What are bitters? If you want to up the ante on your cocktail recipes, you need to know a thing or two about bitters.

Unless you’re a bartender or a cocktail aficionado, you’re probably aware that a lot of drinks have bitters in them, but you might be hard-pressed to say what they actually are. As an essential to the modern bar, to master your cocktail making skills it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with bitters and what to do with them.

Here’s a quick guide to act as your introduction to the bitter world.

What are bitters?

Think of bitters as the spice of the cocktail world. They have a long history going back to the 1700s when they were developed by physicians and acted as medicinal tonics. A bitter is essentially a blend of either herbs, fruits, spices, or roots that are distilled in a strong liquor.

Angostura is probably the most common of the bitters, and even if you’re not steeped in the cocktail world you have probably already heard mention of it. Concocted in the river trading town of Angostura, Venezuela (now, Ciudad Bolívar), in the 1820s by a German doctor, Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, working for Simón Bolívar, Angostura bitters quickly became popular amongst sailors looking to ease sea sickness. Nowadays you’ll find Angostura bitters in a variety of drinks, like an Old Fashioned or a champagne cocktail.

Can you make bitters at home?

While there are plenty of brands out there making bitters, both big and small, you can also go truly artisan and start making them yourself. The basics are mixing spices with a high proof alcohol and then allowing enough time for them to all sit and steep together. You’re not really restricted to what you use, you can blend a variety of spices and herbs as you see fit; a fun opportunity to experiment and have a homemade addition to your cocktail recipes. Make your own bitters and your own simple syrups and you will truly have a DIY cocktail bar.

How do you use bitters?

Since we’re considering bitters the spice of the cocktail world, use them a little like you would salt and pepper. That’s to say, they are not intended for consumption on their own, but add a few drops to a drink and you can completely change the taste. Start with some classic aromatic bitters – like Angostura or Peychaud’s – and then branch out.

You can get into fruit bitters, like Bar Keep’s organic apple or grapefruit, and even spicy bitters, like Sriracha from Brooklyn Hemispherical Bitters. Or how about Thai Bitters from The Bitter End? If you’re feeling like you really wanting to commit to your new bitter habit, you can even invest in a Bitters Travel Pack so you can take your bitters with you. yes, they are in TSA-friendly sized bottles.

While the bitter options may seem overwhelming, keep in mind that having just one or two bitters on hand in your at-home bar can allow you to make a variety of cocktails.

Happy cocktail making.

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Image: Dominic Lockyer

The post The Perfect Cocktail 101: What are Bitters and How Do You Use Them? appeared first on EcoSalon.

The first time I saw cardamom bitters on a cocktail menu I was ecstatic. The second time I was amused. The third time I thought to myself, “wait, I should be able to make that.”

Bitters are one of those things that may come off as complicated but are actually relatively simple to make; brewing bitters is really just steeping spices in high-proof alcohol. You have to get the ratios right, and sometimes the ingredients can be a little complex, but the end result is creative and classy, and you turn yourself into a bit of a cocktail connoisseur.

Although we think of them as cocktail necessities, bitters go back to the times when certain alcohols were marketed as medicines. Angostura bitters, one of the most popular brands of bitters, was first made in Venezuela by a German physician and used as a cure for sea sickness and stomach issues. Since then bitters have obviously gone on to bigger and brighter things.

Once a staple in the at home bar, bitters fell off the radar for a while, but are back with a vengeance with the resurgence in classic cocktails, like Manhattans and Old Fashioneds. Instead of buying your own bitters, make your own. This allows for a bit of creativity, so you really can start bottling your cardamom/fennel infusion and making your own cocktail recipes out of it. Here are some basics to making your own bitters.

Choose a high-proof alcohol

Depending on which bitter recipe you refer to, you will find anything from Everclear to rum to vodka to bourbon. It all depends on what type of a taste you are going for.

Allow for time

Because you are steeping ingredients, you will not make bitters overnight. Depending on the recipe, you will need to let the ingredients sit for about a week to 25 days.

Source good ingredients

If you use old spices, you won’t get the same results. Make sure you select high quality roots, herbs, and spices to play with. When else do you have the chance to mess around with ingredients like wormwood and quassia bark?

Have jars on hand

When letting your bitters sit and infuse, they will need to be in sealable jars. In other words, make sure you have some mason jars on hand.

Go beyond the cocktail

Bitters don’t have to be reserved for the cocktail glass. You can also use them in cooking, salad dressings and more. Get creative!

Recipes to start with

• Grapefruit bitters are so easy that you will be hard pressed to buy them again.
• Basic aromatic bitters are a good start for anyone looking to build up their home bar.
• Jacob Grier’s recipe for coffee bitters is a must-have, and you get to choose which coffee you use (don’t skimp on the quality of course).
• Hellfire bitters if you’re in the mood to make a bitter with chili and espresso beans and end up with one intense cocktail.
• Cocoa bitters if you are a chocolate fiend.

Image: _gee_

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