Bitters & Tonic

Most times, when we think of tonic, we think gin and tonics. And when bitters are mentioned, an old fashioned. But how did these 2 cocktail staples come to be common characters on our bar carts?

Bitters refer to an alcohol-based extract with traces of bark, leaves, root or flowers of bitter tasting plants. In ancient times, bitters were used medicinally for digestive ailments. Traces of bitters have been found in pottery from Ancient Egypt and it has been noted in Roman history to have been used in infusing wine. This was done to encourage good digestion and to counter the effects of overeating. In the 19th century, the British used bitters in a drink called Canary wine.

So, when did bitters become an integral part of the cocktail making process? Bitters made their way to the American colonies first as a stomach remedy and then as an additive in the first cocktail - made with four ingredients, a spirit, water, sugar and.. Bitters! Today bitters are added to cocktails to balance the drink and add to the flavor profile. Now, bitters flavors can vary widely from one’s like the classic Angostura, with cinnamon notes, to ones with citrus, walnut and celery.  

Tonic water can be traced to the Peruvian Andes. Tonic gets its bitter taste from quinine which is derived from the bark of a cinchona tree, When first discovered, it was used as a remedy for Malaria. This stems back to the 17th century and tonic continued as an antimalarial until the early 20th century, when modern medicine came to the plate with new options. So how did tonic find its way into the common cocktail? During the time the British officers were stationed in India, tonic was prescribed as an antimalarial and as a way of making the flavor more palatable, it was mixed with soda water and sugar - unintentionally creating the tonic water we now know and love today.

While the history of bitters and tonic is far removed from where I sit today; enjoying a G&T or another favorite...a fun craft cocktail, I still turn to the classic, simple mix of bitters and tonic for an upset stomach or a low alcohol drink on a midweek night. I hope this traditional mixture, full of history, can warm you up, settle your gut and enhance any type of occasion.

Enjoy! with love + salt, Em