Ferrari Shot
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 25% ABV ∙
The Ferrari Shot is a two-ingredient bittersweet shot of equal parts Fernet Branca and a red bitter such as Campari, shaken and served straight up. Minty, medicinal bitterness from the Fernet meets Campari's bitter-orange snap, finishing dry and sharp — a fast, bracing round for the end of a night.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Fernet Branca liqueur 25 mlRed bitter 25 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail and discard
Tips
- Use fresh ice for shaking, not old or partially melted cubes, since under-diluted pours taste harsh and overly bitter at this strength.
- Double strain into the chilled shot glass to catch ice shards, keeping the texture clean since there's no juice or mixer to soften it.
- Express the orange twist's oils directly over the surface and discard the peel, boosting aroma against the intense bittersweet Fernet-Campari blend.
History
The Ferrari is an equal-parts shot of Fernet Branca and Campari, and its creator and exact origin are not documented. It emerged within bartending culture as an industry "handshake" drink, the kind of shot bartenders share with one another rather than serve to customers, and its name simply reflects the two Italian brands combined in the glass. Fernet Branca itself was created in Milan in 1845, and its bitter shot became known among American bartenders as a handshake drink, a reputation that took hold in San Francisco before spreading nationally; the Ferrari is generally described as a natural outgrowth of that trend, pairing Fernet with the other well-known Italian bitter, Campari. By the mid-2010s the shot had spread widely enough in the United States that bartenders began using the Fernet-Campari combination as a building block in composed cocktails rather than only as a straight shot.
FAQ
What is in a Ferrari shot?
Equal parts Fernet Branca and a red bitter such as Campari, shaken and served up in a shot glass with an orange twist. It is vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free, at around 128 calories per serving.
What is the Ferrari shot?
It is a bittersweet shot built from equal parts Fernet Branca and a red bitter such as Campari, shaken and strained into a shot glass. The two bold, bitter liqueurs balance each other rather than one dominating.
Is a Ferrari shot shaken or stirred?
Shaken. A quick, hard shake chills the two liqueurs fast and softens their sharp bitterness before the short pour.
What kind of liquor is Campari?
Campari is an Italian bitter liqueur (an amaro-style aperitivo) flavored with herbs, spices, and orange peel, known for its deep red color and bitter-orange taste. It sits at roughly 20-28% ABV depending on the market and is also central to drinks like the Negroni and Americano.
What does Fernet-Branca taste like?
Fernet-Branca tastes intensely bitter and medicinal, with strong mint, menthol, and dark herbal notes over a base of dozens of botanicals. It is much more pungent and less sweet than Campari, which leans toward bitter orange.
What drink is a Ferrari?
In cocktail terms, a Ferrari usually refers to this shot of equal parts Fernet Branca and a red bitter like Campari, named for the sports car rather than any connection to it.
