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Bitters
A few dashes of bitters are enough to structure an entire cocktail
« A bottle lasts for months; a few drops are enough each time. »
The technique
A bitter is a highly concentrated, bitter alcoholic extract of peels, roots, and spices. You never drink it on its own; you add it in small quantities to structure a cocktail. Angostura, spicy and slightly clove-forward, pairs well with dark spirits. Orange bitters, lighter and more citrusy, wake up gin- or vodka-based cocktails. A bottle lasts for months; a few drops are enough each time.
« - Orange bitters: Martini, gin fizz, clear and crisp cocktails. »
When to use
- Angostura: Old Fashioned, Manhattan, any whiskey- or rum-based cocktail.
- Orange bitters: Martini, gin fizz, clear and crisp cocktails.
A dash in soda or sparkling water creates an interesting nonalcoholic drink.
Use several different bitters in the same cocktail to add complexity to the flavor profile.
« Measuring randomly by pouring rather than shaking the bottle: a heavy hand with a bitter overwhelms the rest of the co »
Pitfalls
Measuring randomly by pouring rather than shaking the bottle: a heavy hand with a bitter overwhelms the rest of the cocktail with its bitterness. Forgetting that a bitter is not a neutral flavoring; each brand has a different profile, and Angostura and orange bitters cannot be substituted for one another. Storing the bottle in direct sunlight causes it to lose its aromas faster than keeping it in the dark.
The benchmark
Count on 2 to 3 dashes per standard cocktail; a dash corresponds to a single firm shake of the bottle. For a strong cocktail like an Old Fashioned, go up to 4 dashes maximum. A tightly sealed bottle stored away from light will keep for several years; the alcohol and spice concentration act as natural preservatives.