Argentina and Broadway — The Eva Peron

Eva Peron, better known as Evita, was and still is a controversial figure in Argentina’s history.  She ascended the social ladder to become the wife of Juan Peron, the President of Argentina in the late 1940s and early 1950s.  In addition, she’s the subject of the eponymous Broadway musical (there’s also a surprisingly good film adaptation starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas).  I did not discover this cocktail in Argentina, but on the Kindred Cocktails and Imbibe magazine sites.

The Eva Peron

1 ounce Fernet Branca
1 ounce Barrow’s Intense ginger liqueur (see below)
1 ounce sweet vermouth
Juice from 1/8 lime

Combine in a shaker with ice, shake with the passion of dancing the tango, and strain into a chilled glass.

Argentines love Fernet Branca, perhaps because so many of them have Italian heritage.  In my opinion no Argentina related cocktail would be complete without it. I’ve had the good fortune to travel to Buenos Aires, and I had many great experiences there, e.g. dancing the tango with Ms. Cocktail Den in a milonga (tango hall).  If you’re interested in Evita related sites, the Museo Evita is informative, and you can see her family’s mausoleum in the fascinating Recoleta Cemetery.

The original Eva Peron recipe calls for adding a couple of ounces of ginger beer.  There’s nothing wrong with that.  I simply wanted a cocktail that, like most other cocktails in the Den, is alcohol forward and contains no carbonation.  Also, the original recipe doesn’t specify Barrow’s Intense (full disclosure — I am a small investor), but I prefer it because it has a cleaner and stronger ginger taste that anything else on the market.

Don’t cry for me Wulf Den drinkers — just have an Eva Peron.