You may be familiar with Angostura and Peychauds bitters but there is a world of other options to use to create unique flavour profiles for cocktails. I recently was talking about ways in which you can add “smokiness” to cocktails and adding a smoky bitters is one of the four methods.
Here in British Columbia, we are spoiled with numerous Bitters companies. Here are three of my favourite bitters to add a smoky undertone to cocktails from three Vancouver-based bitters companies.
1. Ms. Betters Bitter’s Smoke + Oak Bitters
This bitters has been a go-to for me for many fall/winter cocktails. While working at The Diamond, one of our best-selling cocktails was the “Smoke + Mirrors” (created by moi!) which included Bourbon, Mezcal, Apricot Syrup, Cynar, the Smoke + Oak Bitters and a smoked class (see photos and recipes here). If you haven’t heard of Ms. Betters Bitters before, you are missing out! I can definitively say they are one of my favourite Bitters companies of the moment — all of their expressions add so much extra depth to drinks.
In particular with the Smoke + Oak Bitters, I love adding it to any brown spirit cocktail (bourbon, rye, scotch, rum, cognac etc.) especially with anything stirred down and with amaro in it.
2. Apothecary Mystic Caravan Smokey Pear Bitters
I first came across this one while working at Brix + Mortar restaurant. One of our best-selling cocktails for years was the “Onoda Old Fashioned” which included Japanese Whisky, Umeshu Plum Wine and the Mystic Caravan Apothecary Smokey Pear Bitters.
These bitters are versatile and I especially like them in Old Fashioned variations or anything with citrus in them. The fruit and smoke together are a match made in heaven — or rather a match made in a mystic caravan.
3. Bittered Sling Moondog Latin Bitters
Once again, I was introduced to this bitters via working at Brix + Mortar restaurant. One of my favourite boozy beverages that our Bar Manager Chris Mosey created was called The Rambler and involved tarragon-infused blended scotch, honey and Moondog Latin Bitters. This particular bitters is one of their quintessential expressions, and features notes of smoke, savoury and spice. In particular I really like using it in cocktails with blended scotches, tequila or mezcal.
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