Notes: Some noteworthy aspects about these bitters; first and foremost they taste great, but also 100% organic, organic grape based alcohol, organic gum arabic (a higher quality and more traditional bitters ingredient rather than the much more common glycerin).

Obligatory Bitters Rave: Part of the almost demise of bitters in general is the sloppy research and omission of bitters in many modern cocktail books – many people say “They don’t use bitters in drinks anymore so why mention them in a recipe?” which of course just adds to the problem. If a book doesn’t mention bitters for at least martinis and manhattans don’t buy it! It means the person who wrote it has no idea what they are doing and are perpetuating mediocre books and ignorance. Bitters blend the other ingredients together, add many layers and depths of flavor, and may even help your digestion.

First Impression: Fennel, gentian, burdock, calamus, some floral citrus notes.

Appearance: Hazy gold yellow with some sedimentation (expected with natural organic product) .

Taste: Quite aromatic. Primary tastes are fennel, gentian, burdock, calamus, angelica root, orange/citrus, hints of ginger fire/bite, with quinine/alkali notes buffered by gum arabic. Drying finish from the dandelions that almost seems a touch like Myrrh in the dusty sort of drying finish. Finish is medium to long and very pleasant. Rather similar to Bokers in many respects.

Drinks: In somewhat of a departure from our normal format we also discuss which drinks bitters are used in as so many people are not aware how integral they are to a cocktail. Adds a nice depth and blending of flavors but stays nicely in the background.

Bottle: Various formats: 10 ml mister (think breath sprayer size) great for spritzing or spraying directly in mouth (try that with your average bitter), also 2 oz with dropper or 8.4 oz with dasher both dark brown glass bottle with attractive paper label design .

Other: Nicely done and entirely organic (no one else can make that claim commercially). Organic gum arabic rather than glycerin, makes for a much better base with less dumbing down of flavor. Also more of an authentic flavor (glycerin was not normally used in early bitters)

Final Thoughts: A very nice if somewhat understated bitter somewhere in a taste spectrum between Bokers and Swedish bitters and very worthy of inclusion to a cocktailians bitters cupboard.
Website: http://www.urbanmoonshine.com