Bitters are an alcoholic preparation made from neutral alcohol infused with various herbs and spices. Often used in cocktails to add a bitter-sweet element.
Ingredients:
- 50g dried orange peel
- 30g black currents
- 5g cinnamon sticks
- 1 vanilla bean
- 0.5g cloves
- 30g quassia chips
- 2 juniper berries
- 2g cassia bark
- 0.5g cherry wood
- 0.5g orris root
- 1 cup muscovado (or dark brown) sugar
- 400ml 96% ABV neutral grain alcohol
Method:
- Cut open your vanilla bean and scrape out all the seeds. Add your vanilla pod and seeds into a clean glass jar. Add your orange peels breaking them into small pieces. Then add the remainder of your botanicals.
- Add your neutral spirit to the jar. Ensure all your botanicals are covered.
- Combine alcohol and botanicals and seal the jar. Store in a dark place for 4 weeks and shake daily.
- After 4 weeks, open the jar and strain the liquid and botanicals through a muslin cloth
- Set the liquid aside and put the leftover botanicals into a small pot.
- Add 4 cups of water to the pot and bring to a boil.
- Allow the pot to simmer for 15 min, then remove it from the heat and allow it cool completely.
- Strain the botanicals and infused water through a muslin cloth. You can now discard the leftover botanicals.
- Combine infused water and alcohol
- Heat 1 cup of water and 1 cup of muscovado sugar in a pot, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Remove the syrup from the heat and allow it to cool
- Add 3/4 cup of syrup to your infused alcohol and water mixture and combine.
- If the product is slightly murky, strain again until you reach the desired clarity
- Your product is now ready to be bottled.
Tip: Bottle into small dropper bottles which can be used to add small amounts to cocktails
