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 […]
Month: November 2011
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 […]
Fernet Branca
Fernet Branca is a generic term for an amaro type bitter made from a number of herbs and spices and usually served as a digestif after a meal. The Toronto Cocktail is a cocktail the incorporates Fernet Branca and is a twist on the Manhattan Cocktail Recipe. Fernet is also the preferred post-shift bar shot of the professional bartender. Fernet […]
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 […]
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 […]
Tincture Amara
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 […]
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 […]
Orange Bitters
A basic orange bitter recipe that is easy to produce. Orange Bitters Recipe: Sweet Orange Zest 120 g Lemon Zest 60 g Gentian 60 g Cascarilla 60 g Alcohol 25% 2 L Instructions Macerate the solids for 7 days with 64 ounces of the alcohol, agitating occasionally. Filter and bottle.
Malt Bitters
Malt was often thought to be the perfect and most digestible food in the 1800s, at least from a medicinal stand point. Malt bitters was often promoted as the perfect combination of medicine and a food. It was recommended for the weak, convalescent, dyspeptic and fickle. Even though malt is nutritious, in the following bitters recipe it simply adds some […]
Hamburg Bitters
Many regions of Germany have their own style of bitters and this is one of the recipes from the Hamburg region. Hamburg Bitters Recipe: Black Pepper ½ oz
Damiana Bitters
Around 1875, a bitters based on the damiana plant was sold under the name of “Aztec Damiana Bitters” as well as “Liquor Potencial de Damiana”. The damiana plant was often used as a nerve tonic, as well as an purported aphrodisiac. This recipe comes from the Standard Manual of Soda (1899) so it was probably used in drinks and the […]