A Case For: Bitters

There is a big, wide world of bitters out there. Bitters are a liquid extraction of botanicals that — with the addition of sugar — result in a bittersweet concoction intended to promote appetite or aid in digestion. They neutralize acid, so in a drink that has citrus components, adding bitters would basically balance the flavor. Angostura bitters is a very secret recipe, but you can tell that there's cinnamon notes and allspice. Other bitters, such as Fee Brothers, are a lot sweeter. There's plum, there's orange, there's a chocolate one. Those are more accents [that] add another depth of flavor. If you can think of it, you can make it yourself. Add different ingredients or spices to high-grain alcohol, let it sit, bring it down to proof by watering it down — it's not difficult.

— Lorilei Bailey, Greenhouse Tavern bartender