12039 Aromatic Bitters Under 5 mins, plus steeping time Under 5 mins About 3 cups Sat Jun 28 08:42:00 -0700 2008 Tue Aug 25 12:15:18 -0700 2009 Easy CHOW http://www.chow.com/recipes/12039 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:15:18 GMT Give your cocktail a backbone Give your cocktail a backbone with these homemade bitters. Just try to make your next Manhattan without that dash of bitters, and the value of this oft-underappreciated cocktail additive becomes instantly evident. This recipe is made with a variety of ingredients for a well-rounded formula that tastes great in any cocktail calling for angostura or Peychaud’s bitters.

What to buy: We used Everclear 151 grain alcohol here. Its lack of impurities and sugar allows it to pick up the flavoring elements much faster than vodka.

Gentian extract is taken from the root of the gentian flower and used to aid in digestion; it packs a potent kick.

Game plan: Simply straining the alcohol through a fine-mesh strainer will leave a few cloudy particles behind (which aren’t harmful). If you want completely clear bitters, strain through a coffee filter nested in the strainer.

The bitters will last indefinitely when stored in an airtight container in a dark spot.

This recipe was featured in our Bringing Bitters Back story.

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  • Using a vegetable peeler, remove lemon zest in strips, leaving the white pith behind.
  • Combine lemon zest and all remaining ingredients in a quart jar with a tightfitting lid. Close and store at room temperature. Let steep 14 days, shaking the jar every other day.
  • Strain alcohol from spices and store in a jar with a tightfitting lid in a dark place.
    • ]]>     http://www.chow.com/assets/2008/06/aromatic290.jpg Aida Mollenkamp 55 Project 43 1 medium lemon

    ]]>     1 (750-milliliter) bottle grain alcohol, such as Everclear 151

    ]]>     40 drops gentian extract

    ]]>     305 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

    ]]>     279 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick

    ]]>     75 1 (1-1/2-inch) piece fresh ginger, cut in half

    ]]>     264 4 whole allspice berries

    ]]>     281 4 whole cloves

    ]]>     2395 aida mollenkamp 1 chow 1776 bitters 768 manly 332 vegan 435 vegetarian 273 party 9636 adults 836 adventurous 82 alcohol 6328 myo 2403 diy 19641 james bond martini 2747 make ahead