Name: Midnight Stinger
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 30 ml Bourbon whiskey; 30 ml Fernet liqueur; 22.5 ml Lemon juice; 12.5 ml Sugar syrup (2:1)

Midnight Stinger
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Serve in an Old-fashioned glass

Ingredients:
1 oz	Bourbon whiskey
1 oz	Fernet Branca liqueur
³⁄₄ oz	Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
0.42 oz	Monin Pure Cane Syrup (65.0°brix, equivalent to 2:1 rich syrup)

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

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

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

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.

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Variant:

Stinger
Vodka Stinger
Chocolate Stinger
Chocolate Bourbon Stinger
White Stinger

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.

More cocktails by Sam Ross

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

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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 31 comments for Midnight Stinger.
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Jared Lindenberger

19th June at 02:10

My ratios have come to 1.5 bourbon (I've found a higher proof is nicer since it cuts through the fernet. I use Rittenhouse rye), 1 fernet branca, .5 lemon, .5 simple syrup. This is a great recipe that I think anyone who enjoys the ingredients will love.

Matt

7th June at 02:29

Not for me - starts as a mouthful of lemon and quickly transitions to a modestly diluted shot of fernet. I had no indication that there was any bourbon in here at all. I like both lemon and fernet, but this isn't a cocktail for me.

michael Monaco

6th June at 23:18

Did not care for it. Too much fernet and lemon. I might try again with different ratios.

Rhys W

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.

Jared Lindenberger

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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