Bitters

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Bitters

Postby dogbreath vodka » Wed Dec 25, 2013 9:06 pm

Just thought I'd post a thread regarding Bitters.
Doc's bitters recipe is in his Vodka issue of " The Modern Distiller"
So I hope he doesn't mind me posting it here.
I've made this one up and will be posting the results in about .... 3 months. :D

Bitters (Morticians Glue)
12 fresh mint leaves( torn)
4 lavender flowers
SECRET INGREDIENT
8gms dried lemongrass
40 grms almond slivers
6 green cardamom pods (crushed)
10 gms juniper berries (crushed)
2 cinnamon sticks
14 grms unroasted dandelion root
2 whole star anise
12 cloves
14 grams coriander seeds (crushed)
8 gms caraway seeds
12 grams dried ginger powder
6 grams ground nutmeg
2 shot glasses maple syrup
1 orange skin (no pith)
1 oak domino or oak stick
1 vanilla pod
1.5 – 2 litres 95% alcohol
Aged in a sealed bottle 3 months
Filter through coffee filter; serve using 6-15drops from and eyedropper.

Now for me the SECRET INGREDIENT can be any of three bittering agents.
See this article http://imbibe.com/feature/the-bitter-truth/8643
Gentian root, quassia chips or wormwood..... as I have wormwood growing in my backyard I'll be using that.... just not sure of the quantities.
Trial and error I guess.... lots of error :D

DBV
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Re: Bitters

Postby Brendan » Thu Dec 26, 2013 1:17 am

Thanks for posting that DBV :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I'm going to have to give it a go, sounds really interesting...
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Re: Bitters

Postby dogbreath vodka » Thu Dec 26, 2013 6:11 am

It is an overlooked art I think.
Found this link as well, heaps of recipes for those that are interested. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

http://www.artofdrink.com/recipes/bitters/

Enjoy

DBV
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Re: Bitters

Postby Smbjk » Thu Dec 26, 2013 6:31 am

dogbreath vodka wrote:It is an overlooked art I think.
Found this link as well, heaps of recipes for those that are interested. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

http://www.artofdrink.com/recipes/bitters/

Enjoy

DBV


Thanks dbv some great info there must give one a try. Some ingredients seem a little hard to source but hey sould be fun to try
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Re: Bitters

Postby dogbreath vodka » Thu Dec 26, 2013 6:34 am

Doc also gave us this link for herbs
http://www.australherbs.com.au/index.html

For my own information I put 11grms of dried wormwood flowers and leaves in the 1.75ltr mix of Doc's recipe.
:D :D :D
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Re: Bitters

Postby dogbreath vodka » Thu Dec 26, 2013 7:35 am

Just be careful what you put in your bitters.
Some of the above recipes call for snakeroot.
http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-fa ... -snakeroot

I also read another article that mentioned a different snakeroot that caused renal/kidney failure.

So use the recipes with caution and stay safe. :handgestures-thumbupleft:


DBV
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Re: Bitters

Postby the Doctor » Fri Dec 27, 2013 7:21 am

Try Dandelion root for bittering,(I use un-roasted but both will do) we us it in our Digestif bitters. Morticians Glue is a lighter style for white spirit. Consider a spicier hotter style for winter and brown spirit. We are just releasing Morticians glue to the market now...see here... http://www.eastviewestate.com/bitters.html and I have been honing the formula...I will post the up dates once I get a chance.
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Re: Bitters

Postby dogbreath vodka » Fri Dec 27, 2013 8:04 am

Thanks Doc
I may give that one a go as well.
Seeing as I have Wormwood in the garden I've used 11grms of semi dried and fresh to make it bitter.
Also have an elder flowering in the garden so threw two fresh heads of that in as well.

Only put the Wormwood in yesterday and last night tried some of the bitters ... yep it was bitter alright. :laughing-rolling:

DSCN4016 (Copy).JPG


DSCN4017 (Copy).JPG


Might see if I can get some dandelion root from Austral herbs.
:handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Bitters

Postby NotBenStiller » Tue Feb 18, 2014 2:57 pm

neato - just ordered some gentian and quassia from austral herbs to try some bitters - enough of paying $20+ for angostura
Just a bit annoyed at their minimum $50 order but they seem to be the cheapest around - so added a big batch of juniper for the next gin run :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Bitters

Postby Andy » Tue Feb 18, 2014 3:26 pm

wormwood contains thujone and is a key ingredient in absinthe (hence the name absinthe- from the plants scientific name). angostura bitters contains thujone as well, so i think you hit the nail on the head with wormwood.
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Re: Bitters

Postby NotBenStiller » Wed Feb 26, 2014 12:46 pm

Order from autralherbs arrived today.
pretty flash looking packing

13933826948350[1].jpg
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Re: Bitters

Postby Urrazeb » Wed Feb 26, 2014 12:55 pm

NotBenStiller wrote:Order from autralherbs arrived today.
pretty flash looking packing

13933826948350[1].jpg


That looks like a good source mate. Let us know how ya go with it. I'd be interested in doing this one day :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Bitters

Postby dogbreath vodka » Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:48 pm

We can all thank Doc for giving us the link to Austral Herbs.
I've used them and they are very easy to deal with. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

DBV
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Re: Bitters

Postby the Doctor » Wed Feb 26, 2014 8:05 pm

Guys be aware trhat there are a number of variants of Artemesia ( wormwood ) some of which do not have Thujone. There was a recent study of sweet artemesia which found that it had reduced tumours in mice, I expect this humble plant to undergo a lot of medical research over the next few years. We grow artemesia here in a mild / alpine climate it is very easy to grow and can propogate easily by cutting. I agree with others that Austral is a great supplier. Apart from the herbs we grow all our dried herbs are supplied by them now. Cheers.
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Re: Bitters

Postby CHEROKEE » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:16 pm

Hello Doc

Your an encyclopaedia of Craft Distilling (Congratulations on all your endeavours) looking forward to the next video. Cheers
I know I’m pushing it on the next video but everyone’s waiting..............................................................................................can't wait. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Bitters

Postby MacStill » Fri Feb 28, 2014 1:29 am

S :shifty: :shifty: N
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Re: Bitters

Postby dogbreath vodka » Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:31 am

Well I've bottles some of my Bitters and now add it to my real clean Vodka as a nice touch.

The Star Anise comes across very well, perhaps a little too well.
It tends to mask a lot of the more delicate flavours.

The wormwood had definitely done it's job as well.

For me I'd use a little less Star Anise next time.

Having said that... it is a very nice drop. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

DBV
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Re: Bitters

Postby Palenkár » Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:14 am

I am an absolute beginner, so 'exquise' my possibly stupid questions, but...

dogbreath vodka wrote:...
Filter through coffee filter; serve using 6-15drops from and eyedropper.
...

So... dropping them into what?
Water? Would be a real shame, no? :scared-eek:
Alcohol perhaps? Hmmm... sounds better :D But at which %?
Is there any risk at making the drink 'cloudy'? (which I don't like...)

I love doing some experiments, but I hate wasting perfectly good stuff by doing 'stupid' experiments.
So any advice is more then welcome ;-)

PS: also excuse my bad English... It's really hard for me :crying-blue:
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Re: Bitters

Postby dogbreath vodka » Sun Mar 23, 2014 11:41 am

Hi Palenkar

The reference to 6-15 drops was into whatever cocktail or drink you are making.
It is the finished product after 3 months ;-)

In my case, I fill a cocktail glass with ice and almost fill it with water.
Then just add a small amount of my super clean vodka and a few drops of bitters.
Excellent stuff.
Then .....
Sit back and enjoy all the hard work it took to make such high quality booze. :D :D

DBV
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Re: Bitters

Postby Palenkár » Sun Mar 23, 2014 11:48 pm

Thanks dogbreath vodka.
I will absolutely give it a try! :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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