Bitters

Thanks to the Bestwine • Online wine list, discover the bitter and amaro selections featured on the menus of Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurants. An opportunity for every bitters enthusiast to browse the picks of the world's leading taste professionals and to find and buy an exceptional bottle. Find the finest bitters and amari Discover bitters and amari hand-picked by the chefs and sommeliers of Michelin-starred restaurants. A selection from credible, legitimate professionals to help you find your favourite bitter or amaro. Buy the finest bitters and amari We guide you towards the most attractive online deals and promotions. You can buy the finest bitters and amari with complete confidence thanks to a reliable, impartial reference source. The finest bitters and amari With Bestwine • Online, the reference for the finest bitters and amari: Savour one of the finest bitters or amari. Gift an exceptional bottle of bitter or amaro. Enrich your bar or cellar with a prestigious bottle of bitter or amaro. Find the restaurants in which to taste rare bitter and amaro labels. Discover everything you need to know about bitters and amari and their distinctive characteristics, so you can effortlessly choose your brand or bottle. Bitter Scrapy's Alcohol content: 43.6° Discover the bitter Bitter Winedistillery Tusca Alcohol content: 25° Discover the bitter The finest bitter and amaro brands Turn to the verdict of chefs, sommeliers and bartenders from Michelin-starred restaurants around the world to discover the very best bitter and amaro brands. A ranking and comparison of the most highly regarded bitter and amaro brands and bottles served in starred fine-dining establishments, by experts of haute gastronomie. Bitter or amaro label / Origin / Alcohol content Bitter Scrapy's / USA / 43.6° Bitter Toscan / Italy / 25° The finest bitters and amari featured on the menus of Michelin-starred restaurants. Production of bitters and amari Bitter and amer are two closely related spirits. "Bitter" is the English term and "amer" the French equivalent for a liqueur produced by infusing various bitter botanicals. The word "bitter" translates literally as "amer" between English and French. In Italy, the equivalent term is "Amaro". Naturally, the name of this liqueur stems from the sharp, astringent sensation it leaves on the palate. "Bitter" is the term most widely used internationally. In French-speaking countries, "bitter" is used just as commonly as "amer". A bitter or amaro can be defined as an aperitif or digestif liqueur made from bitter orange peel, gentian and various aromatic botanicals infused or macerated in alcohol. The legal European Union definition describes a bitter as a spirit drink with a predominantly bitter taste, produced by flavouring agricultural ethyl alcohol or distillate of agricultural origin (or both) with flavouring substances or preparations. By law, a bitter must have a minimum alcohol content of 15%. The alcoholic strength of bitters can reach up to 60%. The origin of bitters is difficult to pinpoint, as the definition encompasses many alcoholic beverages. The use of bitters in cocktails dates back to the 16th century, when they were incorporated into mixed drinks as medicinal preparations. The popularity of bitters and amari took off during the Roaring Twenties from 1920 onwards. Bitters became an essential ingredient in countless cocktails, used to enhance and lift their flavours. Bitters and amari have no single composition or production method. The terms encompass liqueurs made from a wide range of bitter botanicals, the main ones being bitter gentian (Gentianella amarella), bitter orange or bigarade (Citrus aurantium) and cinchona (Cinchona officinalis). Depending on the label, ingredients may also include angelica, cascarilla, lemon balm, pine buds, mirabelle plum, verbena, bigarade, lemongrass, quinine, juniper, anise, sage and mint. Bitters can also be made from herbs such as thyme and fennel, spices like turmeric and ginger, citrus fruits such as lemon and orange, as well as roots and flowers. The production of a bitter or amaro is most often carried out in 4 stages: · Harvesting and optional drying of the plants, herbs and spices. · Maceration and/or infusion and/or distillation of the ingredients in agricultural alcohol for a variable period. Rarer bitters are produced from a base of rum or vodka. · Addition of liquid sugar to the preparation (80 grams per litre for liqueurs flavoured solely with gentian, a similar plant or wormwood, and 100 grams per litre in all other cases). · Optional ageing and bottling of the bitter or amaro. Commercially, brands and distilleries are free to label their liqueur "bitter" or "amer", regardless of composition or production method, provided it meets the legal definition. A bitter must have a markedly bitter taste. It must also be obtained by distillation, infusion or maceration of flavouring substances with agricultural alcohol. Like all liqueurs, a bitter must contain a minimum quantity of sugar under European law. A liqueur is a flavoured spirit drink containing at least 100 grams of sugar per litre. A bitter must therefore contain 100 grams per litre, except when made with gentian, a similar plant or wormwood. Bitter and amaro bottles generally come in the classic 70 cl format. Cocktail bitters are often offered in 50 cl or 27.5 cl flasks. The price of a fine bottle of bitter or amaro typically ranges from €20 to €40. Enjoying bitters and amari In the past, bitters were consumed as a therapeutic remedy. They were regarded as a beneficial elixir for digestion and a soothing remedy for stomach ailments. Apothecaries attributed medicinal virtues to them. Today, bitters are enjoyed purely for pleasure. They can be served as an aperitif or digestif and offer a bouquet of floral and herbaceous aromas on the palate. Traditionally, bitters and amari are said to whet the appetite and aid digestion. They can also have a tonic effect, making them suitable to enjoy before or after a meal. As an aperitif or digestif, bitters can be sipped neat. When drunk straight, they are best served well chilled. During the aperitif hour, bitters can also be lengthened with a soft drink or a spirit. For example, a few drops added to tonic water create a refreshing, light beverage. Bitters can also pair beautifully with fruit juice or even Champagne to bring fragrant notes. Bitters are equally renowned for enhancing the aromas of whisky and cognac. Bitters can also accompany desserts, since they are liqueurs sweetened during production. They therefore pair well with desserts that are themselves sweet. However, due to their bitterness, they retain a sharper edge than most other liqueurs and may seem less sugary by comparison. Bitters thus pair beautifully with lightly sweetened desserts, such as creations made with dark chocolate. Beyond their flavours, bitters also captivate with their translucent, colourful appearance, displaying ruby or golden tones drawn from their botanical composition. Bitters are alcoholic beverages used in countless cocktails. In Michelin-starred restaurants, many bartenders rely on bitters and amari to craft classic cocktails or to invent new ones. Around the world, bitters are widely recognised in the cocktail-making community. Some labels are commonly referred to as "aromatic bitters". Chefs in starred restaurants, for their part, may use bitters to lift certain dishes or sauces. Bitters and amari are produced in distilleries and by brands from around the world. Indeed, the recipe for a bitter is universal: it can be made anywhere from local plants, spices and herbs. That is why bitters are at once simple drinks and ones with countless flavour possibilities, as the combinations of ingredients and production methods vary endlessly from producer to producer. Both artisanal and industrial bitter brands can be found on the market. There are many bitter and amaro brands such as Aperol (Italy), Abbot's Aged Bitters (USA), Amaro Lucano (Italy), Angostura (Venezuela), Avèze (France), Becherovka (Czech Republic), Bertrand (France), Birabelle (France), Buff (Luxembourg), Campari (Italy), Clacquesin (France), Devoille (France), Dolin (France), Fernet Branca (Italy), China Martini and China Stemmi (Italy), Cynar (Italy), Gammel Dansk (Denmark), Gran Classico (Switzerland), Jägermeister (Germany), Lecomte Blaise (France), Miclo (France), Miramer (France), Orange bitters (England), Picabel (France), Picon (France), Salers (France), Sommer (France), Suze (France), Unicom (Hungary) and Wolfberger (France). Non-alcoholic bitters and amari also exist. These alcohol-free spirit-style drinks can be identified by their bright red colour. An authentic ranking and comparison to choose your bitter or amaro Choose the best bitter or amaro for you: Select one or more selection criteria for your bitter or amaro according to your preferences. Rank the bitters and amari according to your chosen criteria. Select your preferred bitter or amaro label. Buy one of the finest bitters or amari online at the best price. Savour one of the finest bitters or amari! The premium bitter and amaro selection How are bitters and amari selected on Bestwine • Online? Bestwine • Online lists the bitters and amari featured on the wine lists and in the cellars of the most acclaimed fine-dining restaurants around the world. Labels championed by the greatest chefs and sommeliers, themselves celebrated by critics. Only bitters and amari available online are showcased so you can buy them with ease. How is the directory of the finest bitters and amari updated? The directory is updated daily, integrating new labels drawn from the wine lists of fine-dining restaurants made available to us. We also refresh commercial offers and promotions so you can buy a quality bitter or amaro online at the best price. We are committed to listing only labels found on the wine lists of award-winning restaurants. Why choose a bitter or amaro through Bestwine • Online? The chefs and sommeliers of fine-dining restaurants are the guardians of culinary excellence, offering only the finest products, dishes and beverages in their establishments. Naturally, the chefs and sommeliers of the world's greatest restaurants showcase the very best bitters and amari on their menus. Why buy your bitter or amaro through Bestwine • Online? Bestwine • Online is committed to listing the finest bitters and amari and guiding you towards the most attractive online offers, so you can buy at the best price. The smart bitter and amaro deal to find and buy a bottle with the best quality-to-price ratio!