A brand of amaro, or bitter herbal liqueur, Bernardino Branca invented the Fernet-Branca bitter in Milan, Italy in 1845. Nowadays, the beverage is arguably the national drink of Argentina, while also a staple drink in plenty of other countries. It has also featured prominently in pop culture over the years (e.g. Michael Caine’s character drinks it in the film The Dark Knight Rises, DJ Pause produced a song called “I Drink Fernet,” James Hamilton-Paterson helmed a comic novel titled Cooking With Fernet Branca, polo player Tomas Garcia Del Rio recently drank it out of a trophy at the Greenwich Polo Club).
I had the pleasure of doing Q&A with Edoardo Branca, a descendent of the aforementioned Bernadino Branca, about the past, present and future of Fernet-Branca. More on Fernet-Branca can be found online at www.fernetbranca.com.
When did you have your first amaro? Do you remember?
Edoardo Branca: It’s incredible that Fratelli Branca began back in 1845. That makes me the sixth generation in the Fratelli Branca family. My father, Niccolo Branca, was the one who gave me my first amaro.
Fernet-Branca comes from Italy yet it’s the national drink of Argentina. How exactly did that happen?
Edoardo Branca: The product, Fernet-Branca, was created to help people with digestion — the motivation is to help people, and I think that this sentiment resonated with people in Argentina, as “Fernet & Coke” has since become their national drink.
Is it true that Fratelli Branca consumes 75% of the world’s saffron output?
Edoardo Branca: Yes, it is true that Fratelli Branca consumes 75% of the world’s saffron output. It is one of the few bitters on the market with almost zero sugar content, and some of its known ingredients include Aloe, Angelica, Cardamom, Rhubarb, Chamomile, Saffron and Peppermint Oil.
What is coming up for the brand in the coming months?
Edoardo Branca: I think one objective for the brand to create awareness and bring as many people as possible inside of the Fernet-Branca family because it is such a unique product. And you know when you join the family you become one of us, not only just me, my father, and all generations.
Finally, what do you wish more people knew about Fernet-Branca?
Edoardo Branca: We are satisfied when people recognize and value the work and the product of Fernet-Branca. There is the much more satisfaction because sometimes when you see one bottle or try the product you don’t understand what is behind the product. And when people understand that; it is not in the first step but in the second, they recognize the herb, the root, the quality. And after the third sip, they tell you that it is satisfaction. Three sips and you’re family.
