You can tell a lot about a man by his drink of choice. These days, I keep flipping between a gin & tonic and an old fashioned. At home, I’ve been drinking G&Ts just because I typically don’t have any bitters around the house. That’s about to change, though, now that I have some of my own homemade bitters on my bar. (Now I am far more likely to run out of tonic than I am bitters!)
Here’s how to make your own bottle of DIY orange bitters, whether it’s for your own bar cart at home or as the perfect gift for the man in your life.
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Supplies:
- four oranges
- 1 tsp. each of whole cloves, whole allspice, cardamom seeds, and coriander seeds
- 4 oz. dropper bottles
- knife and cutting board
- Everclear grain alcohol
- large glass bottle
- coffee filter
- optional: printable download and printable sticker paper
Instructions:
Step 1: Dry your orange peel. Peel four medium oranges and cut the peels into slices about ¼” x 2″. Spread them evenly on a baking sheet and bake for about 1–2 hours at 225 degrees, or until they’re dried and curling slightly.
Step 2: In a glass container, place 2 cups of Everclear and the cooled orange peel, along with 1 tablespoon each of whole cloves, whole allspice, coriander seeds, and cardamom pods. Seal the jar tightly and set it in a cool, dry area.
Step 3: Allow the mixture to sit for up to one month. You can agitate it periodically to mix up the ingredients; you can also test every few days for flavor. I recommend putting a drop or two in half a glass of water to taste test, as it can be very strong if you taste it directly.
Step 4: Once the mixture reaches your liking, strain the orange peel and spices out by carefully pouring the mixture through a coffee filter.
Step 5: Fill small bottles with the mixture and give them as gifts or enjoy yourself. See the recipe below to use your own orange bitters in an old fashioned.
Step 6: If you’d like, print out our Orange Bitters label on your sticker paper, trim around the edges, and put the label on the bottles.
To make an old fashioned:
Step 1: Place a sugar cube in an old fashioned glass and saturate with bitters; add a dash of plain water.
Step 2: Muddle until dissolved.
Step 3: Fill the glass with ice cubes and add whiskey.
Step 4: Garnish with an orange slice and a cocktail cherry.
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