Fernet-Branca
Fernet-Branca () is an Italian brand of fernet, a style of amaro or bitters. It was formulated in Milan in 1845, and is manufactured there by Fratelli Branca Distillerie. History 

Fernet-Branca was formulated in Milan in 1845 by a self-taught herbalist, Bernardino Branca, who with his sons set up a business to manufacture and sell it. It was marketed as a pick-me-up and as a cure for worms, for fever, for cholera and for menstrual pain. From 1886 the company published annual calendars with works by well-known artists. The eagle-and-globe logo was designed in 1893 by Leopoldo Metlicovitz. The company began exporting to Argentina in 1907, and in 1925 established a distillery in Buenos Aires. In the United States the drink became popular after the passage of prohibition laws in 1919, as it was sold in pharmacies as a medicinal product. By 1936 Branca had set up a branch office in Tribeca, New York, to satisfy American demand. Production in the United States peaked at 60,000 cases in 1960. Formulation 

Fernet-Branca is produced according to the original recipe of 1845. It is made from 27 herbs and other ingredients; the exact formula is a trade secret. Sources have reported that its recipe includes Chinese rhubarb, Aloe ferox (bitter aloe), cinchona, chocolate, quinine and angelica. According to the Branca web site, the drink contains " ... rhubarb from China, gentian from France, galanga from India or from Sri Lanka, (and) chamomile from Europe [or] Argentina", as well as linden (Tiliae flos), iris, saffron, zedoary, myrrh and cinchona. Fernet-Branca has a higher alcohol content, at 39%, and lower sugar content than most other amari. It is aged in oak barrels for a year. The manufacturer also offers a sweeter, mint-flavored liqueur, Branca Menta. Consumption

Fernet-Branca is often consumed neat as a digestivo, or as a mixing component (usually supportive and not as the primary ingredient) in cocktails such as the "Toronto", the "Fanciulli" and the "Hanky Panky". In Argentina fernet con coca – Fernet-Branca with Coca-Cola – is a popular drink. Some sources report that over 75% of all fernet produced worldwide is consumed there. In the United States it has been referred to as "The Bartender’s Handshake". It is estimated that 35% of all Fernet-Branca imported into the US is consumed in San Francisco. Notes

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Bitters
Herbal liqueurs
Italian liqueurs
Patent medicines
Products introduced in 1845
Italian brands