Critic tasting note: "Fernet is an Italian type of amaro, a bitter, aromatic spirit. It is made from a number of herbs and spices, the recipe of which is particular to the brand. Luxardo Fernet has been made since 1889, and opens with assertive exotic baking spices, anise and piercing peppermint oil which echoes in the mouth long after the last heady drop (40% alcohol). This bitter, potent, medicinal dram is a prolonged infusion of 15 different herbs and spices including liquorice, cardamom, gentian, condurango, cinnamon, enzian, saffron and cinchona.