Cocktail bitters, a staple in the original cocktail and long sought after by deprived mixologists in Canada, are making a comeback.

Joanne Sasvari of the Vancouver Sun highlights the options, and some of the best, including Peter’s lip smacking Twisted & Bitter cocktail bitters presented at the Art of the Cocktail event last week. Read her article here.

Our bitters will be available at our Tasting Room come mid-December and at your grocery store in the future.

Peter getting Twisted & Bitter, Photo by Joanne Sasvari

So what did an original bitters-spiked 19th century cocktail look like?

The pre-prohibition martini mixed gin with sweet vermouth — a surprise to many martini lovers.  Not too long after the availability of sweet vermouth, a dry French vermouth was introduced. Now people could order their martinis ‘dry’.  This didn’t mean less vermouth, it meant using dry vermouth instead.

If you want a real martini try the recipes below. And remember to stir not shake.

Pre-Prohibition Martini

1 oz Victoria Gin
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
dash of orange bitters
Stir with ice, strain & garnish with a Marachino cherry.

The Classic Martini

1 1/2 oz Victoria Gin
1/2 oz Noilly Prat vermouth
dash of orange bitters
Stir with ice, strain & garnish with lemon twist.