CÓRDOBA, Argentina — Backstage at a dance hall, a percussionist, Hugo Núñez, unzipped his rucksack and pulled out two bottles: one of fernet, a bitter Italian liqueur, the other of Coca-Cola. After mixing them in a plastic pint glass, Mr. Núñez sank his lips into the sepia-colored froth and guzzled. That Friday night, the sequence would be repeated by young revelers in bars and dance halls across this city.

Buenos Aires dominates Argentina’s political and cultural life, but Córdoba, a city of 1.3 million in the interior, has been known for rebelling against the capital to project its distinct identity. This can be seen in the city’s voting trends, and in its emphasis on rally racing and cuarteto, a fast-paced music performed into the early hours at packed dance halls. Córdoba’s rebellious soul is even reflected in the city’s drink of choice.

The combination of Coke and fernet — a pungent, dark-amber liqueur that has a black licorice flavor — has emerged as one of this city’s cultural trademarks, making the drink the latest illustration of the city’s desire for distinction from Argentina’s influential capital and its push to influence the nation.

“Everyone has a fernet in their hand,” Carlitos Jiménez, 64, a well-known cuarteto singer known as La Mona, said about his frenzied audiences.