We will explore the botanicals commonly used as bittering agents, sample Apothecary’s bitters and discuss current uses in artisanal cocktails that you can try at home.

Originally used for medicinal purposes, bitters are now mostly used by bartenders to flavour cocktails. Made with infusions of roots, bark, fruit peels, seeds, and flowers, bitters can create a vast spectrum of flavours. Cole Benoit of The Apothecary Bitters Company will take you through the history of bitters, beginning as herbal remedies in the 17th century, into a multi-million dollar industry claiming to cure ailments of all kinds in the 19th century, through prohibition, and the re-emergence in modern cocktails. We will explore the botanicals commonly used as bittering agents, sample Apothecary’s bitters and discuss current uses in artisanal cocktails that you can try at home.