Bitter, Bitter, Bitter, Bitter

2 oz Campari (or Aperol)
1 t Fernet Branca
3 ds Bitters, Fee Brothers Old Fashion
2 oz Bitter lemon soda
Instructions

Shake still ingredients, strain, rocks, top with seltzer, lowball.

Notes

Sub 1/2 oz lemon juice, 5 dashes lemon bitters, and 2 oz seltzer for bitter lemon. Light, refreshing, approachable bitter aftertaste

Yields Drink
Year
2010
Authenticity
Unknown
Creator
eGullet haresfur
Source reference

http://egullet.org/p1738172

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4.5 stars
(6 ratings)
From other users
  • A good Campari or Fernet Branca training-wheels cocktail
Similar cocktails
No similar cocktails found.
Fransos commented on 5/07/2012:

Too sweet for my taste. Might be the bitter lemon brand I used.Added a little lemon juice and a tiny amount of soda. Much better.

Dirt in my Drink

1 oz Batavia Arrack, Van Oosten
1 oz Cynar
1 oz Prune juice
1⁄2 oz Rye
1⁄2 oz Lime juice
Instructions

Shake, strain, rocks, lowball

Notes

Good, complex, slightly bitter. Prune aspect is somewhat challenging.

Yields Drink
Year
2010
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Dan Chadwick, Kindred Cocktails
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(2 ratings)
Similar cocktails
No similar cocktails found.
Rob Marais commented on 11/03/2011:

Dan, actually this sounds pretty yummy! Prunes have a bad rap, they are only dried plums and delicious properly dried. The Cynar and lime juice read like they hit the right notes, and I like the arrack and rye backbone. I'm gonna try this!

Dan commented on 11/03/2011:

Just made it again tonight for the first time in a long time. Those little cans of prune juice have been littering up the refrigerator long enough. I tried it with both 1/2 and 1 full oz of prune juice and was happy with it as written. My wife didn't like it when I made it last time, but came around this time.

You are right prunes. A favorite ice cream of mine is "dried plum armagnac" from Lizzy's in Waltham, MA. Do you think it would sell as well a "prune brandy ice cream?"

Schwartzwald

1 oz Gin
1 oz Black Balsams
1 oz Amaro Lucano
3⁄4 oz Lemon juice
Instructions

Shake, strain, straight up, cocktail glass

Notes

Delicous, herbal, not excessively bitter, with pleasant citrus tones and good balance.

Yields Drink
Year
2010
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Dan Chadwick, Kindred Cocktails
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(8 ratings)
Similar cocktails
  • Rock Solid — Orange bitters, Gin, Raspberry liqueur, Limoncello, Lemon juice, Sherry vinegar
Shawn C commented on 12/07/2022:

Note: I cut the lemon juice from 3/4 to 1/2 oz--personal preference as I find many lemon/lime cocktails a little too acidic/astringent. The adjustment worked well for me. The Amaro Lucano augments the Black Balsams difficult to characterize ester aroma and flavor, yielding kola, slightly bitter dark berry, and citrus flavors. Well balanced and semi-dry, this one grew on me as I sipped and the glass warmed.

Margara

1 1⁄2 oz Añejo tequila
3⁄4 oz Orange liqueur, Clément Créole Shrubb
3⁄4 oz Lime juice
1⁄2 oz Cynar
2 ds Orange bitters, Angostura Orange
Instructions

Shake, strain, straight up, cocktail glass half-rimmed with salt. Or I actually prefer Margaritas on the rocks.

Notes

A grown-up Margarita. Lingeringly bitter and complex, with peppery flavors from the tequila. Less tequila-forward than a well-made authentic Margarita.

Yields Drink
Year
2010
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Dan Chadwick, Kindred Cocktails
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(14 ratings)
From other users
  • I used Casamigos Reposado, not quite anejo, but very good stuff with strong vanilla notes. I think could use a bit more Cynar. Not sure about more lime, citrus seemed balanced to me.
  • Used C. Spicy and X-choc bitters. 4.5
  • Made with Cointreau, plus 2 dashes Habanero Hellfire bitters. Needs 1 oz lime juice, and 1 dash Hellfire is enough.
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  • Lomax — Cognac, Pamplemousse Rose, Cynar 70, Lime juice
  • Beauregarde's Breakfast — Bourbon, Amaro Montenegro, Bitters, Lemon juice, Blueberry preserves, Lemon peel
  • Carnival — Rye, Grapefruit liqueur, Aperol, Herbal liqueur, Bitters, Lemon juice, Tea syrup
  • Missouri Mule — Bourbon, Applejack, Campari, Triple sec, Lemon juice
  • Black Diamond — Bourbon, Averna, Lemon juice, Grapefruit juice, Simple syrup
christina in tacoma commented on 9/21/2011:

A little bitter, a little spicy. I'll try a bit less orange next time. I used Don Julio Anejo.

tanstaafl2 commented on 10/28/2011:

Tried this as above and liked it. Creole Shrubb works really well with the tequila and Cynar. But on my second try I made a small modification using Bittermans Xocolatl mole bitters in place of the Angostura orange. For me that made it even better!

Gruff and Rumble

2 oz Rum, Appleton V/X
1⁄2 oz Orange liqueur, Clément Créole Shrubb
1⁄4 oz Lime juice
1 t Branca Menta
1 ds Bitters, Fee Brothers Whiskey Barrel Aged
Notes

Based on the original Rough and Tumble by Chris Amirault (eGullet). Didin't like the strong menthol tones, which dominate, and a bit too sweet.

Yields Drink
Year
2010
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Dan Chadwick
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
2 stars
(5 ratings)
Similar cocktails
  • Bumblebee — Dark rum, Bitters, Lime juice, Egg white, Honey, Orange peel
  • Honey Fitz — Guatemalan rum, Peychaud's Bitters, Honey syrup, Grapefruit juice
  • Havana Crusta — Cuban rum, Curaçao, Peychaud's Bitters, Orange, Simple syrup
  • Jolly Roger — Virgin Islands Rum, Light rum, Falernum, Bitters, Orange juice, Orange peel
  • The Golden Pearl — Rum, Ginger liqueur, Bitters, Lime juice, Honey syrup

Fritz

3⁄4 oz Peychaud's Bitters
3⁄4 oz Maraschino Liqueur
3⁄4 oz Gin, Junipero
3⁄4 oz Sweet vermouth, Carpano Punt e Mes
1 twst Orange peel (as garnish)
Instructions

Stir, strain, straight up, lowball, garnish.

Notes

If lacking Punt e Mes, substitute Vya Sweet Vermouth plus a dash of Campari.

History

Similar to The Gerty. Named after New Orleans born abstract expressionist Fritz Bultman.

Yields Drink
Year
2009
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Ryan Lotz, Lineage, Brookline, MA
Source reference

http://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2010/03/fritz.html

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3.5 stars
(4 ratings)
From other users
  • Made it with Beefeater, on the rocks. A bit cough-syrupy, but not nearly as weird as you might expect. Tango 'til They're Sore is probably a preferable variant. — ★★★★
  • No idea why you would serve it without ice.
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Eastgare commented on 6/29/2011:

It that really 3/4 oz of Peychaud's? That'll really put a dent in your bitters bottle!

Dan commented on 6/29/2011:

Yes, that really is 3/4 oz of Peychaud's. If you work out the price per ounce, it's not bad.

DrunkLab commented on 3/08/2013:

Lacking Junipero, I made this with Tanqueray. The gin still shone through, even against the other intense ingredients. Contra Fred at Cocktail Virgin I found that the Maraschino dominated the swallow but the combination of Peychaud's and Punt e Mes canceled out its sweetness somewhat. The anise and cherry notes from the Peychaud's mostly showed up on the long lingering aftertaste. For being a quarter cocktail bitters, this drink isn't very biter at all, probably tamer even than a Negroni. (Peychaud's is sweet enough, and subdued enough in its bitterness, that it could probably function as a slightly bitter anisette, like what Punt e Mes is to other sweet vermouths.) The drink is very tasty, nevertheless, and the bitters give it an attractive color.

Sierra Madre

2 oz Tequila, Milagro
1⁄4 oz Allspice Dram
1⁄2 oz Orange juice
1⁄2 oz Lemon juice
2 ds Orange bitters, Regans' orange bitters
1⁄2 t Bitters, Bittermens Xocolatl Mole
Instructions

Shake, Straight Up, Cocktail

Notes

Try using Mole bitters instead of Creme de Cacao. Used 1/2 tsp Mole bitters. Too strong allspice flavor. Try reducing to 1/4 oz. and maybe adding ginger liqueur.

Yields Drink
Year
2010
Authenticity
Unknown
Creator
Ted Kilpatrick No 9 Park
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3 stars
(4 ratings)
From other users
  • only used 5 dashes of choc bitters - could use more
Similar cocktails

Gerty

3⁄4 oz Rye
3⁄4 oz Peychaud's Bitters
3⁄4 oz Pastis, Herbsaint (or absinthe)
3⁄4 oz Simple syrup
1 twst Lemon peel (as garnish)
Instructions

Stir, strain, stright (no ice), low-ball

History

Named for and inspired by John Gertsen's Mission of Burma (Drink, Boston, MA)

Yields Drink
Year
2010
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Fred Yarm, Cocktail Virgin Slut, Boston, MA
Source reference

http://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2010/03/gerty.html

Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3 stars
(8 ratings)
From other users
  • Anise is over the top, and finish is like Sucrets or Cepacil lozenges. — ★★★
  • Sounds a bit sweet
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William of Orange

1 1⁄2 oz Genever, Bols
1⁄2 oz Bénédictine
1⁄2 oz Sweet vermouth, Carpano Punt e Mes
1⁄2 oz Aperol
2 ds Orange bitters
Instructions

Expressed orange peel, Stir, Straight Up, Lowball

Yields Drink
Year
2010
Authenticity
Unknown
Creator
Emily Stanley Green Street
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3.5 stars
(5 ratings)
From other users
  • Spirit-forward aperol/genever, slight hint of vermouth. The herbal genever comes out, but it's not overwelming... It almost seems like spicy and herbal at the same time. I thing aperol/spirit-forward fans will like it.
  • Too thick. Too sweet.
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  • Skinny Tie — Gin, Herbal liqueur, Bianco Vermouth, Orange liqueur, Bitters, Orange peel
  • Meet Me at the Altar — Genever, Aromatized wine, Aperol, Bitters
  • Varnish Shamrock — Genever, Dry vermouth, Herbal liqueur
  • Martineuse — Old Tom Gin, Sweet vermouth, Herbal liqueur
  • Branches In A River — Genever, Aromatized wine, Zirbenz Stone Pine Liqueur, Apricot eau-de-vie, Bitters, Beet syrup, Thyme, Lemon peel

Existential Hero

3⁄4 oz Blanco tequila
3⁄4 oz Light rum
3⁄4 oz Orange liqueur, Grand Marnier
3⁄4 oz Becherovka
3⁄4 oz Lime juice
1 t Amaretto
Instructions

Shake, strain, rocks, lowball

Notes

The original unnamed recipe lacked the lime juice. Without it, the drink is quite sweet.

History

Dan Chadwick named the cocktail for its creator and added the lime juice.

Yields Drink
Year
2010
Authenticity
Altered recipe
Creator
Based on a recipe by ExistentialHero, Chowhound
Source reference

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/489550#5423104

Curator rating
4 stars
Average rating
4 stars
(21 ratings)
From other users
  • I tried Vida Mezcal and Jamaican white rum — ★★★★
  • Good for batching
  • A Christmas Margarita. This cocktail is giant as written and nearly fills a lowball glass! Scale everything back to ½oz instead of ¾ and use a scant tsp of Amaretto for a more reasonable sized drink.
  • I used: Cimarron Blanco Cana Brava Bigallet China China Montenegro Amaro Giffard Orgeat
  • Made with curaçao. — ★★★★★
  • Interesting spice, slight bitter aftertaste (good), rather like a more interesting Margarita. Good balance of orange and almond. 3/2010: Alice & Stefan — ★★★★★
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existentialhero commented on 5/06/2011:

What a delicious drink! The creator should win a prize or something. (Full disclosure: I'm the creator. The name, however, is Dan's.)

Hisurfadvisory commented on 10/26/2014:

sensational! Fantastic hints of spice and orange, fresh lime juice definitely help to balance the sweet. Almost like having the holidays in a glass...

Dan commented on 10/28/2014:

Works nicely with Clement Creole Shrub for the orange liqueur.

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