BYCU
As I get steeped more deeply in vodka and gin, I’m enjoying the lost art of mixology.
Well, it was a lost art. With the advent of Mad Men, things like infusing vodka with herbs/spices and using bitters have made a comeback. I didn’t know that when I asked Marie to get me bitters for Christmas. I asked for them because Kingsley Amis recommended that every drinker carry a bottle of Angostura with him at all times, because it can always be used with gin to “knock together” something passable in a pinch.
I got the Fee Brothers Old Fashioned Aromatic Bitters for Christmas. They’re great. I like them so much that I posted a user review at Amazon:
This is not similar to Angostura. But I think it’s better . . . a lot better. Angostura is much more bitter; this is sweeter. For a middle-aged man who likes beer, I have a sweet tooth, with a particular fondness for cinnamon. This product fits my tastes perfectly. A friend of mine scoffed at me for putting these bitters in my vodka tonic. He then tried it and said, “That’s fantastic. I stand corrected.” Great product.
I guess there are scores (hundreds?) of flavors out there, plus a lot of websites dedicated to bitters (like this one). I have ordered a six-bottle sampler set and will continue to surf the web to increase my bitter knowledge. Expect recommendations and updates as my liver and I navigate these new waters.
Don’t know if you’ve tried it or not, but I’ve found Hendrick’s Gin to be very good over ice with a little bit of seltzer. The gin is infused with cucumber and rose. It’s very light and refreshing. I’m looking forward to drinking it this summer.
I’ll check it out. Thanks for passing it along.