Better With Bitters: Three Local Bitters + Cocktails

In Salt Lake City’s vibrant craft cocktail scene, locally made bitters add another layer of our local cocktail identity to what’s in your glass. Bitters are a botanical ingredient that lends an edge of flavor to many favorite cocktails, like an old fashioned. Here, local bitters makers Beehive Bitters Co., Bitters Lab and Honest John Bitters Co. offer simple cocktail recipes using their toothsome products.

Beehive Bitters Co.

“The Spiced Orange bitters add another level of depth and flavor to this cocktail. Aromatic baking spices and fresh orange oils combined with the cold brew coffee make this the perfect after dinner drink!” –Michael D’Amico, Owner/Operator

THE AUTUMN SOLSTICE:

• 1.5 oz. Sugar House Vodka
• 4 oz. Daily Rise Cold Brew
• 0.5 oz. Simple Syrup
• 2 dashes Spiced Orange Bitters

Stir with ice. Strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube and an orange peel.

Bitters Lab

“We choose our fig and black walnut bitters for this cocktail because not only does it just say ‘winter’ to us and happens to be our winter seasonal flavor, but the flavor of the fig comes through so nicely with just a hint of nuttiness. This pairs wonderfully with this local gin. This is an incredibly easy cocktail that will be sure to impress all of your holiday guests.” –Andrea Latimer, Owner

WINTER IN A GLASS:

• 2 oz. Beehive Distillery Jack Rabbit Gin
• 4 dashes Bitters Lab Fig & Black Walnut bitters
• Top with Fever Tree tonic water (approximately 4 oz.)
• whole, dried black fig
• fresh rosemary

Load chilled old fashioned glass with ice. Pour in gin and bitters. With a swiveled bar spoon, pour tonic into the glass down the handle of the spoon to release the aromatics from the tonic. Garnish with whole, dried black fig and fresh rosemary; slap the rosemary between your palms to release the oils and rim the glass with it before garnishing.

Honest John Bitters Co.

“With natural flavors of black walnut, maple, allspice and cocoa, Honest John Black Walnut Bitters shine in a Black Manhattan. They provide a balance to the bittersweet flavor of the Averna Amaro and complement the sharpness of the rye whiskey, resulting in a complex but perfectly balanced cocktail.” –Adam Albro, Bar Manager at The Rest

BLACK MANHATTAN:

• 2 oz. rye whiskey
• 1 oz. Averna Amaro
• 4 dashes Honest John Black Walnut Bitters
• 1 Luxardo cherry

Add all liquid ingredients to stirring glass. Stir in cracked ice for 25–30 seconds. Strain into coupe glass and garnish with a Luxardo Cherry.