Grapefruit Bitters - LeNell It All

by LeNell Smothers, Posted Jan 13th 2010 @ 5:00PM

Photo: LeNell Smothers

With chatter of Angostura's shortage of bitters floating around, I chuckled as I unpacked several 16 ounce bottles I lugged in my move to Mexico. I was more pleased with myself, however, to find an old recipe for homemade grapefruit bitters in some papers while unpacking. Several years ago I made a batch that I really liked, but for the life of me, couldn't find my scribbles of what I had done.

Homemade bitters are nothing new to the cocktail scene. Even Jerry Thomas has his own bitters recipes in his 1862 Bar-Tenders Guide.

With the hang of making bitters yourself, you can relax when reports of shortages get the rest of the world all flustered.

With the renewed interest in mixed drinks and cocktail lore, various new bitters flavors have hit the scene over the years, including grapefruit bitters. Fee Brothers was the first to release a modern commercial brand. Produced in partnership with The Bitter Truth bitters brand, Bittermens grapefruit is now available on the market, as well, with a standout note of hops. If you can't find those around your shopping nooks, don't fret. Make some yourself.

Following a simple recipe for grapefruit bitters I originally read in a Los Angeles Times article by Charles Perry in 2006, I substituted the stout Everclear neutral grain spirit called for with my beloved bourbon. Bourbon and grapefruit are naturally good buddies. I'm laughing at myself that the recipe change I couldn't remember was simply a substitution of bourbon for neutral grain spirit.

Grapefruit Bitters Recipe

2 organic grapefruits
1 tablespoon coriander seed
2 cups bourbon (at least 100 proof)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons water

Peel the grapefruits and finely chop the whole peel, including the bitter white part called the pith. Place the peel in a quart jar with the seeds and booze. Seal for at least a week; shake the jar every day if it makes you smile.

Put the sugar in a small pan and heat over medium heat until it turns light brown. Remove from the heat and carefully add water. Stir until sugar dissolves. Strain the peels and coriander seed from the booze and discard.

Add the caramelized sugar. Let stand to mingle the flavors for at least an hour.

Filed Under: Drink Recipes, Recipes
Tags: grapefruit, grapefruit bitters, grapefruit bitters recipe, homemade bitters, lenell smothers