“It tastes like medicine for an ailment you never knew you had”. – Chris Costa, Owner Reno Public House
“A really herbal root beer that has had all the flavors turned to 11. With alcohol.” – Ty Martin, Owner Craft Wine & Beer
“I’ve always described it as tasting like dirt and gold. It has an unforgettable taste but also does something unforgettable to your body”. Ilona Smith-Martinez, Property Mixologist Peppermill Reno
Love it or hate it, Fernet creates a reaction. Fernet is a style of Amaro, or italian aromatic bitter, that for many is a gateway to the ever expanding world of bitter. Throughout history, bitters have been used to increase wellness and as a tonic to the ailments that go along with a lifestyle of imbibing. Fernet has a loose definition but common factors that separate it from the larger world of Amaro: higher alcohol content, inky black in color, highly bitter, and made from an iconic list of herbs. This powerful spirit is commonly known as a bartender handshake; as its unique flavor has been known to separate the weak from the obsolete.
It’s fair to say you have seen or heard of Fernet before, but more than likely you have only ever had one brand: Fernet-Branca. The Branca brand wasn’t even the first fernet on the market, Fernet Vittone has that honor with its first trademark in 1842. As bartending culture has expanded, so has the allure of the world of Fernet. New brands have been imported from Italy or made here in the States have been popping up on back bars all over Reno.
The most exciting of these new brands is from new Reno transplant, Joe Cannella and his brand Cannella Spirits. Released in late 2017, Fernet Cannella is a bolder and drier Fernet style that comes from Joe’s extensive travel in Sicily. “Our family name is Cannella, the Italian word for cinnamon. But the origins of the name was the ancient spice trade. To be a ‘Cannella’, was to be a spice merchant”. Joe is not stopping there, a new blend of Fernet is in the works, one made exclusively for Northern Nevada. This bottle of Fernet will be blended for Reno with a dollar of every bottle sold going to the Holland Project and with Holland providing the new label. The yet to be named, Reno blend Fernet Cannella, will be available in spring/summer 2017.
