If you’ve been dabbling in mixology for a while, but you’re starting to feel like there must be more...
The Bitter Truth
When people think of bitters they probably mean Angostura bitters, a concoction made of a rum base with the addition of herbs, gentian and what the bottle calls “harmless vegetable favoring extractives and vegetable coloring matter.” Like the formula for Coca Cola, only a handful of people allegedly know the recipe for Angostura bitters. The bitters are produced only in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The bottle is wrapped in oversized paper and is 45 percent alcohol by volume. Legend has it that the oversized label is the result of someone ordering a label that was too large for the bottle.
The taste of Angostura bitters isn’t so much bitter as it’s camphorish on the tip of the tongue. Bitters has an interesting history. A Dr. Siegert created it as a tonic while he was based in Angostura, a town in Venezuela, where he served as Simon Bolivar’s surgeon general. Given its alcohol content, bitters became popular very quickly. In 1875 the base of operations was moved to Port of Spain and has been there ever since.
Angostura bitters are famous for giving an extra kick to cocktails like the Manhattan. This famous cocktail is made of two measures of rye whiskey, one measure of sweet vermouth, a dash of bitters and a maraschino cherry. One version can be made with dry vermouth and an olive, or twist of lemon. Another version has both dry and sweet vermouth, but all versions have a dash of angostura bitters. Without them a Manhattan would be a pleasant if unexciting drink. The same is true of the Rob Roy, which is made from Scotch instead of rye whiskey.
Though Angostura bitters may be the gold standard of bitters, there are other bitters as well. Many began in the early 19th century as patent medicines meant to cure maladies like biliousness, colds, indigestion, dyspepsia and “salt rheum.” This is true even of Angostura bitters, which after all, was created by a physician. Some are still sold as “digestives,” as opposed to “cocktail bitters.” Digestive bitters like Pimm’s refreshing No. 1 cup are enjoyed by themselves after a meal, while cocktail bitters are added to drinks. They have flavors of orange, lemon, mint, grapefruit and nearly countless others. Many, like those manufactured by Fee Brothers, are aged at the bottoms of Tennessee whiskey barrels.
Other famous manufacturers of bitters are Peychaud’s, a New Orleans company founded in 1830 whose bitters are famous for being an ingredient in the Sazerac cocktail, which is featured in "Cocktail Bill" Boothby’s “The World’s Drinks and How to Mix Them,” published in 1908. Bitters, Old Men offers flavors like Roasted Macadamia, Smokey the Pear and Gangsta Lee’n. Dr. Adam Elmegirab’s Boker’s Bitters is produced in Scotland. Despite its Scottish pedigree and old fashioned name, it’s only been around since 2009.
Bitters are concentrated and few recipes call for them to be added in more than a “dash” or two. This is enough to give the drink the punch it otherwise would lack, but too many bitters would overwhelm the drink’s taste.
Pardon the interruption
Did you know that you can become a member for free, taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. You can save your My Bar ingredients, make tasting notes, have personalised Tried and Want to try lists and more.
Filed with tags
More to explore
This classic cocktail was not created by some superstar mixologist in a high-class bar, nor was it a...
The Olympics are a time of celebration, unity, and friendly competition. What better way to honor th...
Tag cloud
Explore more with our randomised tag cloud.
-
1960s
-
Unique Presentation
-
Copper Mug
-
Vegetarian
-
Contemporary Twist
-
Infusion
-
Cocktail History
-
Cultural Heritage
-
Rose's Lime Cordial
-
Revitalizing
-
Nuanced Taste
-
Healthy Lifestyle
-
Rating 4+
-
Blended Spirits
-
Environment
-
Raffles Hotel
-
Martini Variant
-
Classic Drinks
-
Cocktail Mixologist
-
Belfast
Bartender's top tip
Related posts
The Ultimate Guide to Martini Cocktails: History, Variations, and Expert Tips
Discover the fascinating world of martini cocktails in this comprehensive guide! From the classic gin and vermouth combination to creative modern twists, explore the rich history, variations, and uniq... read more
Fitzgerald Cocktail Recipe: A Classic Gin Delight
Discover the timeless charm of the Fitzgerald Cocktail in this delightful recipe guide. The Fitzgerald cocktail stands as a timeless representation of gin's versatility and elegance. This classic drin... read more
How to Make the Perfect San Francisco Cocktail at Home
The San Francisco Cocktail is a delightful mix of flavors that brings the spirit of the city to your living room. This guide will take you through the entire process of crafting this classic drink, fr... read more
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Get tips straight into your inbox.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out more