Looking for a new Fernet Braca cocktail? Try this Orange Italian Mule – an easy cocktail with an herbal variation on the moscow mule! 

Not long ago, I got the idea in my head that I was going to make my own bitters for cocktails. I couldn’t tell you why – I do enjoy an old fashioned here and there but that’s about it. I have my trusty bottle of store-bought bitters and I am usually good to go from there. Me and my crazy ideas.

I have a collection of weird herbs and barks that are sitting in my office, waiting for me to find the time to start my bitters creating. In the meantime, I’m going to get my herbal drink kick from Fernet Braca.

National Herbs and Spices Day

I’ve heard it said that there is a food holiday for everything and that isn’t an exaggeration. June 10th is National Herbs and Spices Day and what better way to celebrate than with a Fernet Braca cocktail.

I love cocktail challenges so when I was asked to create a drink to celebrate Herbs and Spices Day using Fernet Braca, I said, “Sure!” Fernet-Branca sources more than 40 herbs and spices from 4 continents to create its iconic liqueur and is the perfect way to celebrate.

Some of my favorite herbal flavors in Fernet Braca include chamomile, peppermint and gentian root.

Chamomile has a calming effect and is used to help with insomnia and restlessness. Peppermint is useful in treating nausea, heartburn, headaches and the common cold. Gentian root you may not have heard of but I have a lot of it sitting in my office – its how I will be adding the bitter flavor to my homemade bitters.

Gentian improves digestion and invigorates the appetite. Nature really works its wonders, doesn’t it?

Orange Italian Mule – Fernet Braca Cocktail

When creating my cocktail, I had a lot of flavors to consider when adding ingredients to my rocks glass. There is no mistaking Fernet Braca is an herbal liqueur upon opening the bottle. I could see many flavors clashing with its headiness.

Orange was the first flavor I decided on. My aforementioned bitters are orange and it is a flavor that works well with all things herbal and bitter. It is also in the citrus family and can replace the lime in the moscow mule easily.

Ginger also will work well with Fernet Braca and has its own health properties. The moscow mule’s main ingredient is ginger beer. Why not use a classic Italian liqueur to create an Italian version of one of the most popular drinks?

Orange Italian Mule - Fernet Braca Cocktail

Yield: 1 cocktail

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Looking for a new Fernet Braca cocktail? Try this Orange Italian Mule - an easy cocktail with an herbal variation on the moscow mule!

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Ingredients

• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce Fernet Branca
• 1/2 ounce fresh squeezed orange juice
• 2 demerara sugar cubes (optional)
• 4-6 ounces ginger beer
• orange zest

Instructions

Add ice, vodka, Fernet Branca, orange juice to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously. Fill a rocks glass with ice, then strain drink into glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with orange zest.

If using the sugar cubes, add the vodka, Fernet Branca, orange juice and sugar cubes to a tall glass. Stir until the sugar cubes are dissolved, then pour into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with ginger beer and garnish with orange zest.

Notes

Add sugar cubes if you're looking for a sweeter drink.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 546 Total Fat: 0g Saturated Fat: 0g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 53mg Carbohydrates: 106g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 104g Protein: 0g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix on 1/22/2019

Looking for more unique cocktails? Try my byejoe French 75

or my rum, orange and carrot cocktail!

Disclaimer: I received a Fernet Branca sample. Recipe and opinions are my own.