Hey Guys and Gals! Bitters built in two jars: gentian and burdock root for the bitterness, a spiced orange and ginger infusion for the flavor, blended and sweetened with brown sugar syrup.
Ingredients
Jar 1, bittering
2 tablespoons gentian root
2 tablespoons burdock root
1 1/2 cups of vodka
Jar 2, flavoring
Zest of 1 orange
2 cinnamon sticks
15 whole allspice berries
10 whole cloves
3 whole star anise
1 1/2 oz freshly chopped ginger, about a 2 inch piece
1 1/2 cups of vodka
Syrup
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
Directions
1. Put the chopped gentian and burdock roots in a mason jar, add the vodka and seal.
2. Chop the ginger. Peel the zest from a washed orange, leaving the pith. Combine the Jar 2 ingredients in a second mason jar, add the vodka and seal.
3. Store both jars in a cool, dry place away from sunlight for a month, shaking once daily.
4. Strain each jar separately through cheesecloth, gently wringing it.
5. Mix 4 parts flavoring to 1 part bittering, or to taste.
6. Bring the sugar and water to a boil, stirring to dissolve. Let cool, then add slowly, tasting until it is sweet enough.
Bitters are used by the dash, not by the glass.