new era · built
Fernandito recipe
Fernet-Branca and cola over ice. Argentina's favourite highball.
A Fernandito is 50 ml (53 g) Fernet-Branca and 150 ml (156 g) Cola, built and served in a highball glass. It pours to about 200 ml before ice, at roughly 9.8% ABV. Weighing the ingredients instead of measuring them is what keeps the balance identical from one round to the next.
- Glasshighball glass
- Methodbuilt
- Pour volume200 ml
- Strength (est.)9.8% ABV
- Time2 min
Fernandito ingredients — in millilitres and grams
Grams are what the PourPilot coaster actually targets. They are not the same as the millilitres: a spirit is lighter than water, a syrup is heavier, so 30 ml of one is never 30 g. The right-hand column is the density we use, in grams per millilitre.
| Ingredient | Volume | Weight | g/ml | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fernet-Branca | 50 ml | 53 g | 1.06 | Weighed by the coaster |
| Cola | 150 ml | 156 g | 1.04 | Top with cola |
How to make a Fernandito
- Set your highball glass on the scale (or on the PourPilot coaster) and zero it. Every measurement below is given in millilitres and in grams, so you can use either.
- Fill the highball glass with fresh ice.
- Build Fernet-Branca straight into the glass, weighing each pour.
- Top with Cola and stir once, gently, from the bottom up.
Fernandito: the questions people actually ask
How strong is a Fernandito?
Roughly 9.8% ABV as poured, before the ice dilutes it — typically another 15–25% water by the time you finish stirring or shaking. Sessionable. Comparable to a glass of wine by volume.
What glass should a Fernandito be served in?
A highball glass. Fill it with fresh ice, not the ice you mixed with.
Can I make a Fernandito without a jigger?
Yes — that is what the gram column is for. Put the glass or tin on a kitchen scale, zero it, and pour to the weight. It is more accurate than a jigger because nothing is left clinging to the inside of the measure. The PourPilot coaster does the same thing without you having to watch a display: it lights up as you approach the target and tells you when to stop.
If you like the Fernandito
Cuba Libre
White rum and cola with fresh lime. Deceptively simple.
Long Island Iced Tea
Five white spirits, lemon and a splash of cola. Handle with care.
Brandy & Coke
The national drink — 'Klippies & Coke'. South African brandy over ice, topped with cola.
Toronto
Rye and Fernet — bitter, herbal, perfectly balanced.
White Russian
The Dude abides. Vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream over ice.
Black Russian
Simple, strong, direct. Vodka and coffee liqueur over ice.