Vagabond Life

I have been unable to post anything in the last few days, due to some serious organizational task stemming from traveling to Costa Rica and Guatemala.  Sorry.

There’s a good solution to Buenos Aires grueling party hours: Fernet Cola. Endearingly called the “Fernando”, Fernet Branca and Coca Cola is a great balanced mix between a tardy bitter and the sweet Cola.

Fernet Branca is an Italian bitter and according to Wikipedia, tastes “like black licorice-flavored Listerine.”  Hmm.  That doesn’t sound appealing.  Let me go back and look for another quote.  How about, “the easiest way to explain the taste is to imagine Jägermeister without the sugar.”  Ok, I can live with that.  The Fernet has some interesting tardiness and the Coke adds the necessary sweetness; Fernet punches you with some serious 45% alcohol; Coke lets you stay up long enough to drink too many of them and regret it the next morning.

A Fernet Cola is not for all situations.  I like to have a few before going out to get me, and the party, started.  In Buenos Aires, where dinner’s served at 11 at night, the caffeine carries me the necessary extra mile to keep up with those Argentineans.  Coming to think of it, maybe Fernet Cola is partly to blame for the crazy party hours in Buenos Aires.  In any case, it’s a great drink and a serious competitor to Vodka Red Bull.