What Are Bitters? Rachael's Husband & Live-In Bartender Answers

Rach's hubby, John Cusimano, is also her live-in bartender. ? He's been mixing up cocktails to complement her meals while they both stay home.

So, when a viewer asked, "what are bitters?" John stepped in front of the camera to answer. 

WHAT ARE BITTERS?

"What spices are to food, bitters are to cocktails," John says.

WHAT ARE BITTERS MADE OF?

"They are basically a lot of alcohol and then they put flavorings in there — a lot of bark and spices and herbs and really intense flavorings."

There are many different types of bitters out there. One of the original bitters is called Angostura, which you can get at most supermarkets, according to John.

HOW DO YOU USE BITTERS IN COCKTAILS?

"They all come with dasher tops, [so] only a little bit will come out. I would just do one dash, two dashes at the most per drink. Just experiment with it. And it's a lot of fun!"

Try mixing up one of these cocktail recipes that use bitters:

• Old-Fashioned
• Negroni
• Filthy Dirty Martini
• Texas 40 Cocktail
• Boozy Cel-Ray Cocktail