Fernet con Cola
Bitter fernet meets sweet, fizzing cola under a golden foam: Argentina's uncrowned national drink.
Ingredients
- Fernet50 ml
- Cola, made with cane sugar, ideallytop up
- Lime, to garnish; not traditional, but allowed (optional)1 wedge
Method
- Fill a highball glass with four or five ice cubes.
- Pour the fernet over the ice.
- Tilt the glass to 45 degrees and pour the cola slowly down the side, so the signature golden foam forms.
- Stir briefly and gently with a bar spoon, keeping the foam.
- Serve at once, with a lime wedge on the rim if you want a hint of citrus.
About this drink
Fernet con Cola took off in Córdoba in the 1980s, when young Argentinians began mixing bitter, herbal Fernet-Branca with ordinary cola to make it easier to drink. The drink, also nicknamed Fernandito, quickly became a social institution, and Argentina is now the world's largest consumer of Fernet-Branca. The art lies in the slow pour: the right angle gives the thick, golden foam that is the drink's signature.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between a Fernandito and Fernet con Cola?
They are essentially the same drink under two names. Fernet con Cola is the Argentine classic in which the cola is poured down the side of the glass to create the golden foam the drink is known for.
Why tilt the glass when pouring the cola?
Pouring down the sloping side of the glass keeps the cola from losing its carbonation, and it is exactly that preserved fizz that builds the golden layer of foam on top.
