Cocktail Bitters: The most important points summarized
- Cocktail bitters are alcoholic essences. They are used in classic cocktails.
- The Old Fashioned is a traditional cocktail made with Angostura bitters and whisky (or Peychaud's bitters).
- We'll show you a delicious alternative, the recipe with Wormwood Bitters.
Old Fashioned Cocktail: The History
In the mid-19th century, alcoholic beverages served primarily one purpose: to get people drunk and to replace water, which was often contaminated with bacteria. Production methods were also far less sophisticated than today. Especially with high-proof spirits, a burning sensation in the throat was more common than a smooth finish. But of course, people still wanted to drink alcoholic beverages. So what was the solution to this everyday problem? The use of flavorings, known as cocktail bitters, is common.
A cocktail bitter is an alcoholic essence made from herbs and spices. Bartenders of the time mixed it with spirits, added a little sugar, and thus a palatable, delicious drink was created. The result was simply called a "cocktail," and what we now call an Old Fashioned was formerly known just as a "whiskey cocktail."
In the 19th century, bitters made bad spirits palatable. These days, cocktail bitters transform excellent stuff into a liquid symphony. The added flavors of a bitter and the sweetness of the added sugar can soften harsh alcohol notes and add complex top notes to the drink. Think of a cocktail bitter as the salt in your soup or the topping for your favorite ice cream.
Classic Old Fashioned with cocktail bitters
If you want to mix an Old Fashioned, there are two preparation methods. The classic recipe mixes the drink directly in a tumbler glass with a sugar cube. The more modern version uses simple syrup and a mixing glass. We recommend the classic method, as you need less bar equipment, and we generally prefer the classic approach :-). Here are the ingredients you'll need for the recipe:
- 6 cl Bourbon Whisky
- A dash of Angostura cocktail bitters (or Peychaud's)
- 1 sugar cube
- 1 splash of water
- Garnish: Orange slice
- Tumbler glass
- Bar spoon (a normal spoon or an absinthe spoon will also work)
Old Fashioned Recipe: The preparation
1: Place the sugar cube and a splash of water into the tumbler glass and stir until the sugar has mostly dissolved.
2: Add bourbon, bitters and three to four ice cubes and stir until the drink covers all the ice cubes.
3: Add one or two more ice cubes and continue stirring until the drink has "grown" about one centimeter below the rim.
4: Garnish with an orange slice. This gives the Old Fashioned freshness and lightness without sacrificing its strength.
Old Fashioned recipe with Wormwood Bitters
The "perfect serve" for an Old Fashioned is to use Wormwood Bitters instead of Angostura or Peychaud's Cocktail Bitters. Why does this improve the drink? Because Angostura Bitters are very intense in flavor. Besides gentian root and cinchona bark, they contain cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. The taste of Angostura reminds us of "Christmas," which we personally find too strong for a whiskey cocktail. Peychaud's Bitters are made with anise. Anise is also a very dominant spice that, while increasing the complexity of a drink, can also lead to flavor confusion. Furthermore, many people dislike the taste of anise, which reduces the everyday usability of Peychaud's Cocktail Bitters.
Our recommendation is to use wormwood bitters. Unlike the bitters mentioned previously, they are made from only one ingredient: wormwood. We prefer this straightforward approach. The bitter note of wormwood bitters is similar to that of commonly used bitters, which, incidentally, derive their bitterness primarily from gentian root. However, the anise or Christmassy flavor is absent. Wormwood, despite being only one ingredient, combines bitterness with a very complex flavor profile. One ingredient is therefore sufficient. We recommend 40 drops per drink (that's 2 ml).
This is how the drink tastes
In an Old Fashioned with vermouth, the aromatic flavor of the wormwood blends perfectly with the smoky, smooth taste of bourbon and the sweetness of the added sugar cube. The orange slice adds freshness—not too much, not too little, just the right amount. Another important aspect is that Wormwood Bitters are 100% natural. They are made without any artificial additives; only distilled wormwood, macerated wormwood, and wormwood oil are used in their production. This is quite different from conventional bitters: Peychaud's Bitters, for example, are colored red with food coloring E129, and Angostura bitters get their dark brown color from the dye E150a.
What is the difference between an Old Fashioned and a Sazerac?
An Old Fashioned and a Sazerac are closely related cocktails. However, there are some differences that distinguish them. Both consist of a spirit, sugar, water, and a bitter. A Sazerac uses cognac (or American rye whiskey) as the base spirit and Peychaud's Bitters as the bitter. A distinctive feature of the Sazerac is that the glass is moistened with absinthe beforehand. Also, unlike an Old Fashioned, the Sazerac is served without ice in a tumbler glass. You should try both drinks and decide for yourself which you prefer. A Sazerac has a stronger absinthe aroma, while the Old Fashioned, with its ice, is more refreshing (and less potent).
We hope you enjoyed our blog post about our version of the classic cocktail "Old Fashioned" using Wormwood Bitters. We look forward to your comments!
Mike from the ALANDIA team
PS: If you would like to try the Old Fashioned recipe, you can buy Wormwood Bitters in our online shop.