Dantes in Fernet

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (63 ratings)
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    Dantes in Fernet

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Dantes in Fernet image

Serve in a Nick & Nora glass

Ingredients:
1 oz Speyside single malt Scotch whisky
1⁄6 oz Fernet Branca liqueur
1 oz Blood orange juice
1⁄3 oz Maple syrup
1 dash Xocolatl mole bitters
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Nick & Nora glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of grapefruit zest twist.
  3. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  5. EXPRESS grapefruit zest twist over cocktail and use as garnish.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 8/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 6/10
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Review:

It's obvious that this Blood & Sand-like cocktail contains Fernet, it has an almost smoky herbal influence. Maple syrup is an inspired sweetener and flavour enhancer.

View readers' comments

History:

Adapted from a recipe created in September 2013 by Mickaël Lenu, a Frenchman while working at Ancestral bar in Wellington, New Zealand.

Nutrition:

One serving of Dantes in Fernet contains 130 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 0.7 standard drinks
  • 13.78% alc./vol. (13.78° proof)
  • 10.4 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Showing 10 of 11 comments for Dantes in Fernet.
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Frederic D.’s Avatar Frederic D.
6th January at 03:20
Used Glenlivet 12. An interesting drink. It starts a bit quietly, but resolves into an interesting fernet/blood orange combination that may be worth revisiting.
2
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Justine Fehley’s Avatar Justine Fehley
26th September 2024 at 23:21
Pretty good for a light aperitif. I used Glenlivet 12, and reduced the maple syrup to 5 ml like some commenters suggest.
2
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Peter Shaw’s Avatar Peter Shaw
1st September 2024 at 09:38
Intriguing mix of ingredients (but I didn’t put any bitters in - don’t have that one), but it seems to balance out. On my list for “When Blood Oranges in season”
1
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Rae Hopcroft’s Avatar Rae Hopcroft
3rd August 2024 at 05:08
Somehow just doesn’t work, even with halving the maple syrup. I think it very much depends on the notes of the whisky used but that combination with chocolate doesn’t do it for me. Used Arran single malt.
1
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Jeremy Harrold’s Avatar Jeremy Harrold
8th September 2023 at 16:15
Unfortunately it didn’t hit the spot! It didn’t seem to have a focus, a bit fruity, a bit sweet, possibly a teeny bit of Fernet. Added a splash of Laphroiag Select which made it more interesting…
1
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Christopher Day’s Avatar Christopher Day
11th July 2023 at 21:49
I was expecting this to be amazing - I particularly enjoy Fernet Branca (as well as all the other ingredients) - but was ultimately very disappointed. I tried with 1/3floz maple syrup and it seemed promising but much too sweet (drowning out the Fernet and even the whisky); with 1/6floz it was more balanced in terms of flavours but altogether not much there in it. I wonder whether it needs a peaty single malt instead of the generic Dewars 12 I keep for 'mixing' purposes.
1
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John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
12th March 2023 at 01:07
Five Start. Tasted much different than I was expecting. Slightly smoky and herbal. Blood orange makes for a wonderful colour. Did follow Miquel's advise and put in half of the maple syrup. Resulting cocktail was perfect before dinner.
2
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Miguel Perales’ Avatar Miguel Perales
7th March 2023 at 00:06
Love this. However, I only used 1/6 oz / 5 ml Maple syrup and used Peychaud's bitters since I didn't have mole bitters. A lot of flavors coming together very nicely. Would recommend this one.
2
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Casey Crosbie’s Avatar Casey Crosbie
4th September 2021 at 06:38
This is a great fernet cocktail. Good balance of fernet herbs, citrus, and a bit of smoke from the scotch. We used regular OJ; still a very refreshing drink.
2
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Hilary Young’s Avatar Hilary Young
2nd May 2021 at 20:36
Very sweet. Has anyone tried cutting back the maple syrup?
2
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