{"id":1877,"date":"2022-07-14T14:28:21","date_gmt":"2022-07-14T14:28:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.themixer.com\/en-us\/?p=1877"},"modified":"2026-02-23T05:10:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T09:10:41","slug":"what-are-cocktail-bitters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.themixer.com\/en-us\/learn\/what-are-cocktail-bitters\/","title":{"rendered":"Bitters For Beginners: How to Use Bitters to Enhance Cocktails"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many years ago, bitters were something you\u2019d expect to find in a doctor\u2019s bag rather than a bartender\u2019s kit, leaving us to question what cocktail bitters are, really? These little bottles of herby concentrate form the building blocks of many modern cocktails, so, perhaps unknowingly, you\u2019ve most likely had bitters in a cocktail before!<\/p>\n

A breakdown of cocktail bitters<\/h2>\n

\"Cocktails<\/p>\n

Bitters are a concentrate of herbs and botanicals macerated in alcohol, dishing up a potent hit of bitterness with just one dash. These aromatic extracts were first concocted by Dr. Siegert, a medic in the Prussian army, as a medical tincture to help sea sickness in 1824, after much experimentation with plants and herbs.<\/p>\n

They then evolved into the cocktail space when bartenders started using them to give drinks a complex, deeper flavor, remarking them as digestifs as they are a great way to ease a full stomach after indulgent meals. Adding herbal infusions to drinks can improve or help align flavors, just like sprinkling salt onto your meal, as they accentuate the flavors to make the dish stand out.<\/p>\n

So, how are these botanical tinctures made, you ask? They have always included alcohol as the solvent for the botanicals, as well as preserving liquor. Read on to find out more.<\/p>\n

What are the ingredients in bitters?<\/h2>\n