Bitters 291824 225938000 2008-07-16T02:51:39Z Lquilter 6404 POV neutralization {{Distinguish2|a ''[[bitter (beer)|bitter]]'', a type of British ale}} [[Image:Hkbitters.jpg|thumb|right|300px|An old (1823) bottle of bitters from Germany. It was purchased for $1240 (USD) in 1998.{{Fact|date=July 2007}}]] A '''bitters''' is an alcoholic beverage prepared with [[herbs]] and [[citrus]] dissolved in [[alcohol]] or [[glycerine]] and having a [[Taste#Bitterness|bitter]] or bittersweet [[flavor]]. There are numerous brands of bitters, which were formerly marketed as [[patent medicine]]s but are now drunk as [[digestif]]s. '''Bitters''' are principally used as [[digestif]]s and as flavorings in [[cocktail]]s. While bitters commonly have an alcoholic strength of up to 45%, they are normally consumed in small amounts, added as a flavoring agent (similar to vanilla flavoring which is also dissolved in alcohol.) In the [[United Kingdom]] angostura bitters are not classified as alcoholic beverages due to their bitter taste and can be bought by a person of any age. Common ingredients in bitters include: [[Cusparia febrifuga|angostura bark]], [[cascarilla]], [[cassia]], [[gentian]], [[orange peel]], and [[quinine]]. The flavor of both [[Angostura bitters]] and [[Peychaud's Bitters]] derives primarily from [[gentian]], a bitter herb. Bitters are prepared by infusion or distillation, utilizing aromatic herbs, bark, roots, and/or fruit for their flavor and medicinal properties. Christopher Hobbs LAc, AHG author of ''Foundations of Health'' lists [[Garden Angelica|angelica root (A. archangelica)]], [[Cynara scolymus|artichoke leaf (Cynara scolymus)]], [[Citrus aurantium|bitter orange peel (Citrus aurantium)]], [[Cnicus benedictus|blessed thistle leaves (Cnicus bendicutus)]], [[Gentiana lutea|gentian root (Gentiana lutea)]], [[Hydrastis canadensis|goldenseal rhizome (Hydrastis canadensis)]], [[Artemisia absinthium|wormwood leaves (Artemisia absinthium)]] and [[Achillea millefolium|yarrow flowers (Achillea millefolium)]] as typical contents of bitters formulas. Angostura Bitters was first compounded in [[Venezuela]] in 1824 by a German physician, who intended it as a remedy for [[stomach]] maladies. It was exported to [[England]] and to [[Trinidad]], where it came to be used in a number of cocktails following its medicinal use by the British Navy in [[Pink Gin]]. Angostura and similar gentian bitters preparations are still of some value to settle a mild case of [[nausea]], and is used to stimulate the appetite, either for food or cocktails. It is used in both [[apéritif]]s and [[digestif]]s, and will settle one's stomach before a meal, or before undertaking a night of drinking. {{Fact|date=August 2007}} Angostura was named for the town of [[Ciudad Bolívar|Angostura]] in Venezuela. It contains no angostura bark, a medicinal bark which is named after the same town. Used as the "starter" ingredient in a Pink Gin, where a splash (or two) of Angostura Bitters is swirled around the inner surface of a tumbler before adding a generous measure of London Gin. The resulting drink is so named from the colour imparted by the Bitters. In addition to the options of drinking a Pink straight, it may also be consumed with a little water, still or sparkling. Real connoisseurs of the Pink Gin even have preference for drinking it "in" or "out" - referring to whether the remaining dribble of Bitters (after the glass has been "pinked") is left in or poured away, before the Gin is added.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} A large tumbler, similarly "pinked", and filled with sparkling lemonade, results in a drink known as a Campbell. This is regarded by some as a pleasant and refreshing way to relieve a little of the sweetness of lemonade, the same drink with added lime cordial is called "lemon, lime and bitters" in Australia, and is available both as a mixed drink in bars and as a ready-made bottled soft drink.[http://www.fosters.com.au/enjoy/nonalcohol/CDA998409ECB4EFAB0FB305ED294A2C2.htm] Peychaud's Bitters is associated with [[New Orleans, Louisiana]], and the [[Sazerac (cocktail)|Sazerac cocktail]]. It, too, is a gentian based bitters, with a subtly different and sweeter taste than the Angostura brand. Orange bitters are made from the rinds of unripe oranges. Orange bitters is often called for in some older cocktail recipes. Medicinal quantities of [[quinine]] were occasionally used in old cocktail recipes. Quinine is still found in much lower concentrations in [[tonic water]], used today mostly in drinks with [[gin]]. The oldest and rarest of antique bottles command prices of tens of thousands of dollars (see links below). ==Types and brands== Bitters still available today include: *Alpenbitter (from [[Switzerland]]) *Amaro Cora (from [[Italy]]) *[[Amaro Erbes]] (from [[Italy]]) *Amaro Jannamico (from [[Italy]]) *Amaro Lucano (similar to Unicum but only 30% alcohol rather than 40% from [[Italy]]) *Amaro Montenegro (from [[Italy]]) *Amer Picon (from [[France]]) *Amaro Quintessentia *[[Angostura bitters]] (from [[Trinidad and Tobago]]) *Angostura Orange Bitters (from [[Trinidad and Tobago]]) *Aperol (orange, less bitter than Campari, from [[Italy]]) *Araucano (From [[Chile]]) *Averna (from [[Italy]]) *[[Becherovka]] (from [[Czech Republic]]) *[[Beerenburg]] (from the [[Netherlands]]) *Boonekamp's (various brands from the [[Netherlands]], its country of origin, and from [[Germany]]) *Borsci San Marzano *Cappellano Chinato (from [[Italy]]) *[[Campari]] (from [[Italy]]) *Carpano Antica *Carpano Punt e Mes *Cio Ciare (from [[Italy]]) *Cocchi Chinato (from [[Italy]]) *Cock Drops (from [[Cyprus]]) <!-- Yes, I know the name looks rude, but it's true! --> *Collins Orange (US) *Cynar (artichoke based liqueur from [[Italy]]) *Dimitri (from [[Costa Rica]]) *[[Martini & Rossi]] ChinaMartini (from [[Italy]]) *Fee Brothers bitters (aromatic, orange, mint, lemon and peach), from [[Rochester, New York]]; the aromatic bitters contain Angostura bark *Echt Stonsdorfer (originally from Silesia now made in [[Germany]], imitations from other German producers available under the name Stonsdorfer) *[[Fernet Branca]] (from [[Italy]]) *[[Fernet Stock]] (from the [[Czech Republic]]) *[[Gammel Dansk]] (from [[Denmark]]) *Hermes Orange *Hermes Regular *Hoppe Orange (from [[Holland]]) *[[Jägermeister]] (from [[Germany]]) *[[Killepitsch]] *Kuemmerling (from [[Germany]]) *Luxardo Amaro *Luxardo Bitters (somewhat similar to Campari) *Luxardo Fernet *Marcarini Chinato *Meletti *[[Mentha|Mint]] bitters *Nardini Amaro *[[Orange (fruit)|Orange]] bitters *Par-D-Schatz (from [[Germany]]) *[[Peach]] bitters *Peychaud's Bitters (from [[Louisiana]], [[United States]]) *Pimm's No. 1 *[[Quinquina]] (from [[France]], originally from [[South America]]) *Ramazzotti (from [[Italy]]) *Ratzeputz (from [[Germany]]) *Regans' Orange Bitters No.6 (Gary Regan's recipe) *Riemerschmid Angostra (from [[Germany]]) *Riga Black Balsam (from [[Latvia]]) *Santa Maria al Monte Amaro (from [[Italy]]) *[[St. Vitus (drink)|St. Vitus]] (from Germany) *[[Sirop de Picon]] (from [[France]]) *Suze (from [[France]]) *[[Swedish bitters]] *[[Torani]] brand Amer *[http://www.the-bitter-truth.com The Bitter Truth]-Aromatic-,Orange-and Lemon Bitters (from [[Germany]]) *[[Underberg]] (sometimes sold in health food stores, from [[Germany]]) *[[Unicum]] (from [[Hungary]]) *Wurzelpeter and Wurzelpeter Bitter Orange (from [[Germany]]) *Zucco (from [[Italy]]) Other brands/types of bitters have also included: *Appenzeller (from [[Switzerland]]) *Boker's *Calisaya bitters (containing [[cinchona]]/[[quinine]]) *Hartwig-Kantorowicz (from [[Germany]]) *Hostetter's (American) *Kabänes (from [[Germany]]) *[[Lillet|Kina Lillet]] *[[Maraschino]] bitters *[[Meinhard's Bitters]] Dr. Teodoro Meinhard's Angostura Bitters (From [[Venezuela]]) *Meyer's Bitter (from [[Germany]]) *Flimm's (from [[Germany]]) *Reichs-Post Bitter (from [[Germany]]) *West Indies *New York (Australian) *Boston (Australian) *St Louis (Australian) *Frisco (Australian) *Lupulins (Australian) *Dr Grants (Australian) *Philadelphia (Australian) *Kent (Australian) *Dixons (Australian) *Milwaukee (Australian) *Gippsland (Australian) *Utica (Australian) *Steanes (Australian) *Ralays (Australian) *Bairnsdale (Australian) *McDonalds (Australian) Non-alcoholic Bitters include: *Chinò *Fanta Chinotto (made from [[Chinotto]]) *Sanbittèr *Stirrings Blood Orange *Bradley's Bitters ==See also== *[[Flavored liquor]] ==External links== *[http://www.underberg.com/ Underberg official site] *[http://www.angostura.com/ Angostura Bitters official site] *[http://www.sazerac.com/index.html Sazerac Co., makers of Peychaud's Bitters] *[http://www.feebrothers.com/Page.asp?Script=2 Fee Brothers, a bitters distributor] *[http://www.fineliving.com/fine/thirsty_traveler/article/0,1663,FINE_10176_2389104,00.html The Thirsty Traveler on Bitters] *[http://www.lenells.com/selections/bitters.php LeNell's description and tasting notes on a large number of bitters] *[http://www.antiquebottles.com/bitters/ Antique bitters bottle website] *[http://www.bittersbottles.net/ The authoritative book on antique bitters bottles] [[Category:Bitters| ]] [[bg:Ангостура битер]] [[cs:Bittery]] [[de:Magenbitter]] [[fr:Amer (apéritif)]] [[lb:Modrëpp]] [[nl:Bittertje]] [[ja:ビターズ]] [[pl:Bitters]] [[ru:Биттер]] [[fi:Katkero]]