The Toronto Cocktail A Fernet-Branca Cocktail

The Toronto Cocktail is a delicious rye whiskey cocktail featuring Fernet-Branca.  It’s the perfect balance of sweet and bitter, rich and full of flavor. 

Fernet-Branca Cocktails

So many cocktails, so little time.  Trying to decide what cocktails to make next is quite the challenge.  Do I stick with a theme, like warm soothing cocktails or riffs of classic cocktails like a Bees Knees Variation, that you might not have heard of? 

Throwing all caution to the wind, I decided to just grab a bottle of something and find some cocktails to make.  I grabbed  Fernet-Branca.  

Fernet-Branca is an Italian amaro.  A type of bitter spirit.  There is a fairly long list of what it might possibly be infused with – like myrrh, rhubarb, chamomile, cardamom and more!   It’s rich and complex tasting.

It’s used in a similar way to how you might use Campari, to bring a complex bitterness to cocktails.  I’ve started my exploration with a classic Fernet-Branca Cocktail – The Toronto Cocktail.   

 

Ingredients in The Toronto Cocktail

• Whiskey – I am using a rye whiskey to add some sweetness and spice to the cocktail.  As you would suspect a cocktail called The Toronto started out by using Canadian Whisky.   So, if you have Canadian Whisky give it a try! 
• Fernet-Branca – adds a deep rich, bitter flavor. 
• Angostura Aromatic Bitters – classic bitters.
• Simple Syrup – we make up a batch of simple syrup (equal parts water and sugar, heated on the stove and stirred just until the sugar dissolves) – it will keep in the fridge for about a month.  We always use a piece of tape with the date on it, so we know when it was made. 
• Orange peel – not pictured. 

How to Make a Toronto Cocktail

Add ice to a mixing glass and find your bar spoon. 

Measure 2 ounces of whiskey and add to the mixing glass.  Add 1/4 an ounce of Fernet Branca to the mixing glass. 

Add 1/4 an ounce of simple syrup to the mixing glass. 

Add 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters to the glass.  Note – a dash is usually considered 1/8 of a teaspoon.  So, you would be adding 1/4 a teaspoon of bitters. 

Stir the ingredients in the mixing glass.  You typically stir a cocktail for 30-45 seconds.  You are doing that to both chill the cocktail and to properly dilute the cocktail. 

Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with an orange twist! 

The Toronto Cocktail 

This cocktail is so good!  It makes a great after dinner drink and we love sipping one while watching tv.  It’s kind of similar to a Manhattan with Fernet-Branca and simple syrup taking the place of the sweet vermouth. 

If you’re looking for an even easier Fernet-Branca cocktail, be sure and try a Fernet and Coke!  The bitterness of the Fernet is perfect with the sweetness of the Coke! 

More Whiskey Cocktails

This Blackberry Whiskey Sour is a fun fruity cocktail.

Turn a Manhattan into a gorgeous colored Cranberry Manhattan! 

Like it spicy?  Then you’ll love this Mango Habanero Whiskey Sour! 

The Vieux Carré Cocktail is a classic New Orleans cocktail that uses rye whiskey and cognac! 

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