Mix Up Your Own Cocktail Bitters

For an 8oz jar, you’ll need about 2oz of herbs in total. Put the jar on the scale and reset it to zero. To start, add ½oz of bittering agent and ¼oz of each of the spices. You can add a bit more in Step 4.

Next, chop up 2oz of dried fruit, so more of its surface area will come in contact with the alcohol. Add it to the jar.

Pour vodka until the jar is filled to about 2″ below the rim. Cover it tightly, and set it in a cool, dark place. Let the mixture steep for 1–2 weeks, gently shaking the jar daily.

Now it’s time to taste your bitters and see how the flavor is developing. But don’t taste them straight! The flavor is much too concentrated. Try putting a few drops in a half glass of sparkling water.

If you like the flavor, move on to Step 5. If you’re not quite happy, try Step 4.

If your bitters need a little flavor adjustment, you can add more of any of the ingredients you like and steep for another 1–2 weeks. Keep tasting and adjusting until you like the taste.

Strain out all the solid ingredients with a wire strainer. Press the solids to squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Pour the bitters into a dropper bottle and label. Store in a cool, dark place.