Author: Darcy O'Neil

Bitters

Nelson Bitters

Not much is known about this bitter recipe. Nelson Bitters Recipe: Bitter Orange Fruit 1 lb Calamus Root 2 lbs Zedoary Root 2 lbs Galanga Root 2 lbs Gentian Root 3 lbs Instructions Macerate the herbs and spices in To make the bitters, take 10 ounces of the stock essence and it to 4 gallons of 70% overproof spirit, plus […]

Bitters

French Bitters

This recipe comes from 1871 and was named French Bitters by it’s creator Antoine Desaulniers from Oswego, New York. Like many of the early bitters, they claimed this particular recipe could alleviate stomach cramps and headaches. French Bitters Recipe: Instructions Combine ingredients, crushing if necessary and allow to macerate for five weeks, shaking occassionaly. After five weeks, strain the liquid, […]

Bitters

Cocktail Bitters

This is a generic recipe for a typical cocktail bitters taken from the book “The Art of blending and compounding liquors and wines” by Joseph Fleischman. Cocktail Bitters Recipe: Spirits 30 gal Bitter Orange Peel 8 lbs Cinnamon Bark 8 lbs Cudbear* 4 lbs Canalles 1 lb Quassia Chips ½ lb Gentian Root ½ lb Grains of Paradise ½ lb […]

Bitters

Boker’s Bitters

A well know bitters from the 1800s that was used in some cocktails. Boker’s Bitters Recipe: Bitter Orange Peel 45 g Quassia 30 g Calamus 30 g Catechu 15 g Cardamom 10 g Alcohol 90% 300 ml Water 180 ml Instructions Mix the solids, reduce to a fine powder and extract by slow percolation with the alcohol. To prepare the […]

Bitters

Boudreau’s Bitters No.2

A prototype bitters created by that rock’n roll barstar Jamie Boudreau. Boudreau’s Bitters No.2 Recipe: Clove 1 tsp Cardamom 1 tsp Cinnamon ½ tsp Nutmeg ½ tsp Pepper ½ tsp Bitterblend* 2 tbls Wormwood 2 tbls Orange Peel 4 tbls Lemon Peel 2 tbls Rose Petal 2 tbls Boker’s Gin 750 ml Instructions 1. Place all ingredients in a jar […]

Bitters

Hess House Bitters

Hess House Bitters is the results of the first attempt of Robert Hess attempt to re-create the recipe for “Abbott’s Bitters”, an excellent cocktail bitters which unfortunately hasn’t been made for perhaps over 50 years. Robert, fortunately, has several bottles of original Abbott’s stashed away, and so had a starting point from which to begin. This particular recipe doesn’t quite […]

Bitters

Peruvian Bitters

Not much is know about this bitter recipe. Peruvian Bitters Recipe: Cinchona Bark 240 g Bitter Orange Peel 60 g Cinnamon Bark 15 g Galangal 5 g Cloves 5 g Vanilla 1 tsp Alcohol, 70% 480 ml Instructions Mix the solids and reduce to a fine powder and extract by slow percolation with the alcohol. To make the bitters, mix […]

Bitters

Stoughton Bitters

This was the bitter that started it all. Stoughton’s was first produced and sold around 1712 and was a mainstay of the medical community for many years. Over time, the formula was manipulated and some things added and others removed, but wormwood was the most important. Eventually, there were so many poorly made Stoughton’s bitters knockoffs that the term “as […]

Bitters

Swiss Alpine Bitters

A type of “Alpine Bitters” similar to Swedish bitters. Swiss Alpine Bitters Recipe: Wild Cherry Bark 30 g Cinchona Bark 30 g Bitter Orange Peel 15 g Sweet Orange Peel 15 g Cardamom 7.5 g Caraway 7.5 g Cinnamon 3 g Cloves 3 g Nutmeg 3 g Alcohol, 75% 480 ml Instructions Nix the solids in a mortar and grind […]

Bitters

Ivan Bitter Essence

A bitter recipe of supposed Russian origin, however the veracity of the information is debatable. The recipe still looks quite usable. Ivan Bitter Essence Recipe: Nutmeg 4 oz Allspice 4 oz Ginger 8 oz Juniper Berries 10 oz Angelica Seed 10 oz Cassia Cinnamon 10 oz Cloves 12 oz Galanga Root 14 oz Bitter Orange Fruit 1¼ lbs Bitter Orange […]