Name: Archibald's Last Memory
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 60 ml Rye whiskey 50% abv; 15 ml Fernet liqueur; 15 ml Bénédictine D.O.M.; 5 ml Maraschino liqueur

Ingredients

2 fl oz

Straight rye whiskey (100 proof /50% alc./vol.)

1/2 fl oz

Fernet Branca liqueur

1/2 fl oz

Bénédictine D.O.M. liqueur

1/6 fl oz

Luxardo Maraschino liqueur

How to make

Glass

Prepare

Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.

Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.

Method

STIR all ingredients with ice.

STRAIN into chilled glass. (No ice in glass.)

Garnish

EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Alcohol content:

2.5 standard drinks
36.07% alc./vol. (72.13° proof)
34.3 grams of pure alcohol

Review

This drink is so spirituous that it may have finished Archibald off, but at least his last drink was a proper sharpener. Then again, the perceived health-giving herbal benefits of Fernet and Bénédictine combined in such a dosage would have perhaps got him back on his feet.

We prefer this cocktail served on-the-rocks as the dilution takes the edge off the spirituous attack and opens the cocktail, releasing more of its delicate herbal complexity.

AKA: Down & Brown

Comments & Discussion

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Frederic Yarm Premium Member Commenter Appreciated Commenter 1 month ago

When Ryan McGrale returned to Boston to open Tavern Road, he took this Flat Iron Lounge recipe with him and put it on the menu as "Down & Brown" in 2013.

Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member Commenter Appreciated Commenter 1 month ago

Thanks. I've added Down & Brown as an aka to help others find this recipe.

Bocman Commenter Appreciated Commenter 3 months ago

I’m not a fan of this type of drink, but I can understand how someone who enjoys suzerac-like cocktails might appreciate it 🙂

Dave McGhee 5 months ago

I was not expecting to like this as much as I did. Pretty solid. You can taste each ingredient and it’s a perfect mix.

Simon Sedgley Premium Member Commenter Appreciated Commenter 5 months ago

A big drink with perfect balance. One to bring out the Cuban cigars for. In our case Romeo Y Julieta, Romeo No.2.

Patrick Varner 5 months ago

As a San Franciscan and friend of many bartenders, I find this cocktail perfectly balanced. No need for a cube. A bright, sweet rye like Rittenhouse or Old Forester is best. The Benedictine takes the edge off the Fernet, and maraschino adds a touch of complexity.

The orange peel is crucial here. For the young at heart

Justin Aniello Commenter Appreciated Commenter 11 months ago

Lovely on the tip of the tongue; sweet rye, lightly minty, herbal. Unfortunately the fernet overpowers everything after that. If it kept the nice balance at the beginning it would be perfect but unfortunately misses the mark.

Including an ice cube for more dilution, per Simon's review, does help. The explicit call out of no ice in the instructions is a mistake in my opinion.

Troy Premium Member Appreciated Commenter Conversation Starter 1 year ago

I have a soft spot for bitter cocktails—and Fernet is right at the top of my list. Archibald’s Last Memory doesn’t hold back: even with a hefty two ounces of rye (I swapped in Kentucky straight bourbon), the Fernet takes center stage. Pairing it with an equal measure of Benedictine adds a rich, herbal sweetness that leans medicinal—in the most delightful way. Complex, assertive, and unforgettable—just like the name suggests.

Calvin Grant Premium Member Commenter Appreciated Commenter 1 year ago

Do check out Midnight Stinger if you haven't already. Love the Fernet.

Peter M Premium Member Commenter Appreciated Commenter 1 year ago

Fernet is fairly dominant (at least with Wild Turkey 101 Rye), so you must like Fernet and be in the mood for that... I'm curious to try it with less Fernet to see if I can get a better balance of all of the ingredients.