Fernet Branca Bitters

Fernet Branca is produced by Fratelli Branca Distillerie in Milan, Italy, where it has been made to the same closely guarded recipe since Bernardino Branca first formulated it in 1845.

The bitter liqueur is built from a blend of 27 herbs, roots, and spices sourced from four continents, including myrrh, rhubarb, chamomile, cardamom, aloe, and saffron.

The botanicals are macerated separately in neutral spirit, then blended and aged for at least 12 months in Slavonian oak barrels before bottling at 39 percent ABV. The result is one of the most intensely bitter and herbaceous liqueurs in the world, with a flavor profile that is unmistakably its own.

Fernet Branca has long been consumed as a digestif in Italy, traditionally served neat after meals to aid digestion. It also holds an outsized cultural presence in Argentina, where it is commonly mixed with cola, and in the bartending community globally, where it has become a de facto industry handshake drink.

For customers in Kitsilano who appreciate bitter, complex spirits without sweetness, this is a foundational bottle. At this price point it offers genuine history, consistent quality, and remarkable versatility across traditional digestif service and contemporary cocktail applications.