{"id":1877,"date":"2022-07-14T14:28:21","date_gmt":"2022-07-14T13:28:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/?p=1877"},"modified":"2025-09-16T13:56:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T12:56:15","slug":"what-are-cocktail-bitters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/learn\/what-are-cocktail-bitters\/","title":{"rendered":"What are Bitters Anyway?"},"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 are cocktail bitters, 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 bitters in drinks<\/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. Bitters 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 evolved into the cocktail space when bartenders started using them to give drinks a complex, deeper flavour, remarking them as digestifs as they are a great way to ease a full stomach after indulgent meals. Adding bitters to drinks can improve or help align flavours, just like sprinkling salt onto your meal, as they accentuate the flavours to make the dish stand out.<\/p>\n

So, how are bitters 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