Tourists often want to try the local food and beverage classics. As Argentine meat is famous (especially the “bife de chorizo”), among drinks visitors choose mate. Many connoisseurs also want to try the Argentine wine (from Mendoza, a Wine’s New World classic) and discover new things. For those eager to find what else is there to try, Hostel Colonial introduces the drink known as “Fernando”, a mix of a local herbal alcohol and Coke.
The drink is one of the most popular among young
people and many famous people choose it as well. The combination started in
Argentine Province of Cordoba and soon spread all around the country. In almost
every bar you visit you can find this typical drink.
The alcohol name is Fernet, a bitter beverage made of
several types of herbs as myrrh, rhubarb, chamomile, cardamom and saffron,
among others, which are macerated in grape alcohol. The result is filtered in
oak barrels from 6 to 12 months. The alcohol grade is high: 45%. The Fernet has
an intense dark color and a powerful bouquet. In the beginnings the drink was
serve as a digestive aperitif but soon became popular, once mixed with Coke.
The Italian immigrant brought Fernet to Argentina and
it became really popular in the mid 80’s. Back then, people used to combine it
with tonic water, red vermouth and other cocktails, until the definitive mix
with Coke (called “Fernando”). The place where it all started was the Province
of Cordoba. A famous defender of Fernando is the local golfer Ángel Cabrera
(2007 US Open winner) who was even expelled from an Italian restaurant because
they considered ordinary the mix he asked for.
Curious? Run to the nearest bar in Buenos Aires and
ask for your Fernando!
1 comment:
Lovely and interesting post.
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