A very interesting bitter that does a nice balancing act teasing out (slightly) sweet and citrus, vegetal, fruit, heat, and bitter in one package.
Notes: One of a series of bitters from a relatively new company in New York City (although truth be told anyone other than Fee, Angostura, Underberg andPeychauds – all in business for over 100 years – is a relative newcomer). The company was started by by Zach Feldman a couple years ago after making homemade bitters as a project for a magazine article: he got bitten by the bitters bug. He went commercial almost one year ago – and hasn’t looked back since.
The other bitters in the series are: Bitters,Old Men Gangster Lee’n Bitters,Bitters,Old Men Great in ’28 Bitters, Bitters, Old Men Isaan Another Level Bitters, Bitters, Old Men Krangostura Bitters, Bitters, Old Men Papaya Bitters, Bitters, Old Men, Roasted Macadamia Bitters , Bitters Old Men Peach Basil Bitters, Bitters, Old Men Smoke Gets In Your Bitters Bitters and a Bitters, Old Men Restorative Tonic
*As a sidebar we are going to coin a new phrase (as of Sept 7, 2011) and use the term New World Bitters to describe bitters that are not a traditional company, style of flavor such as Angostura (the brand named after a town) , Angustura (the actual ingredient in some bitters), Abbots, Bokers, Peychauds, Bitter Orange, Mint, Grapefruit etc., and are usually a new blend or hybrid of ingredients to distinguish them from the more traditional ones.
Appearance: Dull copper gold, slightly hazy. Does not have the dyes others use to color to darken their bitters.
First Impression: Slightly sweet, with fruit and vegetal overtones, prickly pears and peppers with a little suggestion of smoke.
Taste: Prickly pear, gentian, along with Sichuan and lightly roasted chile peppers.
Drinks: Suggested uses were tequila, mezcal, sotol and pisco – all of which it works well in.
Bottle: Clear glass old-style bottle with built in glass eyedropper with attractive graphics on paper labels (which are rather difficult to read – tiny fonts).
Other: They use local ingredients whenever possible. . .
Final Thoughts: A very interesting bitter that does a nice balancing act teasing out (slightly) sweet and citrus, vegetal, fruit, heat, and bitter in one package.
Website: http://bittersoldmen.com
