How-To: Make Bitters for Cocktails
- Rachel Davidson
- Feb 9, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 29, 2020
Bitters for Cocktails
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How-To's with INFUSE | a cocktail blog
Rachel Davidson | February 9th, 2020 IG:@rachelpaiige
How-To Make Bitters for Cocktails
Making bitters is easy, but it takes time and some knowledge about flavor pairings to make a delicious infusion.
You’ll need three main ingredients:
alcohol
aromatics
bittering agents
The alcohol should be a neutral spirit with a high ABV/proof.
For aromatics, there are so many options!
You can use fresh citrus peel, dried fruits, herbs, spices, coffee, nuts... the list goes on.
Bittering agents are the main component and include various roots and barks.
What are bitters & tinctures?
In the past, bitters, tinctures, and infusions were high-proof tonics used as stimulants and to help administer medicine.
They were also used in cocktails when the spirit quality, like murkiness needed to be covered up.
NOWADAYS, bitters are used dominantly in cocktails. Some chefs have incorporated bitters and tinctures in sauce-making and in some dessert recipes. There are some bitters and tinctures that are particularly delicious in whipped creams. :P
What do they do?
Give an exciting twist to classic cocktails, adding levels of flavor to sweets that cannot be replicated. This is also the case in desserts!
1. Pie - add bitters to a pie filling to add real warmth and depth to it!
2. Soups & Stews - add herbal bitters to roasts and steaks. DELICIOUS!
3. Sauces - add citrus bitters to a creamy sauce to lighten it and add the missing ZING!
4. Salad Dressings - sub the acid for bitters when you're missing the real thing!
5. Ice Cream - like whipped cream, ice cream holds flavor very well and can serve as a great background for tasting bitters. YUM! :P
Something like a black pepper bitter can be dashed onto a freshly cooked steak and can add a full-bodied pepper flavor that’s not comparable to fresh cracked pepper.
Food components made with bitters create an experience for consumers that is unique and memorable.
How to make your own bitters:
You’ll need three main ingredients: alcohol, aromatics, and bittering agents.
Vodka is the most commonly used as the alcohol in making bitters, as the proof is very high and it has a neutral taste. Brands like Spirytus or Everclear work (both over 100 proof)....
Really just look for a clear spirit to start with that has a high ABV.
Many ingredients are used to accentuate the aroma and increase the flavors in bitters.
Mint, rosemary, spices, peppercorns, lavender, and so much more!
Take a look on Mountain Rose Herbs online store to get some inspiration on what you can infuse together. The possibilities are endless and that’s why there are so many varieties of bitters out there.
The bittering agents like gentian and licorice root, and cherry or birch bark can be used. When choosing these, don’t choose the chopped or the whole pieces over powdered so you have ingredients that will strain out.
You will need containers to hold all of your ingredients in, as well at the finished product. Any glass bottles will work, essential oil bottles with droppers/dashing ability, tins with lids, muslin bags, the list goes on.
You will want to have something to label with, such as small stickers or labels that you can write on with perma-marker. The other option is to order your own labels, which can be custom sized to your favorite containers. Remember to have a temporary solution for initially labeling your infusions so you don’t forget what ingredients you used. Remember this should take 3-4 weeks to complete!
There are some pretty great kits that you can buy that have all the ingredients to make your first batch of bitters, along with the tools and containers you need. Check out the below listings on Etsy for some of the best options out there.
DIY Cocktail Bitters Kits, Stater Kits
DIY Kit
Bitters DIY Kit – in tins, Pre-mixed packages of botanicals, 1 oz packs of single ingredients
Mini DIY Cocktail Bitters (Singles and Sets)
5. Bitters Club
Starter Bitters Making Kit
These are great options, as they are perfect for starting out. You can get a feel of how bitters are made, and have a new appreciation for the complexity when you make them yourself. Trial and error is fun with bitters making, as your mistake could set you back weeks! >.<
There are 2 main methods in making bitters
One is to put all the ingredients together to create a blend of flavor in one mixture. This is something unique, and your blend might be the best (or the worst) infusion ever! This is the method I like, because well… I’m lazy and don’t want to mix it all together later!!
The other is to make them individually adding them together at the end of the process. A little of this and this, a little more of that. A lot of people starting out like doing this, as some ingredients take less time than others to infuse into the spirit. The result of letting some ingredients set too long isn’t always the tastiest. :P It’s also easier to blend the flavors together this way as you’re adding the different infusions little by little rather than putting everything in at once.
Directions:
1. Gather your ingredients you wish to add to your bitters infusion.
2. Put into 1.5 oz. - 2 oz. of every flavoring agent into the mixture into the vessel.
3. Add 4 oz. of alcohol for every ingredient you add. 3 flavors? 12 oz. vodka. 6 flavors? 24 oz. water. This applies for single ingredient infusions and multiple-ingredient infusions.
4. Cover and place somewhere dark and cool.
5. Everyday, shake the mixture up.
6. Taste it after 2 weeks. *Can infuse around a month or so max.
7. When you’re happy with the flavor, strain the remnants out and into a stove pot.
8. Heat the mixture and add ½ the amount of water originally put into the mixture. 24 oz water before? Add 12 oz to the pot now.
9. Let it come up to boil for ~2 minutes.
10. Turn off & let cool down completely.
11. Some like to strain it a couple more times before funneling into a jar for holding. This process will ensure the bitters don’t cloud cocktails.
12. Label, then enjoy or share with others!
Please share your thoughts or tweaks to recipes below. If you found your favorite mixture for bitters making, let us know. We’re all here to learn from each other!
Mahalo nui loa for reading!! -Rachel @rachelpaiige
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