The Bitter Truth

What is The Bitter Truth? Bitters should be used more often, that's the truth. There was a time when bitters were essential, coveted and used liberally, of course they had more options than we do today. To give you an idea of the importance of bitters back in the day one only needs to look in The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book (1935, A.S. Crockett and invaluable guide for the classic cocktail enthusiast). Among the 244 "Pre-Prohibition Cocktails" listed, 145 of them include bitters. Ask yourself this: "Do I use bitters in over half of my cocktails?" I do, bitters of one kind or another add depth to a cocktail and create another dimension in your drinks. A Martini with Angostura is bolder than it is without, and a Martini with orange bitters (the original way) is entirely different still.

The great thing about adding bitters to your bar is that they are only used in dashes and one 4 ounce bottle can last a long time. In the most recent Ardent Spirits newsletter the Regan's answered a question from a reader as to why their bottle of Regans' No. 6 lasted only 10 weeks. The answer: you're either drinking too much or overusing your bitters. So, to enhance your cocktails a dash or two will do and it's fun to experiment with flavors because each brand of bitters is completely unique. Try Fee Brothers Peach in a Coronation or their Mint in your Mint Julep, Regans' Orange Bitters No. 6 in a Fancy Whiskey and Peychaud's in a Manhattan.