Notes: One of a continuing series of bitters from a relatively new company in Germany (although truth be told, anyone other than Fee, Angostura, Underberg, and Peychauds – all in business for over 100 years – is a relative newcomer), Stephan Berg and Alexander Hauck the founders of the company, launched their unique products on the market in Germany in 2006, after making homemade bitters at bars because of the lack of any decent commercial bitters. This, of course, is their orange bitters.

The other bitters in the series are Bitter Truth Celery Bitters, Bitter Truth Grapefruit Bitters, Bitter Truth Lemon Bitters, Bitter Truth Xocolatl Bitters, Bitter Truth Jerry Thomas Decanter Bitters, Bitter Truth Pimento Dram, Bitter Truth Old Time Aromatic Bitters, and The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters.

First Impression: Nicely aromatic and fruity citrus, clove, hints of bitterness around the edges

Appearance: Red/pink in color, fairly thin and free-flowing compared to some bitters.

Taste: Anise, clove, caraway, fennel, and a few other spices and some fruit components, backstopped by cardamom, orris root, fairly intense bust of caraway (think Aquavit), nutmeg and assorted other bitter alkaloids, gentian and burdock also perhaps. Very authentic creole bitter orange taste with an excellent but not overdone bitter component.

Drinks: Excellent in a sazerac martini. Works nicely in a Manhattan too, if not entirely orthodox

Bottle: Dark brown glass old-style / apothecary bottle cylindrical bottom half, with a slight neck which makes for a comfortable grip

Other: Bitter Truth and Berg & Haucks are some of the few bitters that can be found in a liquor store as opposed to a grocery store ( at least around here )

Final Thoughts: A well-done bitters. A must-have in Creole style ( think Peychauds which is the dominant one) bitters as part of your bartenders’ armamentarium. No caramel, dyes, or odd additions to color it or flavor. It is just a good blend of botanicals. Yes, it costs four times as much as the cheap stuff – but take a look at our Bitter Math page to see how meaningless that is.

Website: http://the-bitter-truth.com