Have you ever wondered what gives cocktails like Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Negroni, etc their signature flavors? We’re talking about the secret, important ingredient that every bartender is a fan of – cocktail bitters! It’s responsible for adding aromas and complexity to cocktails.
Whether you’re a newbie to the world of cocktails or a cocktail lover, you must know the importance and use of bitters. We’ve covered everything you need to know about what cocktail bitters are, the different types of cocktail bitters, and how to use them.
What Exactly Are Cocktail Bitters?
Bitters are nothing but spirits that are infused with various types of aromatics like herbs, spices, seeds, fruits, flowers, etc. Many recipes of cocktails have bitters as one of the primary ingredients. They act as a flavoring agent and add complexity to the cocktail. In modern mixology, bitters play an important role as they not only add flavors to a cocktail, but also help balance the flavors of the other ingredients.
One simple rule to keep in mind when adding bitters to a cocktail is understanding the primary taste of the cocktail. Cocktails can be either on the sweet or sour side. So, cocktail bitters, with their strong flavors, can do the job of balancing all the flavors in the drink.
When it comes to the taste of bitters, it’ll depend on the ingredients used to make them. An important thing to keep in mind is that not all bitters will have a strong bitter flavor. There are several cocktail bitters that taste slightly sweet or have a fruity taste. So, depending on your cocktail recipe, choose the right bitters to enhance the flavor of your drink.
Also Read: How To Use Cocktail Syrups?
What Are The Different Types Of Cocktail Bitters?
Cocktail bitters can be added to drinks in small amounts as they are a liquid flavoring agent. You must’ve noticed bartenders using different types of cocktail bitters as a staple ingredient in various cocktails. Just add a few drops or dashes to your drink and they’ll add all the jazz and edge to it. Let’s take a look at the most popular types of cocktail bitters.
Angostura Bitters
Angostura bitters are known to have originated in the early 1800s. A German doctor named Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert is known to have created the recipe for Angostura bitters. During the 1800s, he was looking for a herb to cure various illnesses. In the course of time, this doctor ended up creating the recipe for one of the most widely used cocktail bitters.
Today, Angostura bitters are produced in Trinidad and Tobago. These are essentially aromatic bitters that are usually made from ingredients like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, clove, etc. In terms of their taste, Angostura bitters have a spicy flavor with subtle hints of cinnamon and clove. If you check the recipe of various classic whiskey or rum cocktails, you’ll find Angostura bitters as a key ingredient. Some of the popular cocktails you can make using these bitters are Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, Metropolitan, etc.
Also Read: Best Simple Syrup Substitutes In Cocktails
Peychaud’s Bitters
One of the most popular cocktails, the Sazerac (which originated in New Orleans) demands Peychaud’s bitters as an essential ingredient. It is believed that these bitters were invented by Antoine Peychaud in New Orleans during the 1830s. The Sazerac is believed to be created due to the mix-up by Antoine Peychaud, when he mixed brandy and absinthe and created a delicious cocktail.
Peychaud’s bitters are much stronger compared to aromatic bitters like Angostura. They have flavors of anise, absinthe, and a hint of mint that gives them a sweet taste. You can make drinks like Paloma, Vieux Carré, Pendennis cocktail, etc with Peychaud’s bitters. These bitters are available on sites like Amazon and IndiaMART.
Also Read: Cocktail Mixing Hacks Everyone Should Know
Orange Bitters
Orange bitters are used in various classic cocktail recipes. These bitters are made from the dried zest of an orange peel. Along with bitter orange peel, ingredients like cardamom, anise, and caraway seed are used to make them. You can make cocktails like Orange Bitters Martini, Negroni, The Opera, Apple Cider, etc with orange bitters.
Also Read: 8 Dessert Cocktail Recipes To Satisfy Every Sweet Tooth
Herbal Bitters
You may know herbal bitters as digestive bitters as they are used to cure problems like relieving nausea, gas, bloating of the tummy, etc. Herbal bitters have also been used in cocktails for many years to add to the complexity of the drinks! They are made by extracting bitter compounds from various herbs and spices. Some of the ingredients used to make herbal bitters are dandelion, angelica, thyme, lavender, etc. You can make several cocktails like Gin and Tonic, Herb Gardener, Bitter Herb, etc using herbal bitters.
Chocolate Bitters
All chocolate lovers will definitely love to use chocolate bitters in their cocktail recipes. They are generally infused with cocoa and cacao. In the past years, many bartenders and mixologists have been adding chocolate bitters to cocktails. These bitters have aromas of vanilla and coffee. They add a sweet and nutty flavor to cocktails. Chocolate bitters work well with rum-based cocktails. You can make cocktails like Rum Old Fashioned, Espresso Mexicano, Cocoa Smoke, etc using chocolate bitters.
Also Read: 10 Cognac Cocktails To Try In Mumbai Winters
Summing Up
The role of cocktail bitters is somewhat like the seasoning in food. Just like herbs and spices can add a new dimension to your dish altogether, bitters add complexity and flavors to your drink. Now, every cocktail recipe may not require bitters as a primary ingredient. But if you’re a fan of classic cocktails or eager to come up with your own cocktail recipe, knowing the basics of bitters and their usage really helps. Now that you know what bitters are, it’s time you grab your cocktail tools to make some delicious drinks!
FAQs
What Do Cocktail Bitters Do?
Cocktail bitters are neutral spirits, infused with flavors and ingredients for accentuating cocktail flavors and adding complexity to them.
Are Cocktail Bitters Actually Bitter?
Not all cocktail bitters have a strong bitter taste. The taste and flavor of cocktail bitters depend on the type of ingredients used to make them. For example, if you’re using Peychaud’s bitters in your cocktail, you’ll get a slightly sweet and fruity taste from the bitters.
Are Cocktail Bitters Alcoholic?
Cocktail bitters are alcoholic; some have an ABV between 35-45%. However, when using cocktail bitters in drinks, the recipes usually demand only a few drops or dashes of bitters. That’s why after adding the bitters to a cocktail, it’s difficult to detect the ABV of the drink.
What Exactly Is In Bitters?
As mentioned before, cocktail bitters are alcohol infused with different ingredients like botanicals, spices, herbs, orange peels, roots, etc. The specific type of cocktail bitters demands specific ingredients. For example, herbal bitters are made from herbs and spices like thyme, lavender, angelica, etc.
Can You Put Bitters In Coffee?
You can add a few dashes of bitters to an iced coffee, cold brew, and even a hot cup of coffee. Aromatic bitters can be the best choice for coffee as they’ll add to the flavors of the drink.
Why Do People Add Bitters To Alcohol?
One of the main reasons why people add bitters to alcohol is to balance all the ingredients in the drink. Bitters with their flavor can add to the complexity of the cocktail and complete the flavor profile of the drink.
What Drinks Do You Put Bitters In?
You can add cocktail bitters to the following drinks:
- Old Fashioned
- Sazerac
- Martini
- Manhattan
- Negroni
- Trinidad Sour
What Can You Replace Bitters With?
It can be tricky to replace bitters in cocktails. However, you can still replace bitters with the following ingredients;
- Campari – It is an Italian alcoholic liqueur, made from herbs, fruits, alcohol, and water.
- Absinthe – Italian aromatic spirit.
- Fernet-Branca – Bitter liqueur, produced in Italy.
