Asterley Bros creates Britannica Fernet liqueur using porter beer

London-based artisan spirit maker Asterley Bros has released a new fernet, which is made using 14 botanicals and porter beer.

Called Britannica, the bitter liqueur has been three years in the making and was part of an international tasting programme that Asterley Bros organised. More than 1,000 samples were sent to recipients worldwide to taste and critique at each stage of recipe development.

The final blend was selected by in late 2018 and features myrrh, rosemary, cacao nibs, hazelnuts, cinchona, cinnamon and yarrow, before adding London porter.

Fernet is a bitter sub-category of Italian spirit amaro. According to Asterley Bros, the beverage is growing in popularity in the US, where there has been a range of new releases in recent years.

The 40% ABV Britannica Fernet is now available in the UK in 500ml bottles.

Asterley Bros director and founder James Berry said: “We think the UK is ready to drink more fernet. We wanted to create a style that wasn’t just for the devoted bitter enthusiast but could be a little more approachable, for the wider public to enjoy.

“It was really important to us to be able to use London’s world-renowned porter-style beer, as it perfectly complements the botanicals in the fernet base and brings a rich, roasted malty complexity to the liqueur.

“By bringing together the classic botanicals of a fernet, and adding these new British elements, we have created our very own style – a London fernet.”

Britannica Fernet is now available in the UK in 500ml bottles at 40% ABV with a recommended retail price of £35.50.

In 2016, Asterley Bros released Dispense amaro, which is made from a blend of 24 botanicals and the brand’s signature vermouth – produced from British pinot noir supplied by Gusbourne Estates in Kent.