Kym Harding

I was surprised how good this is, even with a basic whisky like Naked Malt, plus Martell VS Cognac. I have been exploring (and liking) cocktails with cognac plus another spirit, and this is definitely going in my cocktail database.

I especially enjoy sour cherry cocktails, and the Fernet Branca adds complementary interest and complexity. Nice.

I’m going to try this again, and tweak it because I really liked it, but think I can do better. Unlike the review above, I found it too sweet, so added a touch more vinegar. It probably also depends on how ripe your tomatoes are. I also added Scrappy’s Fire Tincture which matched well and complemented the pepper. Next time I’ll cut back on the simple syrup, and carefully watch the balance.

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.