The Bitter Truth at Drinkology

The Bitter Truth Cocktail Bitters Bar Pack, 5x0.02L 41% Background information on The Bitter Truth Bar Pack: Bitters are inextricably linked to the history of the cocktail. The word cocktail was defined as a "stimulating drink made from all kinds of spirits, sugar, water and bitters" as early as 1806. Back then, a cocktail had to have aromatic tinctures on the ingredients list. It is all the more astonishing that bitters in their current form have only been around again for a few years. With the government-imposed alcohol abstinence that prevailed in the USA from 1919 to 1933, bitters, like many other classic cocktail recipes and spirits, were forgotten. As a result, of the former variety, practically only the Angostura bitters remained. However, this was about to change suddenly with the emerging cocktail renaissance of recent years. The Munich bitters manufacturer "The Bitter Truth" has played a pioneering role in this. The two founders Stephan Berg and Alexander Hauck decided to produce high-quality bitters themselves in 2006 due to the lack of high-quality bitters. The Bitter Truth has now earned a veritable reputation worldwide and is at home in practically every bar. But the two entrepreneurs are by no means resting on their laurels. Rather, they are constantly tinkering with new, unusual creations with which they can enrich the cocktail world. The Bitter Truth Bar pack was released to mark their 10th anniversary. Now in 2022, the Bar Pack is coming in a new composition. The Bitter Truth Bar Pack contains a total of five different bitters variants. The small brown glass bottles each have a capacity of 20 ml and a special pourer that makes dosing quick and easy. In addition to the bitters, The Bitter Truth Bar Pack also contains a small book with great recipe ideas. Packed in a beautifully designed metal case with three-dimensional embossing, this set also makes a great gift. At the same time, its compact size makes it suitable for travel or spontaneous parties with friends. The selection of bitters creations in The Bitter Truth Bar Pack is deliberately modern. In addition to the fruity Grapefruit Bitters and Peach Bitters, there is a sweet and spicy Chocolate Bitters, a floral Cucumber Bitters and the newly developed Olive Bitters, which was developed primarily for use in the king of all cocktails, the Martini. The Bitter Truth Bar Pack therefore allows you to create exciting cocktails with completely new taste and aroma components or to give popular classics a new twist. The Bitter Truth Bar Pack therefore ensures plenty of variety at the bar.

The Bitter Truth Bogart's Bitters 0.35L 42.10% The story of The Bitter Truth Cocktail bitters were an indispensable part of a good cocktail creation for decades and distinguished the group of cocktails from other drink categories such as slings, fizzes, sours, toddies or punches. With the onset of Prohibition, however, they were almost forgotten and it was only with the revival of cocktail culture in the early 2000s that cocktail bitters again came into focus. The Munich company "The Bitter Truth", which was founded in 2006 by former bartenders Stephan Berg and Alexander Hauck, played a major role in this. Berg & Hauck based the decision as to which flavours should be produced on old cocktail recipes, which could no longer be recreated faithfully because a crucial ingredient was missing - the right bitter. "The Bitter Truth" is now one of the most renowned companies in the cocktail bitters segment and continues to surprise the market with products that are highly innovative. Bogart's Bitters It is no exaggeration to say that the original cocktail movement began with Bogart's Bitters, as they are mentioned in the 1862 book "The Bar-Tenders Guide: How to mix Drinks or The Bon-Vivant's Companion" by legendary bartender Jerry Thomas, making them the first cocktail bitters ever mentioned in writing. Although no bottle from the Jerry Thomas era has ever surfaced, the general opinion is that Bogart's is a kind of misspelling of Bokers Bitters, which was extremely popular at the time. The Bitter Truth has managed to get hold of one of the few bottles of Bogart's Bitters still in existence in the world, which was bottled around 1900 and served as the basis for The Bitter Truth - Bogart's Bitter. The challenge of the recreation was enormous, because in addition to the contents, the iconic "Lady Leg" bottle also had to be reproduced. In collaboration with a glassworks, the glass bottle, which had not been used for about a century, was reissued. The same applies to the labels, which were redesigned based on the original bottle, making it possible to bring it back onto the market almost identically. In order to imitate the contents of the bottles as accurately as possible, they were analyzed, interpreted and changes in the taste profile due to age were removed, making the new recipe almost authentic to the original. The Bitter Truth Bogart's Bitters is only available in a strictly limited edition and is a must for every bitters fan and cocktail enthusiast! For more info; https://vimeo.com/262549506

The Bitter Truth Olive Bitters 0.2L 39%

The Bitter Truth Cucumber Bitters, 0.2 L, 39% The history of The Bitter Truth The history of the German company The Bitter Truth is unique and closely linked to the renaissance of cocktails in the last decade. To better understand the history of cocktail bitters in general, one must go back to the middle of the 19th century. At that time, the first cocktail books appeared and with them the first written cocktail recipes. Cocktail bitters were an integral part of the recipes at that time. In numerous variations, they gave the cocktails of the time the right balance and spice and distinguished the group of cocktails from other drink categories such as fizzes, slings, toddies, punches or sours. With the beginning of American Prohibition in 1920, however, the art of mixing cocktails, and with it cocktail bitters, fell into oblivion. Cocktail culture recovered only slowly and for decades was characterized by brightly colored drinks in the style of a swimming pool. Of the former Cocktail Bitters, only Angostura Bitters remained, although this was more of a niche product. This problem did not go unnoticed by the two former bartenders Stephan Berg and Alexander Hauck, who had been making cocktail bitters for the bars they worked in for several years. In 2006, the two entrepreneurs decided to turn their passion into a career and founded the company "The Bitter Truth". The aim of "The Bitter Truth" was to restore the former fame of Cocktail Bitters to new heights and to re-establish them on the global cocktail scene. A mission that was crowned with success, as today The Bitter Truth Cocktail Bitters can be found in almost every bar in the world! The Bitter Truth Cucumber Bitters The newest product in the Bitters manufacturer's portfolio is The Bitter Truth Cucumber Bitters. These were developed with the aim of capturing the fragile aromas of a fresh cucumber and thus having the opportunity to transfer this elegant taste into cocktails. As a basis for the Cucumber Bitter, fresh cucumbers are mashed immediately after harvest and then distilled. This distillate is then mixed with various herbs and spices and thus gets its unmistakably fresh and spicy taste. The Cucumber Bitters from The Bitter Truth are particularly impressive in drinks with white spirits such as gin, vodka or aquavit.

The Bitter Truth Peach Bitters 0.2L 39% Cocktail Bitters in earlier times The 1910s are widely regarded as the golden age of cocktail culture. At that time, cocktail bitters were an indispensable component of many cocktail creations and distinguished them from other drink categories such as fizzes, slings, sours, punches or toddies. When Prohibition began in 1919, consumers' drinking habits shifted massively. The basic spirits, such as whiskey and gin, were only available from dubious sources and in very poor quality, if at all. High-quality products such as cocktail bitters almost completely disappeared and only a few brands managed to survive the "dry period". When Prohibition was finally over in 1933, the remaining cocktail bitters found it difficult to position themselves in the changed market, as cocktail culture had almost completely come to a standstill. The revival of cocktail bitters It took a surprisingly long time, until 2006 to be precise, for the cocktail bitters segment to gain momentum again. At that time, the two internationally known bartenders Stephan Berg and Alexander Hauck founded the bitters manufacturer "The Bitter Truth" in Munich. The ambitious and clear vision of the two entrepreneurs was to make long-forgotten and thought-lost ingredients available to bartenders and connoisseurs in outstanding quality. The conditions for this were ideal, as both Stephan Berg and Alexander Hauck had already gained experience in the production of cocktail bitters during their time behind the bar, as they made them themselves by hand for the bars in which they worked. In addition, Stephan Berg has one of the most extensive collections of historical cocktail bitters in the world, so that Berg and Hauck knew what the bitters must have tasted like in the past by carefully and purposefully tasting them. As some standard bitters, such as Angostura, were still available, Berg and Hauck searched through old cocktail books for cocktail recipes that could no longer be made true to the original with the bitters available, and for which the revival of old recipes was necessary. In autumn 2006, the first three products from "The Bitter Truth" were finally released: an Orange Bitters, an Aromatic Bitters and a Lemon Bitters. The further development of The Bitter Truth The products from "The Bitter Truth" immediately attracted great interest in the international bar scene and were quickly able to position themselves in some of the most important cocktail bars worldwide, which was certainly also due to the attractive product design by graduate designer Alexander Hauck. Encouraged by the positive response from colleagues, “The Bitter Truth” developed further exciting bitters creations over the next few years, such as Jerry Thomas Own Decanter Bitters, Chocolate Bitters, Creole Bitters, Grapefruit Bitters and a Celery Bitters, which was named “Best Spirit of the Year” at the 2008 Mixology Bar Awards and won the title of “Best New Product” at Tales of the Cocktail New Orleans 2010. Since the company's original idea was to "revive forgotten ingredients", the range was expanded over time to include other niche products such as Violet Liqueur, Apricot Liqueur, Elderflower Liqueur, Orange Flower Water, Rose Water, Pimento Dram, Sloe Gin, Pink Gin, Falernum and the herbal liqueur ELIXIER. The Bitter Truth Peach Bitters - taste Peach is a product that has been used by bartenders for decades - think of the famous Bellini cocktail, for example. For this reason, The Bitter Truth decided to create a bitter with the taste of natural peaches. The result is Peach Bitters, which was first presented at the Bar Convent Berlin 2012. It impresses with a great bouquet of dried and fresh peaches and a slightly floral note. If you try the bitter, the peach notes are accompanied by a subtle marzipan aroma and enormous fruitiness. In contrast to other products, the bitterness of Peach Bitters is less pronounced. This has the advantage that you can add 1-2 dashes more to the drink if you want the fruity note to come across particularly well. The aromas of Peach Bitters go particularly well with whiskey, gin and bourbon. A cocktail tip from the editors is "The Derby": The base of this drink is bourbon or gin, which is refined with fresh mint and peach bitters. Cheers!

The Bitter Truth Essential Bitters Pack 0.8L 40.25% These cocktail bitters revive the tradition of German bitters founded by Dr. Siegert and are handmade using the traditional maceration process. This bitters set consists of 4 x 0.2 liter bottles: The Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters The Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters is an intense, dark brown color. The aroma is dominated by warm, aromatic flavors such as cinnamon, gentian and cardamom. Preferably used in dark spirits and as a variation on the classic Angostura Bitters. The Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters contain only natural flavorings! The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters are the result of classic maceration, in which selected orange varieties are married with exotic spices. The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters has an aroma with a strong orange note and finely balanced spiciness. The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters are ideal for many classic, modern cocktail creations, as well as an addition to fine cuisine. Orange bitters were originally the most commonly used bitters in cocktails. The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters are 100% natural! No artificial colors or flavors! The Bitter Truth Celery Bitters The world's first celery bitters, an ingredient that existed in the 19th century, enriches your cocktails with unprecedented spicy aromas of celery, lemongrass and delicate ginger tones. The Bitter Truth Celery Bitters is an addition to Corpes Reviver cocktails such as Bloody Mary, Bullshot or Prairie Oyster. The Bitter Truth Celery Bitters have won several awards. Spirit of the Year in Germany 2008, Best New Product in New Orleans, Tales of the Cocktail 2010. Unique, full of flavor for the bar and kitchen. The Bitter Truth Celery Bitters are 100% natural! No artificial colors or flavors! The Bitter Truth Creole Bitters The Bitter Truth Creole Bitters reflect the flavor-rich Creole cuisine of the American South and round off the Munich manufacturer's diverse range of high-quality cocktail ingredients. The Bitter Truth Creole Bitters are intensely aromatic, these bitters offer notes of nutmeg, anise, fennel and caraway. With their bright red color, they are ideal for use in combination with gin, whiskey and cognac. The Bitter Truth Creole Bitters contain only natural flavors!

The Bitter Truth Elderflower Liqueur 0.5L 22% The Bitter Truth Elderflower Liqueur combines the properties of a spicy aperitif wine and a fruity flower liqueur. Chilled, pure on ice or infused with sparkling wine, this liqueur can be enjoyed as an aperitif or used as an ingredient in countless cocktails and long drinks.This elderflower liqueur has a bright golden-yellow color and a full, fresh bouquet with a variety of aromas dominated by elderflowers and rounded off with spicy honey notes and fruity aromas such as quince and grape.

The Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters, 0.2 L, 39% The Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters take up the tradition of German bitters founded by Dr. Siegert and are produced in a traditional maceration process using elaborate handcraft. The Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters is an intense, dark brown in color. The aroma is dominated by warm, aromatic aromas such as cinnamon, gentian and cardamom. Preferably used in dark spirits and as a variation on the classic Angostura Bitters. The Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters contain only natural flavorings!

The Bitter Truth Creole Bitters, 0.2 L, 39% The Bitter Truth Creole Bitters reflect the aromatic Creole cuisine of the American South and round off the Munich manufacturer's diverse range of high-quality cocktail ingredients. The Bitter Truth Creole Bitters are intensely aromatic, offering notes of nutmeg, anise, fennel and caraway. Bright red in color, they are ideal for use in combination with gin, whiskey and cognac. The Bitter Truth Creole Bitters contain only natural flavorings!

The Bitter Truth Liqueur Set, 3 x 0.5 L, 22% We offer you 3 exceptional flavors in this liqueur package from The Bitter Truth. With great attention to authenticity and naturalness, the Apricot Liqueur, the Violet Liqueur and the Elderflower Liqueur were created, liqueurs that all have a traditional place in cocktail history and which now make it possible to prepare many classic drinks true to the original. The perfect start to the warm season. The Bitter Truth Apricot Liqueur ...is an expressive apricot liqueur composed from the juice of sun-ripened Klosterneuberg apricots and a fruit brandy distilled from the same fruit. The Bitter Truth's Apricot Liqueur impresses with its pronounced fruitiness and reduced sugar content. The almond note that is often clearly noticeable in other apricot liqueurs has been minimized here in a complex process in order to bring out the full aroma of the apricot pulp. As an ingredient in a variety of classic and modern cocktail recipes, to be enjoyed neat or infused with champagne. The Bitter Truth Violet Liqueur ...is made from the flowers and roots of wild violets from the Alpine foothills and the finest grain spirit and captures the delicate, elegant aromas of these fragile plants in an impressive way. Light in body, with subtle floral notes, the sugar content in The Bitter Truth Violet Liqueur was deliberately reduced. This authentic Violet Liqueur offers, for the first time in decades, the possibility of faithfully reproducing classic cocktails such as Aviation, Blue Moon, as well as modern cocktails such as the Violette Fizz. The Bitter Truth Elderflower Liqueur ...combines the properties of a spicy aperitif wine and a fruity flower liqueur. Chilled, pure on ice or infused with sparkling wine, this liqueur can be enjoyed as an aperitif or used as an ingredient in countless cocktails and long drinks. This elderflower liqueur has a bright golden-yellow color and a full, fresh bouquet with a variety of aromas dominated by elderflowers and rounded off with spicy honey notes and fruity aromas such as quince and grape.

The Bitter Truth Apricot Liqueur, 0.5 L, 22% The Bitter Truth Apricot Liqueur is an expressive apricot liqueur made from the juice of sun-ripened Klosterneuberg apricots and a fruit brandy distilled from the same fruit. The Bitter Truth's Apricot Liqueur impresses with its pronounced fruitiness and reduced sugar content. The almond note that is often clearly noticeable in other apricot liqueurs has been minimized here in a complex process in order to bring out the full aroma of the apricot pulp. As an ingredient in a variety of classic and modern cocktail recipes, to be enjoyed neat or infused with champagne.

The Bitter Truth Violet Liqueur, 0.5 L, 22% Cocktail bitters over time Cocktail bitters have a long tradition and many of the old cocktail recipes call for their use. Like the heart of cocktail culture, the center of cocktail bitters production at that time was in the USA. With the start of Prohibition in 1919, however, as with many other spirits companies, the fate of most bitters manufacturers was sealed. Only a few brands, such as Angostura Bitters, survived the dry period, but were never able to regain their former glory. Along with cocktail bitters, many classic cocktails were forgotten and for many decades colorful drinks with lots of cream and coconut liqueur were the most popular drinks in many bars. This was not to change until the beginning of the 21st century, when classic cocktails slowly came back into fashion. Unfortunately, the drinks could often not be recreated true to the original because a crucial ingredient was missing - the cocktail bitters. The two internationally known bartenders Stephan Berg & Alexander Hauck were also aware of this problem and founded the company "The Bitter Truth" in 2005. The aim of this small factory was to bring long-forgotten cocktail bitters back to life and thus enable bartenders and connoisseurs to mix classic cocktail bitters again. Classic bitters, liqueurs and spirits Both Stephan Berg and Alexander Hauck made their own bitters by hand during their active time as bartenders in order to be able to offer their guests high-quality cocktails. In the large collection of historical cocktail books that Stephan Berg owns, the two found inspiration for recipes, which they then refined further. The first bitters they brought onto the market were a Lemon Bitters, an Orange Bitters and the famous Aromatic Bitters. Numerous other bitters followed, such as the Celery Bitters, which was voted "Spirit of the Year" by Mixology Magazine in 2008. Over the years, however, Berg and Hauck also realized that there was also a demand for old spirits and liqueurs that were difficult or no longer available in their original form. One of these liqueurs is a violet liqueur - the Violet Liqueur! The taste of the Violet Liqueur The Violet Liqueur from The Bitter Truth is made from the flowers of wild violets from the Alpine foothills. These are married with a little sugar and the finest grain brandy. Light in body, with subtle floral notes, the sugar content in The Bitter Truth Violet Liqueur was deliberately reduced. This creates a very natural and fresh taste that comes across very well in cocktails such as Aviation, Blue Moon or Violet Fizz. The delicate, elegant aromas of the violets are captured in an impressive way in this Violet Liqueur. The Violet Liqueur is also a real treat neat, on ice or with sparkling wine. Recommended!

The Bitter Truth Jerry Thomas Own Decanter Bitters, 0.2 L, 30% Jerry Thomas Own Decanter Bitters are based on an original recipe by the greatest bartender of the 19th century and are highly aromatic, with distinct notes of cloves and ripe fruit.Jerry Thomas Own Decanter Bitters are an authentic recipe from the early days of cocktail culture in a unique bottling worldwide. The Bitter Truth Jerry Thomas "Own Decanter Bitters" are 100% natural! No artificial colors or flavors!

The Bitter Truth Celery Bitters, 0.2 L, 44% The world's first Celery Bitters, an ingredient that existed in the 19th century, enriches your cocktails with unprecedented spicy aromas of celery, lemongrass and delicate ginger tones. The Bitter Truth Celery Bitters is an enrichment for Corpes Reviver cocktails like Bloody Mary, Bullshot or Prairie Oyster. The Bitter Truth Celery Bitters have won several awards. Spirit of the Year in Germany 2008, Best New Product in New Orleans, Tales of the Cocktail 2010. Unique, aromatic for the bar and kitchen. The Bitter Truth Celery Bitters are 100% natural! No artificial colors or flavors!

The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters, 0.2 L, 39% The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters are the result of classic maceration, in which selected orange varieties are married with exotic spices. The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters have an aroma with a strong orange note and finely tuned spiciness.The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters are ideal for many classic, modern cocktail creations, as well as an enrichment in good cuisine. Orange bitters were originally the most commonly used bitters in cocktails. The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters are 100% natural! No artificial colors or flavors!

The Bitter Truth Black Cherry Bitters 0.2L 44%

The Bitter Truth Pink Gin 0.5L 40% The history of cocktail bitters The first two decades of the 20th century were considered the golden age of cocktail culture. Many of today's well-known classics were created at that time. Many of these old recipes call for a very special ingredient - cocktail bitters. These are alcoholic seasonings that usually have a very intense taste and give the drink a very special note just by adding a few drops (dashes). To the chagrin of many cocktail connoisseurs, a large proportion of the former bitters were forgotten during Prohibition and only a few standard bitters survived, such as the Angostura Bitter. The internationally known bartenders Stephan Berg and Alexander Hauck were also aware of this problem and founded the bitters manufacturer "The Bitter Truth" in 2005. The aim of the small company was to bring long-forgotten cocktail ingredients back to life and thus make it possible to recreate classic cocktails true to the original. The development of The Bitter Truth The Bitter Truth expanded its range to include products such as Celery Bitters, which was voted "Best Spirit of the Year" by Mixology in 2008. Over time, Berg & Hauck realized that there was a need for other forgotten spirits. Many once-famous liqueurs, such as violet liqueur or apricot liqueur, were not available for a long time or were only available in questionable quality. The company's portfolio was therefore expanded to include additional spirits and liqueurs in order to close this niche. One of these new products is Pink Gin. What is Pink Gin? And how does it taste? It is well known that British sailors used to use rum to preserve their drinking water and drank it as grog to treat scurvy. However, alcohol on board ships was not only used to prevent illness, but also to cure it. A well-known "medicine" to relieve seasickness was to give sailors gin mixed with bitters. The Bitter Truth takes up this tradition and developed a pink gin based on the traditional model. This has been adapted to modern tastes and impresses with its subtle aromas both neat, on ice and of course in cocktails and long drinks. The nose and palate reveal complex aromas of the best gin, which combine wonderfully with delicate nuances of herbs and spices. The soft mouthfeel of this pink gin can be particularly well perceived in the classic Martini Dry cocktail. Recommended!

The Bitter Truth Golden Falernum Liqueur 0.5L 18% Falernum, a rum-based liqueur, is an indispensable ingredient in many tropical cocktails. Unfortunately, this historic liqueur was difficult to obtain in Germany for decades or was of questionable quality. However, the Munich-based company The Bitter Truth has found a solution and brought its Golden Falernum onto the market, a wonderfully exotic and spicy liqueur that makes the authentic mixing of many tropical cocktails and long drinks possible again. This golden-amber liqueur has a fine aroma and taste profile of citrus fruits, ginger, almonds and allspice. It harmonizes wonderfully with other spirits such as whisky, brandy and rum and is also ideal for pure enjoyment "on the rocks". A special treat among its peers!

The Bitter Truth Bitters Travel Set Tin Edition, 5 x 0.02 L 38.2% The Bitter Truth Bitters Travel Pack contains 5 different flavors of the award-winning bitters. These bitters, each in 20ml bottles with droppers, can also be transported in hand luggage, which makes things much easier for the traveling bartender. The Bitter Truth Bitters Travel Pack also offers the ambitious hobby mixer the opportunity to test different products directly at the home bar in order to find his favorite flavors. This travel pack contains 1 bottle each in a lovingly designed tin: Aromatic Bitters Orange Bitters Jerry Thomas Bitters Creole Bitters Celery Bitters

The Bitter Truth Grapefruit Bitters, 0.2 L, 44% The Bitter Truth Grapefruit Bitters are produced in Germany and offer distinctively fresh grapefruit and pomelo aromas, paired with notes of hops and fine spices. The Bitter Truth Grapefruit Bitters is ideal in combination with tequila and gin, offering a wide range of uses in tangy and fruity drinks that require that certain something. The Bitter Truth Grapefruit Bitters are 100% natural! No artificial colors or flavors!

The Bitter Truth Chocolate Bitters, 0.2 L, 44% The Bitter Truth Chocolate Bitters are produced in Germany and offer intensely spicy chocolate and cocoa aromas with warm tones, paired with bitter notes. Ideal in combination with dark spirits, they offer a wide range of application possibilities in classic and modern whiskey, rum or tequila drinks.

The Bitter Truth Pimento Dram Liqueur, 0.5 L, 22% The Bitter Truth Pimento Dram Liqueur is based on selected allspice seeds (also known as clove pepper) and the finest Jamaican rum. On the Caribbean island, allspice has been processed for generations in a complex maceration process to create a distinctively aromatic liqueur.The Bitter Truth's Pimento Dram has delicate aromas of cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper and is used as an ingredient in a variety of classic cocktails, punches or in the kitchen.

The Bitter Truth Lemon Bitters 0.2L 39% The Bitter Truth Lemon Bitters were not only the first of their kind, they quickly enriched modern cocktail creations and gave them depth and complexity. The Bitter Truth Lemon Bitters offer a fresh lemon aroma with zesty spiciness and are made from sun-ripened Mediterranean lemons and aromatic herbs and spices. The Bitter Truth Lemon Bitters are 100% natural! No artificial colors or flavors!