Brancamenta

Brancamenta is a minty version of Fernet Branca—the richly flavored amaro from Milan. This liqueur is also based on more than thirty botanicals, but it also includes essential peppermint oil from Piedmont. The resulting drink is dark brown with amber highlights.

The flavor is bittersweet, and the aroma is herbal and earthy with a dominant minty note. Brancamenta was released in the 1960s, and it was inspired by the famous opera singer Maria Callas. Supposedly, Callas liked to drink her Fernet Branca with mint syrup—as this would make it lighter and easier to drink.

The combination became popular, inspiring Branca distillers to create a similar bottled version. Branca Menta can be enjoyed as an aperitif or a digestif. It can be served neat or on the rocks, but it should always be well chilled. Brancamenta is bottled at 28% ABV.