🥃 Fernet
Fernet is a bitter herbal drink made from herbs, roots and spices steeped in alcohol. Best known: Fernet-Branca (Milan, 1845); Fernet Stock has been made near Plzeň since 1927.
Fernet is a bitter herbal drink made from herbs, roots and spices steeped in alcohol, and the name covers more than one brand. The best-known fernet is Fernet-Branca, created in Milan in 1845; other companies make fernets too, for example Fernet Stock in the Czech Republic.
History. According to the history on the website of Fratelli Branca Distillerie, Bernardino Branca invented Fernet-Branca in Milan in 1845; since 1907 it has been produced at Via Resegone in Milan, and in 1941 the Argentine company Fratelli Branca Destilerias was founded in Buenos Aires. Stock Spirits states that Stock Cognac Medicinal in Božkov near Plzeň started producing Fernet Stock in 1927.
Composition. The recipes are secret. The producer says Fernet-Branca is based on 27 herbs, roots and spices from five continents, which give the liquid its brown colour; examples are rhubarb from China, gentian from France, galangal from India or Sri Lanka, and chamomile from Europe or Argentina. They are infused in alcohol, extracted or boiled (decoction), and the process is completed after the mixture has rested for a year in oak barrels.
How it is drunk. According to the producer of Fernet-Branca, it can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in the classic Hanky Panky cocktail, and mixed with cola, chinotto or ginger ale. The producer adds that its cocktail Brand Cola, made with fernet and cola, has conquered Argentina.
Why this matters to you. The bitter taste does not make fernet a medicine: Regulation (EC) 1924/2006 bans health claims on drinks above 1.2% ABV. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1845 — Fernet-Branca, Milan (Bernardino Branca); 1927 — Fernet Stock; 1941 — Fratelli Branca Destilerias, Buenos Aires |
|---|---|
| Raw material | herbs, roots and spices; Fernet-Branca — 27 ingredients, including rhubarb, gentian, galangal, chamomile |
| Cask type | Fernet-Branca — one year in oak barrels |
| Legal basis | health claims on drinks above 1.2% ABV are banned under Reg. (EC) 1924/2006 |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Fernet → kind of → 🌿 Bitters and bitter spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- What is made from it
- 🥃 Hanky Panky
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Related to
- 🧑🤝🧑 Argentines
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Italians
- Part of
- 🥃 Amaro, 🌿 Bitters and bitter spirits
- Similar and different
- 🌼 Gentian spirit, 🥃 Unicum, 🥃 Jägermeister, 🥃 Stock, 🥃 Punt e Mes, 🥃 Rabarbaro (Italian rhubarb amaro)
Frequently asked questions
What is fernet?
A bitter herbal drink made from herbs, roots and spices steeped in alcohol. Several producers make drinks called fernet; Fernet-Branca (Milan, 1845) is the best known.
What is Fernet-Branca made from?
From herbs, roots and spices steeped in alcohol. According to its producer, it has 27 ingredients, including rhubarb, gentian, galangal and chamomile, and rests for a year in oak barrels.
How do you drink fernet?
According to the producer of Fernet-Branca, neat, on the rocks, in the classic Hanky Panky cocktail, or mixed with cola, chinotto or ginger ale.
Is fernet good for digestion?
That is not a permitted claim: in the EU health claims on drinks above 1.2% ABV are banned, and the WHO stresses that there is no safe level of alcohol.
Is Fernet-Branca the same as Fernet Stock?
No. They are different drinks: Fernet-Branca was created in Milan in 1845, while Fernet Stock has been made near Plzeň in the Czech Republic since 1927.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Italians — The people of Italy; their cuisine rests on wine, olive oil and cheese, and in 2025 the country made 44.4 million hectolitres of wine, the most in the world.
- 🥃 Jägermeister — Jägermeister is a German herbal liqueur from Wolfenbüttel: 56 herbs, flowers, roots and fruits are steeped in alcohol, then the base ages for about a year in oak casks. The classic is 35% ABV (70 proof).
- 🌼 Gentian spirit — Gentian spirit is distilled from fermented gentian roots (EU category 18): at least 37.5% ABV, no flavourings, not sweet. Three protected names: Bayerischer Gebirgsenzian, Südtiroler Enzian, Genziana trentina.
- 🥃 Rabarbaro (Italian rhubarb amaro) — Rabarbaro is an Italian bittersweet drink made from rhubarb root with citrus peel and spices; per Difford’s Guide, 16–30% ABV depending on the version. It belongs to the amaro family and is a traditional digestif.
Similar
🥃 Centerbe · 🥃 Amaro · 🥃 Nocino · 🥃 Mirto · 🥃 Limoncello · 🌿 Sambuca
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Fratelli Branca Distillerie: The Company (1845 Bernardino Branca invents Fernet-Branca in Milan; 1907 production moves to Via Resegone, Milan; 1941 Fratelli Branca Destilerias founded in Buenos Aires)
- Fratelli Branca Distillerie: Fernet-Branca (27 herbs, roots and spices from five continents; infusion, extraction or decoction; one year in oak barrels; neat, on the rocks, Hanky Panky, with cola, chinotto or ginger ale)
- Stock Spirits: Heritage (1927 — Stock Cognac Medicinal in Božkov u Plzně starts producing Fernet Stock)
- Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims, Art. 4(3): no health claims on beverages over 1.2 % vol.
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)