This recipe creates an Italian-style aromatic bitters. The source of this recipe groups aromatic bitters with things like Benedictine and Chartreuse. Cocktail type bitters would be called “Strong Bitters”. Italian Bitters Recipe: Rosemary Leaves 2 oz Thyme 5 oz Sage 5 oz Majoram 5 oz Cloves 7 oz Cinnamon 8 oz Orris Root 12 oz Wormwood 12 oz Fennel 12 […]
Bitters
Seamens Bitters
The preferred bitter of the sea-going captains or possibly just a name. This recipe is classified as a “strong bitter” and is in the same category as Angostura, Calisaya and Hop bitters. Seamens Bitters Recipe: Cardamom 3 oz Nutmeg 5 oz Coriander 8 oz Cinnamon ½ lb Cloves ½ lb Allspice ½ lb Caraway ½ lb Calissaya Bark 1 lb […]
Malta Knights’ Bitters
Presumably this is a bitter named after the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem founded around 1023 as the Knights Hospitaller and eventually just the Knights of Malta. In 1119 the Knights Hospitaller and the Knights Templar were formed, but when the Templars were disbanded in 1312 most of their assets went to the Hospitallers. After being […]
Celery Bitters
Bizzozero 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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Berlin Bitters
Each region in Germany had a local bitters, and this is a recipe for one in the Berlin area. Berlin Bitters Recipe: Cinchona Bark 30 g Bitter Orange Peel 30 g Calamus 30 g Gentian 30 g Columbo 30 g Rhubarb Powder 1½ tsp Cinnamon Powder ¾ tsp Cloves, powder 1 tsp Alcohol, 70% 480 ml Instructions Mix the solids […]