Fernet-Branca: an amaro true to its character
Born in Milan in 1845, a botanical bitter with a bold character, one of our favourites, served neat at room temperature.
Leonetto Cappiello, “Aperitivo digestivo Fernet-Branca”, 1911. Colour lithographic advertising poster, printed by Vercasson in Paris. Bibliothèque nationale de France / Gallica, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. The Spanish slogan “El rey de los amargos” means “the king of bitters”. · BnF catalogue entry · Image and provenance on Wikimedia Commons
Milan, 1845: the beginning of a story
The story of Fernet-Branca began in Milan in 1845 with Bernardino Branca. This botanical liqueur has passed through the generations while retaining an instantly recognisable identity: a brown colour, intense aromas and a bitterness that defines the tasting experience. It belongs to the family of amari, the Italian liqueurs whose name simply means ‘bitters’.
Twenty-seven botanicals and a secret formula
Branca describes a recipe made from twenty-seven herbs, roots and spices from four continents. Rhubarb, gentian, galangal and chamomile are among the ingredients it reveals. Their proportions and the way they are combined remain the distillery’s secret. The botanicals are prepared as alcoholic infusions, extracts and decoctions, after which the blend rests for a year in oak casks to refine its aromas.
The distillery describes its formula as unchanged since 1845. This fidelity to a recipe handed down through the generations is part of Fernet-Branca’s identity. In the glass, herbal and spicy notes, a menthol freshness and a long finish create a particularly bold expression of bitterness.
One of our favourite amari
At La Corte Segreta, Fernet-Branca is one of our favourite amari. We love it precisely because it fully lives up to the name amaro: its bitterness is bold, deep and unapologetic. It retains the character we look for, without seeming to rely on sweetness to win everyone over.
To our taste, a bitter liqueur loses some of its identity when sugar takes over. We prefer the herbs, roots and spices to have a voice of their own. Fernet-Branca appeals to us for this uncompromising personality, best explored in small sips, with flavours that linger on the palate.
How we serve it at La Corte Segreta
We serve Fernet-Branca neat, at room temperature, with no garnish or additions. This is how we enjoy its full expression, without dilution. An ice cube can be added on request for those who prefer it cooler.
Sources and further reading
Fratelli Branca: the distillery’s history
Fratelli Branca: the recipe and production of Fernet-Branca
Fernet-Branca: the secret formula handed down since 1845
Amari: the taste of bitterness →
