Midnight Stinger

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (393 ratings)

Serve in an Old-fashioned glass

Ingredients:
1 oz Bourbon whiskey
1 oz Fernet Branca liqueur
34 oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
0.42 oz Monin Pure Cane Syrup (65.0°brix, equivalent to 2:1 rich syrup)
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill an Old-fashioned glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of mint sprigs.
  3. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  4. STRAIN into glass filled with crushed ice.
  5. Garnish with mint sprigs bouquet.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 7/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 8/10

Review:

Just enjoyed a hearty meal? Well, this digestivo is just the ticket. If you're not accustomed to the taste of fernet then the first couple of sips may be challenging, but then this very refreshing cocktail becomes eminently sippable, quaffable even, and certainly stomach-settling – well, I think so.

View readers' comments

History:

Adapted from a drink created by Sam Ross at Attaboy in New York City, USA. Sam's original recipe calls for equal parts (¾oz each) lemon juice and 1:1 sugar syrup – I've adjusted to use richer 2:1 sugar syrup.

Nutrition:

One serving of Midnight Stinger contains 183 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.3 standard drinks
  • 19.5% alc./vol. (19.5° proof)
  • 18.5 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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15th April at 12:40
Made this with Makers Mark. Liked being able to use the Fernet also.
Very nice with a glass stuffed with ice.
20th November 2024 at 18:20
This was delicious, but even as someone who is a fan fernet, a 1:1 is a bit much. I only did 1/4oz simple syrup as well, but that was preference. 1/2oz seemed like it would have been fine too.

For the next mix, I'll probably do a 2:1 bourbon to fernet or higher to allow the bourbon a little more room to shine. All that said, very tasty after dinner cocktail.
Caspian Berggren’s Avatar Caspian Berggren
12th November 2024 at 16:14
Don't get that much bourbon, but still delicious. Not a drink for those who dislike Fernet, though.
Kym Harding’s Avatar Kym Harding
31st October 2024 at 08:31
Fernet Branca can be a bit much to me, as I have a genetic sensitivity to bitterness - but I found this very enjoyable. Used Russell’s Reserve 90 proof.
Mark’s Avatar Mark
2nd June 2024 at 23:41
I love fernet so this recipe had me excited the minute i discovered it. Shook it for a tad too long so it was a bit watered down yet it still tasted quite nice, pleasant bitterness and bourbon undertones, overall a very solid cocktail.
james McMakin’s Avatar james McMakin
24th May 2024 at 04:09
I was supposed to see Neil Young tonight at a really good outdoor venue and it was postponed two hours before the show because one of the crew had health issues. Made the stinger first, have had them before and loved them. So this time so I poured a splash of ginger beer because there were only a little bit left in the bottle. Is pretty good, Until someone give's me a better name for the drink I'll call it the Chicago Midnight Medicine with instructions 🎵🎸🥁🎹drink two hours before show.
Calvin Grant’s Avatar Calvin Grant
13th May 2024 at 03:32
Having long been a favorite of mine, while making it tonight had half the lemon juice, made up the difference with lime. Then I was short of enough Fernet Branca so I did a split shot with Vecchio Amaro del Capo and served on not very crushed ice. Awesome, still five stars, perhaps my favorite fernet cocktail, Tuva is good here also.
Deyan Kavrakov’s Avatar Deyan Kavrakov
20th April 2024 at 09:19
A cocktail, where Fernet Branca shines affront: remarkable, we love it.
Also, you might want to try it with Maple, instead of sugar syrup and Single Malt Scotch of your choice.
Jon Pidwerbecki’s Avatar Jon Pidwerbecki
13th February 2024 at 01:38
Very enjoyable drink. I too use Evan Williams bottled in bond 100 proof. The mix as specified is very enjoyable. On ice and mellowing a few minutes allows this drink to mature into a very enjoy after dinner delight.
Simon Dare’s Avatar Simon Dare
14th September 2023 at 23:20
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I was beginning to think I would never find a use for my dust gathering bottle of Satan's Expectorant at the rear of my bar.
After over indulging at dinner, I resolved to try the proclaimed benefits of Fernet one last time.
This little diamond is a winner. The bitterness,syrup & sour combine nicely, riding the menthol wave over the earthy whisky (I had Rittenhouse B.i.B to hand).
A little reminder of that mouth rinse we get at the dentist's, but I'm not averse.
Doug Charnock’s Avatar Doug Charnock
28th February 2024 at 02:22
I’ll never be able to think of Fernet Branca by its proper name again! Quite apt.