Happy Hour Friday: Appetizer a l'Italienne

The Italians could use a little boost right now, what with all the papal scandal and pedophilia run amok. I can't get down with that nut-ball they call the pope, but I can get down with their Fernet Branca. So I'm going to focus on the good things - their booze.

The Italians make some wonderful herbal liqueurs that can come off quite bitter, but like anything else in life, they grow on you. The Italians drink some of these herbal liqueurs on the rocks (those bitter sips can be a bit of an exercise in self-flagellation), but mixed into cocktails these liqueurs blossom.

This one is a soft and lovely concoction.

Appetizer a l'Italienne (from Imbibe Magazine, Mar/Apr 2010)

2 oz. sweet vermouth

1 oz. Fernet Branca

dash of Absinthe

2 dashes simple syrup

Stir over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.