How To Improve Your Cocktail With Just A Dash: A Look At The Bitter Truth’s Fruit Bitters

How do you take a great cocktail and make it fantastic?

In many cases, a dash or two of bitters–more specifically, Bitter Truth bitters. The Bitter Truth was founded when two career bartenders realized that the bitters they were making for their respective bar programs were something the industry needed. Bitters are a game changer in a cocktail; they help balance sweetness, add drama, and give the extra boost of flavor a drink needs to be extraordinary.

When founding the Bitter Truth, bartenders Stephan Berg and Alexander Hauck set out to create both new flavors they were lacking and to recreate historic flavors that had been lost to time. Last week we covered their range of Savory and Aromatic Flavors, some of which were inspired by the very first bitters ever developed. This week, we’re taking a look at the fruit based flavor line.

Grapefruit Bitters

Zingy with complex, vegetal notes and a dry hop finish, the Grapefruit Bitters are a fantastic way to balance out sweetness across a range of cocktails. Pairing superbly with vodka, gin, and blanco tequila, these bitters add depth and dimension while highlighting the floral and citrus notes of a base spirit. Grapefruit Bitters are a perfect match for a margaritas, palomas, and many tequila cocktails.

Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. 100% Agave Tequila
• 3/4 oz. The Bitter Truth Golden Falernum
• 3/4 oz. fresh Lime Juice
• 2 dashes The Bitter Truth Grapefruit Bitters

Preparation: Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

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Lemon Bitters

As the first commercially available Lemon Bitters, the Bitter Truths take on the flavor is fresh, spicy, and brightens up any cocktail. When opening the bottle, you’ll notice aromas of hot lemon tea with honey. Light hints of toasted cardamom, coriander seed, and hints of sherbet mingle with bright, pithy lemon for a bitter perfect for a wide range of white spirits and cocktails. Try a dash or two in a cobbler, kamikaze, or a white negroni.

Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Vodka
• 2/3 oz. Orange Liqueur
• 2/3 oz. Cranberry Juice
• 1/3 oz. fresh Lime Juice
• 2 dashes The Bitter Truth Lemon Bitters

Preparation: Shake well with ice & strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

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Orange Bitters

As the natural successor to aromatic bitters, the first orange bitters debuted in the 1880’s. The Bitter Truth’s take on the classic opens with traditional notes of marmalade followed by nutmeg, cinnamon, caraway, and cardamom. Try them in a classic Dry Martini or a Martinez or Manhattan.

Dry Martini Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 2 oz.  Dry Gin
• 1/3 oz. Dry Vermouth
• 2 dashes The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters
• Olive or Lemon Zest

Preparation: Stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Add a washed olive or squeeze a lemon zest over the surface and put it into the glass.

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Peach Bitters

Despite being one of the most popular styles of bitters, Peach bitters went out of fashion in the late 19th century. Fortunately, The Bitter Truth brought them back with this dynamic expression. The notes of candied peach with hints of almonds are a perfect pair for brown spirits like Bourbon and cognac. The bitters work extremely well in many whisky cocktails like a Mint Julep or Old Fashioned.

Peach Old Fashioned

Inredients:

• 1 1/2 oz. Bourbon Whiskey
• 1/3 oz. Sugar Syrup (2:1 Sugar: Water)
• 5 dashes The Bitter Truth Peach Bitters
• 1 Lemon Slice
• 1 Orange Slice
• 1 Peach Slice

Preparation: Pour all ingredients into a rock glass and stir.

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Tonic Bitters

Inspired by the surge of new gins on the market, Tonic Bitters were created to help compliment and open the delicate flavors and botanicals of a spirit. Using layers of citrus fruit, orris root, juniper berry and a hint of Japanese green tea, these bitters are ideal for a gin and tonic but work wonders in any number of drinks. Try them in a Sake Martini or a Rum Old Fashioned.

Gin/Vodka & Tonic

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Gin or Vodka
• 2 dashes The Bitter Truth Tonic Bitters
• 1 Lemon Slice
• Tonic Water

Preparation: Pour ingredients into a highball glass filled with ice and stir gently.