Bitter Bastards Cocoa Bitters – 10 cl

These Cocoa Bitters from the Bitter Bastards range won't make your drinks taste like you've been slapped in the face with one of those hilariously oversized 1kg chocolate bars which were so popular in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Rather, they'll add richness and depth similar to that of a good dark chocolate to your cocktails - we recommend rum-based cocktails...

Country: England

ABV: 40%

(3) Mini 20ml Bottles

Need a pick me up after a big meal? Fans of Underberg Natural Herbal Bitters describe it as a magical elixir that can be used as a digestif to soothe your overstuffed stomach.

Cocktail bitters are spirits infused with flavors, typically from plants, fruits, or spices. They date as far back as the early 1800's, originally used to assist with digestion and cure stomach aches. Infusing your cocktail recipes with just a few drops of bitters will give them an additional level of flavor depth. Many bitters are also renowned for their ability to cure hangovers. Underberg Bitters were invented in Germany in 1846, and are made from dozens of alpine herbs, roots, barks, peels, and other botanicals sourced from around the globe.

The result is a potent bitters recipe that tastes strongly of anise, clover, ginger, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and mint. Because of the bitters' robust smell and flavor profile, Underberg shouldn't be sipped like a beverage. Instead, throw back an entire 20 ml bottle in one fell swoop when you've had too much to eat to ease discomfort and refresh your spirits. Europeans have sworn by Underberg as a digestive drink for generations.

Underberg can also be used like more traditional cocktail bitters. Just add a few dashes or drops to enhance the flavor profile of your favorite recipe.

Intense marzipan with notes of caramel and hazelnut. A powerful, beautifully long liqueur with the comforting taste of roasted almonds. Perfect on its own over ice or mixed in cocktails.

A mark of “Made in Italy” excellence for over 500 years, Disaronno continues to capture the imagination of discerning consumers everywhere. The unique and distinctive design of the bottle, with original square cap, adds a sense of contemporary elegance and style. Disaronno is perfectly inviting on the rocks yet also in fine cocktail form. Versatile and easily recognizable, it gives a special touch to a rich array of drinks. The warm, sophisticated taste of Disaronno has a lineage dating back to one of the most romantic and creative periods in Italian history - the Renaissance. In 1525, the artist Bernardino Luini, a brilliant pupil of Leonardo da Vinci - was commissioned to paint a fresco of the Madonna of the Miracles in Saronno (Madonna dei Miracoli in Saronno, where the Fresco is still displayed today).To portray the Madonna, he chose a beautiful local innkeeper as his muse. As a mark of her gratitude, she prepared a special gift for the artist, namely, a flask full of an amber liqueur, fragrant and delicate. That is how the legend of Disaronno arose: from a simple gesture of kindness and the unique handmade combination of secret ingredients.

Disaronno captures the senses with its amber colour, rich aroma and incomparable taste which has made it the world's favourite Italian liqueur

Tasting Notes: Amber colour, rich aroma and deep rich notes of toasted almonds, marzipan and vanilla.

Preparation and Usage: Perfect on its own or over ice, Disaronno is also great to mix with. Try it with your favourite fruit juice (such as orange or cranberry), with cola or in a stylish cocktail.

Grand Marnier is a popular orange liqueur made in France from a blend of French cognac and bitter orange liqueur. That familiar bottle that adorns bars worldwide is technically called Cordon Rouge, though it's most often simply called Grand Marnier. It is the best-known French liqueur on the market and among the top choices for orange liqueurs in the world. Grand Marnier is a brilliant cocktail ingredient and it offers a smooth citrus taste when drunk on its own.

Substitutions Grand Marnier is sometimes used as a generic term for an orange liqueur and there are plenty of substitutes available. The best options are those that also use a brandy base, such as the Italian Gran Gala. For many recipes, you can also use a premium-quality triple sec (Cointreau is a favorite) or curaçao. Grand Marnier can be a substitute for any of these in most cocktails as well. To retain the quality of your cocktail, avoid extremely cheap orange liqueurs as they can be syrupy and throw off the drink's balance.

Fast Facts

• Ingredients: Orange peel, brandy
• Proof: 80
• ABV: 40%
• Calories in a shot: 76
• Origin: France
• Taste: Sweet, slightly bitter citrusy
• Serve: On the rocks, cocktails, shots