She Strengthens

Revamp Your Cocktail Game with Maple Bitters

Tired of the same old Angostura bitters in every cocktail? Want to add a unique twist to your favorite drinks? Look no further than maple bitters! These sweet and spicy bitters can elevate your cocktail game and provide a fresh spin on classic recipes.

The Magic of Maple Bitters

Maple bitters offer a distinct flavor profile that combines the richness of maple syrup with warm spices. By using Grade B maple syrup, you’ll get a deeper, more robust flavor that’s perfect for cooking and mixing. And the best part? Making maple bitters is surprisingly easy.

Gather Your Ingredients

Before you start, make sure you have the following ingredients:

• 1 tsp fennel seed
• 1 tsp cocoa nibs
• 1 tsp roasted barley
• 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
• 1 tsp cassia chips (cinnamon)
• 1/2 tsp whole cloves
• 2 cardamom pods, crushed
• 1 tsp gentian root
• 1 tsp quassia bark chips
• 1/2 tsp walnut leaves
• 3/4 cup Grade B maple syrup
• 1/3 cup + 1/2 cup rye whiskey
• 1/3 cup Everclear (151 proof) or highest proof vodka

The Process

To create your maple bitters, follow these simple steps:

1. Spice Jar: Combine fennel seed, cocoa nibs, roasted barley, vanilla bean scrapings, cassia chips, cloves, and cardamom pods in a 1 qt. mason jar. Add 1/3 cup of Everclear and agitate to mix.
2. Bitter Jar: Combine gentian root, quassia bark chips, and walnut leaves in a 1 qt. mason jar. Add 1/3 cup of rye whiskey and agitate to mix.
3. Flavor Jar: Combine maple syrup and remaining 1/2 cup of rye whiskey in a 1 qt. mason jar. Agitate to mix.
4. Steeping: Place the jars in a room-temperature area, away from light. Agitate the jars daily for two weeks.
5. Filtering: Strain the ingredients from each jar separately using cheese cloth or a fine mesh sieve. Then, strain each jar’s contents again with more cheese cloth or a coffee filter.
6. Blending: Combine the leftover spirits from the three jars using either the “careful method” (adding ingredients gradually) or the “caution to the wind method” (combining all spirits at once).

The Final Touch

Once you’ve blended your maple bitters, transfer the mixture to brown dropper bottles or similar dispensing devices. This will make it easy to add small amounts to your cocktails.

Get Creative with Maple Bitters

With your homemade maple bitters, the possibilities are endless. Experiment with different cocktails and flavor combinations to find your new favorite drink. Whether you’re a seasoned mixologist or just starting out, maple bitters are sure to elevate your cocktail game.