Ingredients
The Fernet-Branca botanical base — myrrh, saffron, gentian, rhubarb, chamomile, galangal and the rest of the 27 — with a heavy dose of Piedmontese peppermint oil and considerably more sugar. Lower proof than Fernet, much sweeter, and dominated on the palate by mint.
- ✦Piedmontese peppermint
- ✦Myrrh
- ✦Saffron
- ✦Gentian root
- ✦Rhubarb
- ✦Chamomile
- ✦Galangal
- ✦Aloe
- ✦Bitter herbs (Fernet base)
History of the Brand
Fratelli Branca introduced Branca Menta in 1965. Company lore credits the singer Ornella Vanoni, who is said to have asked for her Fernet with mint syrup to make it easier to drink.
Whether or not the story is exact, the drink existed as a bar practice before it was a bottle, and Branca simply productized it.
In Italy it is drunk cold, often nearly frozen, as a digestivo and a hangover remedy.
In the US it became a bartender staple as half of the Hard Start — an equal-parts shot with Fernet-Branca invented at Chicago's The Violet Hour — which is now the standard industry handshake alongside the plain Fernet shot.
Tasting Characteristics
Overwhelming peppermint, then myrrh, menthol and a medicinal herb note underneath.
Sweet mint candy up front, then the Fernet bitterness — saffron, gentian, bitter root — pushing through.
Long and cooling, mint-drying, with bitterness lingering after the sweetness fades.
Flavor meter
How to serve it
- 01Straight from the freezer in a shot glass — the standard Italian serve.
- 02The Hard Start: equal parts Branca Menta and Fernet-Branca, chilled.
- 03Over ice with soda as a mint highball.
- 04With espresso, as a mentholated corretto.
- 05In hot chocolate in winter — a genuine northern Italian habit.
Where to Get It
Carried nearly everywhere Fernet-Branca is sold, usually right next to it and at a similar price.
Liquor stores
Broadly stocked; $25–$32 for a 750ml.
Online spirits retailers
Universal, often bundled with Fernet-Branca.
Bars
If the bar has Fernet, it almost certainly has Menta behind it.
Affiliate buying links coming soon.
Branca Menta FAQ
What is Branca Menta?
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A mint version of Fernet-Branca, launched by Fratelli Branca in 1965. It uses the Fernet botanical base with added Piedmontese peppermint and sugar, bottled at 28% ABV.
How is Branca Menta different from Fernet-Branca?
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Branca Menta is lower proof (28% vs 39%), noticeably sweeter, and dominated by peppermint. Fernet-Branca is drier, more bitter and more medicinal.
What is a Hard Start?
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Equal parts Branca Menta and Fernet-Branca, chilled and served as a shot. It was created at The Violet Hour in Chicago and became a bartender standard.
How should Branca Menta be served?
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Cold — straight from the freezer in a shot glass, or over ice with soda. Italians also stir it into hot chocolate in winter.
Is Branca Menta good for beginners?
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It is easier than straight Fernet thanks to the sugar and mint, but the bitter backbone is still there. Treat it as a step toward Fernet rather than a soft drink.