Number 4 With a Smile
COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS:
- 60 ml Rye Whiskey
- 15 ml Smoked Fernet-Branca
- 7,5 ml Coca-Cola Syrup
GARNISH:
- Orange Twist
INSTRUCTIONS SMOKED FERNET-BRANCA:
• Take an empty 500 ml volume bottle.
• Add 30 ml of Fernet-Branca.
• Fill the bottle with hickory smoke and seal the bottle.
• Swirl the liquid around for 15-20 sec and it will be ready to go into the shaker.
INSTRUCTIONS COCA-COLA SYRUP:
• Add 180 ml of coca-cola into a saucepan.
• Bring to a boil and simmer until the liquid reduces approx. in half and gains a syrup like consistency.
• Keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
INSTRUCTIONS COCKTAIL:
• Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing glass.
• Add ice and stir for 30-45 sec. or approx. 60 revolutions.
• Strain into a cocktail glass over large block of ice.
• Garnish with an orange twist.
Cocktail author: Alex Cuper.
Number 4 With a Smile is a cross between whiskey & coke and Fernet con Coca or The Fernandito, the beloved Argentinian cocktails. It combines delicious rye whiskey, bold Fernet-Branca and Coca-cola into a one-of-a-kind cocktail.
Base of the cocktail is formed by peppery, oaky rye whiskey laying a strong and ever-present foundation. Smoked Fernet-Branca brings herbaceous, bitter, sharp smoky notes pairing nicely with the whiskey. (I chose to directly infuse some hickory smoke into Fernet, since I do not have an actual smoker, but smoke gun seemed more than adequate, and the result was delightful.) Finally, addition of Coca-cola syrup brings rich sweetness with undertones of caramel, cinnamon and nutmeg balancing the whiskey and offsetting the bitterness of Fernet.
All in all, Number 4 With a Smile is a tasty spirit forward cocktail with deep and bold flavour profile. It might not be for everyone, but it is a great option for a cocktail lover.