Why Do We Use So Many Cocktail Bitters?

You've probably noticed that we use bitters in many of our cocktails and may wonder what the heck they are and why we'd bother with such a small amount of an ingredient. After all, when we use bitters, it's typically a few dashes at the most. However, they can add a fun note to a cocktail, alter the flavor slightly and help to balance a drink that's too sweet or too tart. And it's fun to play around with them!

Cocktail bitters aren't the same thing as digestive bitters, which are typically sipped straight up. Campari and Aperol are well-known examples of digestive bitters and, while they make great cocktail ingredients (Negroni, anyone?), are wonderful when enjoyed on their own before or after a meal. You don't want to sip cocktail bitters straight up! That would be a deeply unenjoyable experience!

Originally used as medical tinctures, to oversimplify, cocktail bitters basically consist of roots, barks and herbs infused in an alcoholic base. There are many companies out there now playing with fun flavors, like chocolate and hot pepper, and it's easy to make your own if you don't mind waiting a couple of weeks to use them. You can find lots of recipes by searching on "bitters recipes." Soon you'll start creating your own recipes. I made pineapple and Hess House bitters once and they were fabulous and Paul has made Abbott's bitters. If you don't want to go to the trouble, most supermarkets carry Angostura bitters and many well-stocked liquor stores carry brands like Fee Brothers and Bitter Truth. Gourmet food stores are another good place to check. Pick up a few bottles that sound fun and start experimenting!

 

Cocktails For More Of Our Fabulous AIDS Walk Sponsors!

Just in time for the weekend, here are some more cocktails created in honor of a few of our fabulous AIDS Walk New York sponsors!

Mystic Bazaar (created for Jax)

2 oz amber rum

1/2 oz tamarind syrup (Click here to learn how to make your own!)

1/4 oz Ancho Reyes Liqueur

1/4 oz pimento dram

3/4 oz fresh lime juice

A dash of Angostura bitters

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass or serve on the rocks.

Island Sundown (created for Donna)

2 oz dark Jamaican rum

1/2 oz Pavan Liqueur 

1/2 oz blood orange amaro

3/4 oz fresh lime juice

Shake all ingredients with ice and pour into a small tiki mug or strain into a cocktail glass.

Holiday In Oaxaca (created for Mike)

2 oz mezcal

1/2 oz guanabana liqueur

1/2 oz peach nectar

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

2 shakes of ground chipotle-cayenne pepper

2 dashes of orange bitters

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

We'll have more cocktails created for our sponsors soon and we'll be shooting some Friday happy hour videos with even more this weekend! We'll get to everyone, we promise! Thank you so much to our sponsors for your support!

More Cocktails For Our Fabulous AIDS Walk Sponsors!

The Test Bar has been humming away, creating cocktails in honor of our fabulous AIDS Walk sponsors! Today we're featuring libations inspired by Christine and Donna!

Wonder Woman (created for Donna)

Wonder Woman (created for Donna)

2 oz gold tequila

1/2 oz Galliano Ristretto liqueur

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

3/4 oz pineapple juice

8 dashes of Angostura orange bitters

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass!

Spicy Sailor (created for Christine)

Spicy Sailor (created for Christine)

2 oz spiced rum

1/2 oz pomegranate juice

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

1/4 oz ginger liqueur

1/4 oz allspice dram

Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass or serve on the rocks in a small tiki mug!

We'll have more soon! We already have two more ready to go (get ready, Doug and Tammy), which will be featured in upcoming Friday happy hour episodes. Look for them starting April 22! 

If you'd like to sponsor us and receive your own cocktail, click here for our fundraising page. $25 gets you a cocktail created in your honor. For $50 we'll feature it on the show and for $100 you get to choose the theme of an upcoming episode!