The market · Liqueurs and bitters

Orange bitters

Bitters of dried orange peel and spice — what the oldest dry martini recipes call for, and a lift for any stirred drink with vermouth.

dried orange peel · cardamom · bitter

What to do with it

Rosa Ibarra's Clarified milk punch, mezcal and pineappleOrange bitter would temper its sweetnessKenji Hara's Milk punch, with hojichaOrange bitter would temper its sweetness
Classics built on it
The cocktail barMartiniGin and dry vermouth, stirred until very cold: the drink where dilution and temperature are most of the recipe.No one here has made it yet

If you can't find it

Spirit shops.

  1. 1Angostura bitter
    The same, with an orange twist
    You lose clarity — it's spicier.

Goes with

dry vermouthlondon dry ginrye whiskeyamontillado

Cooked with, here

angostura bitterbrown butter-washed bourbonmaple syrup

How much, here

Fat-washed old fashioned, brown butter1 dash orange bittersRosa Ibarra

What cooks here have learned

“A dash of orange bitters”Rosa Ibarra · Fat-washed old fashioned, brown butter v4“Nutty, not greasy. Orange bitters?”Rosa Ibarra · Fat-washed old fashioned, brown butter v3

Knowing it

Where to buy
Brands differ a lot — some drier and spicier, some brighter and more orange. Many bartenders mix two.
Worth knowing
Make your own: steep dried bitter orange peel with a little gentian and cardamom in overproof spirit for a week or two, strain, and cut with water to about 45%.

More liqueurs and bitters

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