Have Spice, Will Travel: The Cocktail Bitters Traveler’s Set

Globetrotting is an adventure we all dream of from time to time.  Unfortunately, sometimes a sweet dream can become a beautiful nightmare.  Because travel can be fraught with anxiety and uncertainty, we usually bring along a traveling companion, a trusted friend to guide us throughout the journey. Often, experiencing (and experimenting with) cocktails and bitters is a similar story. Which is why H & F Bottle Shop is offering The Bitter Truth’s Cocktail Bitters Traveler’s Set. Think of it as the Lonely Planet guide to Mixology.

The set contains a combination of bitters ranging in flavor from the traditional – Orange, Old Time Aromatic, and Creole – to the eclectic – Celery and Jerry Thomas’ Own Decanter Bitters. These come in five adorable 20 ml bottles convenient for the seasoned pro and the curious first-timer. They’re a great introduction to the (seemingly daunting) world of bitters because it’s such a small gamble. A larger dose of a strange new batch might give anyone pause, but these miniatures make for mini worry. Kind to the novice, the kit was designed for bartenders who ply their trade away from home (each bottle is small enough to fit into carry-on luggage, thus keeping valuable ingredients out of harm’s way).

The Orange, Old Time Aromatic, and Creole Bitters are recognizable to anyone familiar with Regan’s Orange, Fee Bros Old Fashion, and Peychaud’s. Recognizable, yes. Identical, no.  The Bitter Truth may have followed common roads in concocting these flavors, but where the roads diverged, they took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.

The Celery Bitters confused us at first. It seemed odd that this veggie would be bottled as bitters, but the flavor is much more evocative of a spicy celery seed (along with strong lemongrass and ginger flavors). A dash or two in your favorite gin (or gin cocktail) is delightful, by the way.

And Jerry Thomas’ Own Decanter Bitters were made in honor of the Professor himself, the world’s most influential bartender, Jerry Thomas (1830-1885). Though it isn’t an exact copy of his recipe (long-lost ingredients, new trends in cocktails, etc), it is a most unusual flavor. It is as fruity as it is bitter, and almost as spicy; a strange amalgamation of citrus peel, cloves, angostura bark, cinnamon, and quinine.

Stop into H & F Bottle Shop today and let us take care of all your bitters needs. We offer a wide array beyond the Traveler’s Set, and we're here to help.