Feeling Bitter About Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate love with friends, family, and significant others. But not everyone may be in the mood to celebrate. In recent years throwing an “anti-valentines” party with a group of friends has become new fun-filled tradition. Even happily romantic couples enjoy the anti-festivities as they renounce the pressure of Valentine’s Day expectations!
No matter what your love-life status this Valentine’s Day, here are some “bitters” you can feel good about!
Bitters add a little unique twist to your drink. They’re liquors infused with herbs, roots, fruits and leaves which produce a sharp, pungent taste. Bitters are used as a key ingredient in many delicious cocktails.
Instead of doing what everyone else will do and purchasing pre-made bitters, here is an opportunity to shine and bring out your more creative side. Make your own bitters! We’ve saved you some trouble and found a homemade recipe for you to follow:
Supplies & Ingredients you will need:
- Two to 1-5-quart Jars
- Cheesecloth
- High-proof spirit (80+ proof & typically vodka or whiskey)
- Roots, herbs, spices and other flavorings
*TIP* Take time to consider the purpose of your bitters when choosing the spirit for your base. If you desire a lighter, fruiter cocktail, use vodka. Drinks such as Manhattans and other whiskey/rum drinks, require a darker spirit as the base.
Not only can you use bitters in cocktails, they also go nicely in a scoop of ice-cream.
Note: Making bitters can take up to 25 days, depending on the recipe
Angostura Bitters Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp dried orange peel
- zest of 1 orange
- 1/4 cup sour cherries
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 vanilla bean- seeds scraped
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 1/4 cup quassia chips
- 2 juniper berries
- 1/8 tsp cocoa nibs
- pinch of black walnut leaf
- 1/2 tsp cassia chips
- 1/4 tsp wild cherry bark
- 1/4 tsp orris root
Rich Syrup:
- 2 cups turbinado sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
Base:
- 2+ cups of your base liquor (must be high proof)
Equipment:
- 5 (1) quart mason jars
- Cheesecloth
- 2 funnels- one small, one large
- 12 1oz Boston round bottle w/ dropper
- Most of the spices and herbs can be found online at Star West Botanicals & Mountain Rose Herbs.
Directions:
- Prep Ingredients & Start Batch
- Strain the liquid
- Boil the solids
- Make the Rich Syrup, strain, and combine
- Skim excess and strain
- Bottle your bitters
- Share with close friends
For full instructions, visit instructables.com.
By now you may have your very own bitters! Or you read through the long and detailed process and decided, perhaps, the store-bought kind is for you? Either way, we wish you a Happy Valentines or Anti-Valentines Day!