Fernet Blanca

[drewinmrblhd]

Many years ago I purchased a few bottles in Switzerland and brought them home. At that time it was not available on the states. I am now seeing it in package stores and am wondering if it is the same as in Europe. I thought it had some naughty ingredients that made it illegal over here. It is a great after dinner drink.

[C. Hamster]

Like rsucre said, Fernet Branca has been widely available here in the US for ... well... for as long as I recall. Many, many years. It's a very common amaro and you can get it in many large liquor stores.

I agree with rsucre that you can do better than Fernet Branca when it comes to a digestif and or amaro, though.

Are you confusing it with absinthe?

[drbangha]

An Italian friend of mine turned me on to Fernet Branca many years ago. I find it has a remarkable ability to make me feel signficantly less full after a large meal. It is definitely an acquired taste but I like it quite a lot. Here is an excellent article.

http://www.sfweekly.com/2005-12-07/ne...

[rsucre]

Fernet Branca has been available for many years in the U.S. as a digestif. Nothing naughty about it, though to some it tastes of mentholated cough syrup. Martignetti's in the North End always had a nice selction of Amaros to choose from.. not sure now.