Bitters: Difference between revisions

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** Aromatic Bitters
** Aromatic Bitters
** Orange Bitters
** Orange Bitters
* Fee Brothers: (http://feebrothers.com/products/bitters)
* Fee Brothers: (http://feebrothers.com/products/bitters)
** Aztec Chocolate Bitters
** Aztec Chocolate Bitters
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** West Indian Orange Bitters
** West Indian Orange Bitters
** Whiskey Barrel-Aged Bitters
** Whiskey Barrel-Aged Bitters
* The Sazerac Company:
* The Sazerac Company:
** Peychaud's Bitters
** Peychaud's Bitters
** Regans' Orange Bitters #6
** Regans' Orange Bitters #6
* Dale DeGroff's Pimento Aromatic Bitters (http://www.kingcocktail.com/bitters.htm)
 
* Jade Liqueurs: (http://bestabsinthe.com/DeGroff.html)
** Dale DeGroff's Pimento Aromatic Bitters (http://www.kingcocktail.com/bitters.htm)
 
* The Bitter Truth: (https://the-bitter-truth.com/ aka. https://www.berg-and-hauck.com/)
* The Bitter Truth: (https://the-bitter-truth.com/ aka. https://www.berg-and-hauck.com/)
** Aromatic Bitters (also available as Berg & Hauck)
** Aromatic Bitters (also available as Berg & Hauck)
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** Olive Bitters
** Olive Bitters
** Bogart's Bitters
** Bogart's Bitters
* Scrappy's: (http://scrappysbitters.com/products/)
* Scrappy's: (http://scrappysbitters.com/products/)
** Lavender Bitters
** Lavender Bitters
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** Rye Barrel Spice Bitters (no longer produced)
** Rye Barrel Spice Bitters (no longer produced)
** Special Run Bitters (no longer produced)
** Special Run Bitters (no longer produced)
* BitterCube: (https://store.bittercube.com/)
* BitterCube: (https://store.bittercube.com/)
** Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters
** Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters
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** Chipotle Cacao Bitters
** Chipotle Cacao Bitters
** Ginger Spiced Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters (Limited Edition)
** Ginger Spiced Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters (Limited Edition)
* Bittermans: (http://bittermens.com/products/)
* Bittermans: (http://bittermens.com/products/)
** Xocolatl Mole Bitters
** Xocolatl Mole Bitters
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** Winter Melon Bitters
** Winter Melon Bitters
** Squirrel Nut Bitters (out of production)
** Squirrel Nut Bitters (out of production)
* Strongwater: (https://www.strongwater.com/)
* Strongwater: (https://www.strongwater.com/)
** Cherry Bourbon Bitters
** Cherry Bourbon Bitters
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** Amores Chocolate Vanilla Bitters
** Amores Chocolate Vanilla Bitters
** Tamer Ginger Citrus Bitters
** Tamer Ginger Citrus Bitters
* CocktailPunk: (http://cocktailpunk.com/bitters/)
* CocktailPunk: (http://cocktailpunk.com/bitters/)
** Oak Aromatic Bitters
** Oak Aromatic Bitters
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** Morning Grapefruit Bitters
** Morning Grapefruit Bitters
** Saturnalia Bitters
** Saturnalia Bitters
* Hella Cocktail Company: (https://hellacocktail.co/collections/all-bitters)
* Hella Cocktail Company: (https://hellacocktail.co/collections/all-bitters)
** Aromatic Bitters
** Aromatic Bitters
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** Apple Blossom Bitters
** Apple Blossom Bitters
** Mexican Chocolate Bitters
** Mexican Chocolate Bitters
* Elguapo Bitters Companu (https://www.elguapobitters.com/collections/bitters)
* Elguapo Bitters Companu (https://www.elguapobitters.com/collections/bitters)
** Chicory Pecan Bitters
** Chicory Pecan Bitters
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** Gumbo Bitters
** Gumbo Bitters
** Tricentennial Bitters
** Tricentennial Bitters
* Woodford Reserve: (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0761YV6GM)
* Woodford Reserve: (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0761YV6GM)
** Aromatic  Bitters
** Aromatic  Bitters
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** Chocolate Bitters
** Chocolate Bitters
** Sassafras and Sorghum Bitters
** Sassafras and Sorghum Bitters
* Dashfire Bitters: (https://www.dashfirebitters.com/products)
* Dashfire Bitters: (https://www.dashfirebitters.com/products)
** Orange Bitters
** Orange Bitters
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** Mole Bitters
** Mole Bitters
** Chai'Walla Bitters
** Chai'Walla Bitters
* King Floyd's: (https://www.kingfloyds.com/)
* King Floyd's: (https://www.kingfloyds.com/)
** Aromatic Bitters
** Aromatic Bitters
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** Scorched Pear & Ginger Bitters
** Scorched Pear & Ginger Bitters
** Grapefruit Rosemary Bitters
** Grapefruit Rosemary Bitters
* The Cocktail Experiment: (http://thecocktailexperiment.com/shop?category=Bitters)
* The Cocktail Experiment: (http://thecocktailexperiment.com/shop?category=Bitters)
** Black Pepper Bitters
** Black Pepper Bitters
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** Star Anise Bitters
** Star Anise Bitters
** Wild Cherry Bitters
** Wild Cherry Bitters
* Stirrings:
* Stirrings:
** Blood Orange Bitters (https://stirrings.com/products/blood-orange-bitters)
** Blood Orange Bitters (https://stirrings.com/products/blood-orange-bitters)
* Greenbar Distillery Barkeep Bitters: (https://greenbardistillery.com/barkeepbitters/)
* Greenbar Distillery Barkeep Bitters: (https://greenbardistillery.com/barkeepbitters/)
** Apple Bitters (Organic)
** Apple Bitters (Organic)
** Lavender Bitters (Organic)
** Lavender Bitters (Organic)
** Orange Bitters (Organic)
** Orange Bitters (Organic)

Revision as of 17:24, 24 January 2020

Bitters in one form or another, have been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years. They are essentially a concentrated extract of herbs and/or spices, typically with a high alcohol content. Originally intended to be used for their alleged medicinal value, they evolved over time to become alcoholic elixirs in their own right.

When the cocktail first came onto the scene (circa. 1800) bitters were used as a defining ingredient, and were considered as required for over a hundred years. According to "Old Waldorf Bar Days" (1931, by Albert Stevens Crockett):

In the Old Waldorf Bar Book, bitters of one kind or other was considered a necessary ingredient of most Gin cocktails. The favorite was Orange Bitters, which appears in something like one hundred different recipes. A distant second was  Angostura. Then there were Calisaya, Boonekamp, Boker's, Amer Picon, Hostetter's, Pepsin, Peychaud, Fernet Branca, and so on. The Bitters was used in small quantities, ordinarily described as "one dash" or "two." But Bitters used to contain alcohol and prohibition made most brands illegal to import. One well known firm which specialized during prohibition in importing liquors whose alcoholic content had been reduced until they could be brought in as "flavoring extracts," told me it had not imported Orange Bitters in fourteen years.

After American Prohibition, bitters all but disappeared from the scene. Angostura Aromatic Bitters became the only bitters that was readily available, and even so, it was rarely used.

Available Bitters

Here is a valiant attempt at trying to list all of the currently available bitters. No attempt yet has been made to organize this listing aside from being grouped by manufacturer. I had NO idea how many bitters there were before embarking on doing this, and I'm sure I've probably missed some. In case you are counting, the list below appears to have 165 different bitters in it!!!!

  • Fee Brothers: (http://feebrothers.com/products/bitters)
    • Aztec Chocolate Bitters
    • Black Walnut Bitters
    • Cardamom Bitters
    • Celery Bitters
    • Cherry Bitters
    • Cranberry Bitters
    • Gin Barrel-Aged Orange Bitters
    • Grapefruit Bitters
    • Lemon Bitters
    • Lime Bitters
    • Mint Bitters
    • Molasses Bitters
    • Old Fashion Aromatic Bitters
    • Peach Bitters
    • Plum Bitters
    • Rhubarb Bitters
    • West Indian Orange Bitters
    • Whiskey Barrel-Aged Bitters
  • The Sazerac Company:
    • Peychaud's Bitters
    • Regans' Orange Bitters #6
  • The Bitter Truth: (https://the-bitter-truth.com/ aka. https://www.berg-and-hauck.com/)
    • Aromatic Bitters (also available as Berg & Hauck)
    • Orange Bitters (also available as Berg & Hauck)
    • Lemon Bitters (also available as Berg & Hauck)
    • Celery Bitters (also available as Berg & Hauck)
    • Jerry Thomas Bitters (also available as Berg & Hauck)
    • Creole Bitters (also available as Berg & Hauck)
    • Chocolate Bitters
    • Grapefruit Bitters
    • Peach Bitters
    • Tonic Bitters
    • Cucumber Bitters
    • Olive Bitters
    • Bogart's Bitters
  • Scrappy's: (http://scrappysbitters.com/products/)
    • Lavender Bitters
    • Grapefruit Bitters
    • Orange Bitters
    • Cardamom Bitters
    • Orleans Bitters
    • Chocolate Bitters
    • Celery Bitters
    • Lime Bitters
    • Aromatic Bitters
    • Black Lemon Bitters
    • Firewater Tincture
    • Seville Orange (seasonal availability)
    • Peach Bitters (no longer produced)
    • Coffee Bitters (no longer produced)
    • Cranberry Spice Bitters (no longer produced)
    • Rye Barrel Spice Bitters (no longer produced)
    • Special Run Bitters (no longer produced)
  • BitterCube: (https://store.bittercube.com/)
    • Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters
    • Bolivar Bitters
    • Orange Bitters
    • Trinity Bitters
    • Root Beer Bitters
    • Jamaican No. 1 Bitters
    • Jamaican No. 2 Bitters
    • Blackstrap Bitters
    • Chipotle Cacao Bitters
    • Ginger Spiced Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters (Limited Edition)
  • Bittermans: (http://bittermens.com/products/)
    • Xocolatl Mole Bitters
    • Grapefruit Bitters
    • ‘Elemakule Tiki Bitters
    • Boston Bittahs
    • Burlesque Bitters
    • Orange Cream Citrate
    • Orchard Street Celery Shrub
    • Hellfire Habanero Shrub
    • Scarborough Savory Herbal Bitters
    • Transatlantic Modern Aromatic Bitters
    • Buckspice Ginger Bitters
    • New England Spiced Cranberry
    • Крупнік (Krupnik) Herbal Honey Bitters
    • Winter Melon Bitters
    • Squirrel Nut Bitters (out of production)
  • Strongwater: (https://www.strongwater.com/)
    • Cherry Bourbon Bitters
    • Orange Bitters
    • Golden Aromatic Bitters
    • Floral Lavender Wildflower Bitters
    • Virtue Rose Alpine Sage Bitters
    • Wildfire Spicy Pepper Bitters
    • Amores Chocolate Vanilla Bitters
    • Tamer Ginger Citrus Bitters
  • CocktailPunk: (http://cocktailpunk.com/bitters/)
    • Oak Aromatic Bitters
    • Cherry Bitters
    • Orange Bitters
    • Aromatic Bitters
    • Smoked Orange Bitters
    • Pastiche Bitters
    • Alpino Bitters
    • Colorado Cherry Bitters
    • Palisade Peach Bitters
    • Colorado Lavender Bitters
    • Morning Grapefruit Bitters
    • Saturnalia Bitters
  • Elguapo Bitters Companu (https://www.elguapobitters.com/collections/bitters)
    • Chicory Pecan Bitters
    • Polynesian Kiss Bitters
    • Holiday Pie Bitters
    • Cucumber Lavender Bitters
    • Crawfish Boil Bitters
    • Love Potion #9 Bitters
    • Fuego Bitters
    • Cuban Bitters
    • Spiced Cocoa Bitters
    • Gumbo Bitters
    • Tricentennial Bitters
  • Dashfire Bitters: (https://www.dashfirebitters.com/products)
    • Orange Bitters
    • Lemon Bitters
    • Star Anise Bitters
    • Cinnamon Bitters
    • Sichuan Bitters
    • Cardamom Bitters
    • Lime Bitters
    • Bay Leaf Bitters
    • Clove Bitters
    • Grapefruit Bitters
    • Hibiscus Bitters
    • Lavender Bitters
    • Allspice Bitters
    • J. Thomas Decanter Bitters
    • Creole Bitters
    • Old Fashioned Bitters
    • Spiced Apple Bitters
    • Dashfire Vintage Orange No. 1
    • Mr. Lee's Chinese Bitters
    • Mole Bitters
    • Chai'Walla Bitters
  • King Floyd's: (https://www.kingfloyds.com/)
    • Aromatic Bitters
    • Barrel Aged Aromatic Bitters
    • Cherry Cacao Bitters
    • Cardamom Bitters
    • Orange Bitters
    • Ginger Bitters
    • Scorched Pear & Ginger Bitters
    • Grapefruit Rosemary Bitters
  • The Cocktail Experiment: (http://thecocktailexperiment.com/shop?category=Bitters)
    • Black Pepper Bitters
    • Blood Orange & Ginger Bitters
    • Celery Bitters
    • Chicory Bitters
    • Chocolate Bitters
    • Lavender Bitters
    • Old Fashioned Aromatic Bitters
    • Orange Bitters
    • Star Anise Bitters
    • Wild Cherry Bitters