Apotheke
Bitter, minty, almost medicinal.
Cognac, Fernet-Branca and green crème de menthe: an intense, bitter and minty digestif. Its name, German for pharmacy, hints at its elixir-like character.
- After dinner
- Stirred
- Glass
- Cocktail glass
- Method
- Stirred
- Strength
- Strong
- Time
- 2 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Ice
- No ice
Ingredients
Measures for 1 serving
-
Cognac
40 ml
-
Fernet-Branca
30 ml
-
Green crème de menthe
30 ml
Proportions
How to make
- Chill a cocktail glass.
- Fill a mixing glass with ice.
- Pour the cognac.
- Pour the Fernet-Branca.
- Pour the green crème de menthe.
- Stir well.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Serve immediately.
The story
Origins
DocumentedOrigin attested by written sources of the time.
The Apotheke is a poorly documented cocktail. Its name means pharmacy in German and comes from Greek, a clear nod to the medicinal character of Fernet. The firmest fact is its presence on the official IBA list of 1987: according to AIBM, the recipe in that codification called for cognac, Fernet-Branca and green crème de menthe. By the 1993 list the drink had disappeared. Its inventor is unknown. Some modern sources offer a different version, with equal parts Fernet, crème de menthe and sweet vermouth, and a Melbourne bar cites Harry MacElhone's ABC of Mixing Cocktails as its inspiration, but that link has not been verified.
Sources (5)
- AIBM Project — Apotheke (IBA 1987) (opens in a new tab) recipe and history
- AIBM Project — Apotheke e il mito delle pozioni magiche (opens in a new tab) recipe and history
- Tuxedo No.2 — Apotheke (opens in a new tab) recipe and history
- Wikipedia — List of IBA official cocktails (opens in a new tab) recipe
- IBA — All cocktails, page 1 (opens in a new tab) recipe
Taste profile
- Herbal
- 5 out of 5
- Bitter
- 4 out of 5
- Strong
- 4 out of 5
- Fresh
- 3 out of 5
