of mixers still on the table / side from the night before!) I think I could!

There are literally thousands of amaros in Italy (as many as there are moonshiners, i reckon). Fernet is one of my faves, but mostly because it is widely available in the USA, and not too sweet (some of them, like Averna, have a molasses-like consistency, still good, but no more than one).

I guess Cynar would be my fave (it's a bottle with an artichoke on the label), as well as Amaro Montenegro, which I used to drink as a kid. For some reason.

duplicate

I love cynar. I know what I am having tonight for an aperitif.

I think I might gag, but then, I don't think I've ever had Cynar. I usually see it within a bottle or two from the Fernet. :eek:

Classic digestif just like the schnap(p)s in Central and Northern Europe. For that purpose only...;)

I had never tried Fernet until I moved to San Francisco. It's a serious fad here, chased with ginger ale. I don't get it. I'll take a Campari and soda, please.

If Fernet on the table, how can we ignore "Punt e Mes", the Italian Dr. Pepper syrup with enough quinine to cure a spell of malaria?

Another thing I've never had, which I often see either next to the Fernet, or next to the Cynar, or between the two of them.

Had it once in Italy. Reminded me of Fletcher's Castoria from my childhood.

Blecch.

I do drink it (not enjoyably) when me stomach is messed up. Supposedly San Francisco and New Orleans drink almost all of it in the US. In the mid-80s it disappeared for a year or 2 and was reformulated (without the opiates, says the legend). It was a major hangover reliever at the time. Gino & Carlos in N Beach in SF stocked up (big time)and still had some 'Old Fernet' a few years back, if you knew the bartenders. wj

Although I pesonally don't mind Cynar, I've always thought of it as a bad joke played on those who believe you can make alcohol out of anything. Indeed, you can.

Its a great wine selection with great specials on alcohol but price is high. Taste is not good enough and bitter and I hate its high liquors. Its made from herbs spices and grape spirit. Its like better version of jager and flat coke.

I've become used to Fernet over the years, but it certainly must be done in one gulp to make the experience as brief as possible. I still like it better than Averna, which is too sweet. I find the spiciness of Underberg interesting. It's a bit like doing a shot Angustera Bitters. It's hard to believe that Fernet's taste could be worsened without the addition of a dead body, rotting fish, or both - but it can - I give you the vilest of the vile BRANCA MENTA ! wj

Funny, I just went down to our corner liquor store to get a bottle of Campari. There was no Campari, but there were two sizes of Fernet.

Ahhhh.......Fernet..... feeling nostalgic for the bay area

Been in Hawaii for the last 2+ years and actually miss the stuff. Very hard to find on the islands. Definitely an SFO bartender favorite. Best way to consume -- don't waste time, no sipping..drink the entire shot and follow with ginger ale.

I blame this thread entirely for my Fernet habit on the vacation I just took! Fortunately, there were plenty of Italians, and thus they had well stocked bars - it was fun to drink it again, albeit after dinner, not the morning after!

I thought of this thread when I saw the following drink listed on the cocktail menu of a local restaurant: Moxie Mule - Stirrings ginger liqueur, Fernet, muddled lemon wedges, and Moxie.

Moxie is a carbonated beverage that was one of the first mass-produced soft drinks in the United States. One way, but certainly not the only way, to describe it is carbonated, non-alcoholic Jagermeister.

Fernet? Love that stuff

While I don´t particularly like it as a shot, Is one of my favourite drinks with Coke.
Here in Argentina (particularly in the Cordoba region) is very popular. I´m not a porteño per-se, but It is becoming increasingly popular in bars and pubs in Buenos Aires.
Personally, it is my drink of choice for the pre BBQ "picadas".
The way I drink it: tall drink glass, 3 or 4 ice cubes, 1/3 fernet, 2/3 Coke (please, no Diet Coke or Coke Zero).
Just my 2 cents there...

My thoughts exactly...... ^

If you must have Fernet, please note it must be Branca. Any other branded stuff just isnt the same.

There may be others, but they pale beside the "Real Deal"!

Next, some FTer will be extolling the benefits of Punt e Mes.

Which neighborhood? I just picked up a bottle at Trader Joe's of all places.

Had a "Toronto" for the first time at Drink in Boston this past weekend.

^^^^ New favorite drink.

Cheers,
Adam

Finally tried a shot of Fernet Branca after a big meal the other night. It's a lot like adding bitters to extra strong Listerine. I won't be repeating the experience.

My first (and only) experience of Fernet was in Argentina a few years ago where I had it topped up with coke. Suffice to say, I'm not in a rush to have it again!

Fernet Branca is the best thing for a stomach ache.

Sorry I'm not able to manage a link from my phone, but wanted to mention a hilarious farce of a novel called "Cooking with Fernet Branca"!