"Stroll into any bar from San Francisco to New York City, and you're bound to find more than a few folks tossing back shots of a curious, caramel-hued liqueur. A waft of the stuff brings mentholated, herbaceous notes, an earthy mix of woodsy cologne, tea-tree oil and unsweetened cough medicine." --Tasting Table
Fernet is a bitter amaro, a spirit made with a combination of herbs and spices said to have medical properties. They do a great job of settling the stomach, which is why some are referred to as digestifs. While bitters can be made from many different bases and ABVs, fernet is a bit boozier than most, at around 40% to 45% alcohol. They can be flavoured with any number of natural additives, including rhubarb, chamomile, tree barks, cardamom, aloe, saffron, myrrh, gentian root, orange peel to name a few.