Anyone use bitters?

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georgevan

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I bought some rhubarb bitters a few years ago and can't even remember why I bought it but it sits there unused. Am wondering what to use it in or on.
 
Bitters are used in some cocktails, e.g., an old fashioned. We bought a bottle of Angostura Bitters for that specific purpose.
 
I bought a selection of different flavors of bitters for DH a couple of years ago for Christmas. He really liked the coffee flavor in his gin and tonic, so I started making it. It's pretty easy, although it can be time-consuming waiting for the flavors to infuse the liquor.
 
There´s a delicious cocktail here called a "Caribe" ( the local word for a piranha fish!). Ice, a generous shot of rum, a splash of bitters, 7-Up and lime juice.
 
Ice cream topping?

I recall seeing a recipe that used some kind of bitters in (or perhaps as?) an ice-cream topping. Rhubarb bitters on vanilla ice-cream seems to me like it would be a great combination.

And GotGarlic - I am a big gin-and-tonic fan, but putting coffee flavor in it sounds like the craziest thing in the world to me. I'll have to try it! I make my drinks fairly heavy on the lime; would you recommend cutting down on the lime (or dispensing with it entirely) when using the coffee bitters? Would you mind sharing what recipe/proportions you use when you mix yours?
 
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I recall seeing a recipe that used some kind of bitters in (or perhaps as?) an ice-cream topping. Rhubarb bitters on vanilla ice-cream seems to me like it would be a great combination.

And GotGarlic - I am a big gin-and-tonic fan, but putting coffee flavor in it sounds like the craziest thing in the world to me. I'll have to try it! I make my drinks fairly heavy on the lime; would you recommend cutting down on the lime (or dispensing with it entirely) when using the coffee bitters? Would you mind sharing what recipe/proportions you use when you mix yours?
Just to be clear, this is my husband's drink, not mine. He doesn't use lime at all - he's not a fan of cutting things ;) I would suggest making your drink with the proportions you like, without the lime juice, and then add a splash of bitters.
 
Angostura bitters are used to make Pink Gin, a British Navy tradition.

Plymouth gin is the traditional sort for this drink. It should be very cold.

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You can pop the glasses (martini glass or the like) and gin in the freezer for a bit. Then give the iced glass three or four dashes of bitters and add the gin, giving it a swirl before drinking.

Some people prefer to pour the gin first, then add the bitters: the sort of issue that looms large in the British brain.

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Bitters were first sold as a tonic for seasickness (hence the naval connection). Just as tonic water (with quinine) was a remedy for tropical fevers.
 

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