There’s nothing new about Becherovka—and that’s its great value. Since way back in 1807, the recipe has remained steadfast and true, continuing to define many late nights for locals and tourists alike in the Czech Republic…
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No visit to New York’s Hudson Valley is complete without a trip to Hudson Wine Merchants, where the unprecedented selection is matched only by the knowledge of their staff and the reliability of their recommendations….
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If you’re into cocktails, it’s likely you’ve come across the amaro Cynar—either on menus or in your drink. There’s a global resurgence in the popularity of amaros, a sub-genre of bitters, extending beyond the Aperol Spritz…
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We tour the LA distillery home to the world’s largest collection of organic spirits
Cocktail enthusiasts gave a collective cheer when word got out that GreenBar Collective—the LA-based brand known for its collection of top-notch organic licquors and sustainably-crafted spirits—was moving into bigger digs. With more space to accommodate its growing menu of infused vodkas, complex gins and spiced rums (the only exception…
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Two cocktail recipes from the Brooklyn-based purveyors of craft bitters
With a mission to “make the world a bitter place,” Hella Bitter is a brand of bitters focused on creating fine, hand-crafted cocktail accompaniments. The name and the attitude of irreverence are evidence of the brand’s Bay Area roots—the company may have ditched the former logo personality of a well-dressed gent sporting a “thizz face”, but their origins remain a major influence. Operating out of Brooklyn, Hella Bitter is part of a growing community of enthusiasts looking to take craft cocktails to boozy new heights.
Fine ingredients and small-batch production help to distinguish Hella. Departing slightly from the norm, their aromatic bitters use a wormwood rather than an angostura base (a detail based more on preference than quality), and caramelized sugar gives a rich color and viscosity. Hella’s citrus bitters can substitute garden variety orange bitters, and the company occasionally releases off-the-wall seasonal varieties, such as a vanilla kumquat creation. While made to compliment cocktails, Hella Bitter encourages people to dilute their bitters in a glass of seltzer for a refreshing dram.
We recently enlisted Hella’s help to come up with a duo of cocktails for CH readers. The two tequila concoctions below are ideal for knocking a few back during a sun-filled happy hour.
1.5 oz Reposado Tequila
2 healthy dashes of Hella Bitter Citrus
0.5 oz Green Chartreuse
0.5 oz Maraschino
0.5 oz Fresh Lime
Use a jigger to measure out tequila, chartreuse, and lime over ice. Add Hella Bitter. Shake and strain into a coupe glass pre-garnished a with premium grade maraschino cherry.
2.0 oz Reposado Tequila
2 healthy dashes of Hella Bitter Citrus
1.5 oz Mild Black Tea
0.5 oz Green Chartreuse
0.5 oz Fresh Lime
0.5 oz simple syrup
Stirred tequila, tea, chartreuse, lime, and simple syrup in an iced highball. Add Hella Bitter. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Hella Bitter is now available on Fab through 13 July, and via their online store.
Two outstanding bitters options for excellent cocktails
Nothing soothes the soul in the frigid winter months like a properly composed cocktail. Even if you are lucky enough to reside in a warmer climate it is essential to have the right ingredients on hand when mixing your elixir. The strategic use of a good bitter can make a delicious spirit really sing, and, after scouting the scene for the past few months, we have turned up two outstanding bitters brands that are sure to enhance any booze-based concoction.
Scrappy’s Bitters out of Seattle, WA provide a delightful addition when mixing it up. Handcrafted in small batches by bitters enthusiast and bartender Miles Thomas, the old-fashioned compositions pack extraordinary flavor and depth. With flavors ranging from celery to lime, Thomas’ line is sure to offer an iteration to match any profile. Each ingredient is hand-processed by Thomas and mixed with a blend of herbs and spices that gives his bitters an edge a true cocktail craftsman can appreciate.
We discovered this second outstanding small-batch bitters company during a recent visit to Chicago’s Dose Market. Bittercube slow-crafts their bitters in a two-month process to deliver fantastic flavor profiles with a huge variety of options. Founded by bartenders Nicholas Kosevich and Ira Koplowitz, the brand has evolved since 2009, with the two combining their knowledge and skills to perfect the formulas behind their macerated delicacies. From the Bolivar, which contains cassis chamomile, to the Blackstrap’s mix of molasses and sarsparilla, Bittercube flavors add great texture and complexity to a drink.
Scrappy’s Bitters are available at a variety of retailers in the USA, Europe and Canada while Bittercube’s product can be purchased from their website.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
