We have received a lot inquiries and questions about good resources for crafting your own bitters, so we decided to put together a list of books we use as inspiration.

Each time we set out to create a specific bitters flavor, we start with the books below. There is a lot of information on the internet about bitters, but it's often difficult to know the credibility behind each and every source. We use these books as an anchoring point for our recipes, then look to the internet for any potential adjustments. Each author has spent a lot of time researching their topics and we consider them experts in the field.  If you are looking for information on bitters, these books will provide you with a wealth of knowledge.

Our Bitters Book List

Below are the books on bitters we recommend. For your convenience we provided links to each book title on Amazon.

Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, with Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas 

If you only want to buy one book, we suggest you buy this one. Brad Thomas Parsons does a great job describing the history of bitters and provides excellent recipes and formulas you can do at home. This book also features numerous cocktail and cuisine recipes on how to use bitters on a daily basis. If all else fails, this book is our go-to.

Bitterman's Field Guide to Bitters & Amari: 500 Bitters; 50 Amari; 123 Recipes for Cocktails, Food & Homemade Bitters (Volume 2)

In this book Mark Bitterman provides you with flexible bitters recipe templates, that allow you to easily make multiple variations. This is a theme the author carries through to the cocktail recipes as well, paving the way for you to be creative. This book covers couple additional bitters recipes that the previous book doesn't.

DIY Bitters: Reviving the Forgotten Flavor - A Guide to Making Your Own Bitters for Bartenders, Cocktail Enthusiasts, Herbalists, and More

This book is our go to when trying to understand the impact a specific ingredient will have on the final bitter flavor. This book shows you how to first make a tincture from each and every individual ingredient and then creating the perfect blend for each flavor. Great book for more technical readers.

Handcrafted Bitters: Simple Recipes for Artisanal Bitters and the Cocktails That Love Them

This is another book taking a tincture approach to crafting bitters. The author provides numerous great bitters formulas and cocktail recipes that follow the weather seasons. A great read if you are looking to get a bit more technical with your crafting.

The Drunken Botanist

If you are looking to dive deeper into the world of botany and get a good understanding of each plant's relationship to cocktails and drinks, this book is a must read. Amy Stewart gives you a boat load of knowledge and facts about plants, herbs, barks, fruits, vegetables and flowers. This book is our back bone here at the Bitters Club.

As always feel free to reach out to us with any specific questions. Let us know what bitters creations you come up with and how you use them. Happy Reading!

- The Bitters Club Team

 

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