Bitters, Bitters, and More Bitters

Bitters are back! Actually, I’m not sure they ever left. My grandparents would use bitters (Underberg - https://www.underberg.com/en/product/) as a digestive before or after a big meal or a big night out on the town. Heather and I have also begun using them just as originally intended.

It wasn’t until the early 1800’s that bitters became widely used in alcoholic drinks. Bitters began serving much the same role as spices serve with food: they add depth and complexity to the finished product. People say that bitters are the salt & pepper for drinks. Angostura Bitters began mass production of digestive bitters in 1824 and by 1870, the Siegerts had established aromatic bitters as the premier bitters for cocktail drinks.

As early as 1806, The cocktail was termed and described as a combination of "a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters."

The early 1900’s were considered the golden age for bitters. By 1912, the iconic “Old Fashioned” cocktail called specifically for a dash of Angostura Bitters.

It feels like we are racing towards another golden age of bitters and cocktails. Personally, I believe the global Covid epidemic launched the world into a heightened use of alcohol, elevated cocktails, and elevated sensory experiment.

We have added quite a few bitters available for sale in our Biltmore Village Shop. We currently stock Angostura and Fee Brothers Bitters. Both have been around since the mid- 1800’s and both have a phenomenal track record of long-standing family businesses.

Heather and I love nothing more than to gather for great conversation on a porch, with friends and family, a laugh, and a dash of bitters in a good cocktail.

I came across this poem by Mark Twain as he penned a note to his beloved Livy in 1874. Tell me that bitters don’t have a way to connect the past with the present!

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Livy, my darling

I want you to be sure to have in the bathroom, when I arrive, a bottle of scotch whisky, a lemon, some crushed sugar and a bottle of Angostura Bitters.

 Ever since I have been in London, I have taken in a wine glass what is a so-called cock-tail (made with these ingredients) before breakfast, before dinner, and just before going to bed…

To this I attribute the fact that up to this day my digestion has been wonderful, simply perfect…

Now, my dear, if you will give the order now To have these things put into the bathroom

 And left there ‘til I come, they will be there when I arrive. Will you?

I love to picture myself ringing the bell, at midnight – Then a pause of a second or two-

Then the turning of the bolt, and “Who is it?”….then ever so many kisses –

Then I, drinking my first cock-tail and undressing, and you standing by- then bed,

and everything happy and jolly,  as it should be.

Yours with love,

 Mark

Mark Twain was first introduced to “the cocktail” while in London and, in turn, bitters.  This letter suggests the two most common uses of bitters – as a digestive (medicinal) and in flavoring alcoholic beverages in the form of “cocktails.” - pulled from: (https://fingerlakesdistilling.com/a-history-of-bitters/)

Stop by and see us sometime at the shops. Maybe you walk away with some bitters and a reason to gather with friends and family! Cheers!

- Matt