Bittersweet Symphony: The Best Fernet Roundup

I'll keep this one brief, since Branca already dominated our intro. It's unquestionably the celebrity of the bunch, the bottle that by now you can find in almost any supermarket. But that belies its complexity: it's infused with 27 different herbs, including a rumored three-fourths of the world's saffron supply. The result is a heady, bitterly dark concoction that has been credited with curing everything from upset stomachs to hangovers. And I'm not kidding when I say I'm convinced.

Let's be honest: sometimes you buy a bottle strictly because of the label. The Fernet Francisco logo is an undeniable banger, and I'm pleased to report they're not all style and no substance. They've got a lineup of several different variations, many of which have been aged in different cask and barrels, but my current favorite is the Ruibarbo. Infused with rhubarb root, along with orange and star anise, the fruity notes are a fantastic balance to the spicy kick on the finish.

Maybe I'm biased as an Angeleno, but Geijer Spirit's California Fernet might be my favorite of this bunch. Truthfully that's because I don't enjoy sipping on the more medicinal varieties, but the cinnamon-y warmth of this bottle makes for a long, cozy drink. This is the bottle I'd bring up to a cabin to enjoy fireside, or maybe even mix with bourbon and vermouth to riff up a Fernet Manhattan.

Faccia Brutto is one of my favorite distillers on the planet, between their divine Nocino walnut liqueur and this cooling fernet variation. Marketed as a fernet for people who think they don't like vernets, it's lighter and less in-your-face than many other bottles. Notes of tangerine, red cherry, cacao nibs and peppermint make this truly one-of-a-kind, and complex in a way that doesn't feel complicated to enjoy.

Ghost Coast Distillery's product stands out in a lot of ways. It's got that almost ruby red color, plus it hails from Savannah, GA, a region that still feels like an outsider on the beverage scene. Their ingredients, like brewer's hops traditionally found in beer, are just as unique – and the fernet is aged in whiskey barrels for a wholly different kind of finish. All of this adds up to a fun, quirky drinking experience, a conversation starter that's satisfyingly layered.

With a base spirit distilled from grapes – unlike many other digestifs, which are derived from grain alcohol – Contratto Fernet goes down very, very smoothly. Its edges are much more rounded, and floral additions like chamomile and cardamom lend sweetness that isn't cloying. Plus at a lower ABV of only 30%, this bottle is a gentler companion in almost every way.

Closing out with the splurgiest of the bunch, Tempus Fugit's Fernet Angelico is the Cadillac of the fernet world. It's produced in micro batches direct from a hand-written recipe, passed down from an Italian distillery that dates back centuries. The liqueur has zero artificial colorings, tinted only by many herbs and threads of saffron. Though it has flavors in common with several other bottles above, it has a distinct campfire that's totally transporting. There's a lot going on in one small bottle here – and that's the beauty of a truly well-made fernet.