Notes: One of a series of products ressurected from obscurity by a relatively new company in Germany (although truth be told anyone other than Fernet Branca, Campari, and Cynar – all around for over 100 years – is a relative newcomer to the bitters and other markets), 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.

They produce a line of bitter tinctures for cocktails some of which in the series are: Bitter Truth Celery Bitters , Bitter Truth Jerry Thomas Bitters, Bitter Truth Lemon Bitters , Bitter Truth Xocolatl Bitters, Bitter Truth Orange Bitters, , and the new Bitter Truth Creole Bitters.

They have now moved on to tackle other products that bartenders and mixologists moan and pine for such as this Pimento Dram.

Pimento Dram is one of the many products that while useful and necessary when people made what are now considered classic cocktails and cared about ingredients that fell into disuse and then oblivion as cocktail culture declined (read anywhere between the 1940′ s through the 1980’s ).

Thankfully this trend has reversed itself and people like Ted Haigh ( who wrote the seminal book Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails ) and a host of others spearheaded the recreation ( in many cases using samples from long ago ) to resurect long gone ingredients.This is one of those ingredients.

Made from Jamaican rum and allspice berries which are completely different from the red stuff they put in olives .  The origin of the name is apparently someone said it tasted like nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves hence Allspsice.

First Impression: Very heavy Djarum Kretek clove cigarette type smell in liquid form.

Appearance: Dark reddish brown, bright look to it and relatively free flowing compared to some liqueurs

Taste: Heavy, full on but pleasant alspice flavor with the rum and molasses notes taking the sharper edges off the allspice and taming it. Nicely bitter elements help conterpoint and structure the liqueuer so it is not just some spicy syrup.

Drinks: Works well in Tiki type drinks and also in hte classic cocktails where it is called for. and as a vermouth substitute in some drinks. Makes a lovely variation on a Manhattan. Also good on its own and easy to drink – unlike about most other bitters in it’s class.

Other : Thankfully Bitter Truth resurrected this must have cocktail ingredient from the dead !

Bottle: Heavy clear glass bottle with thick decanter type bottom. Attractive graphics.

Final Thoughts: Lovely spicy,complex liqueur add a lot to any cocktail that call for it.

Website: http://the-bitter-truth.com

Quick loading website- with decent amount of information and company history, where to order (always important), events and updates. With all this, somehow still easy-to-navigate.